Mexicola Avocado, Flower A, Mexican (Chiquitico ?)
Mexicola Avocado
Originated about 1910 at Pasadena, California; propagated about 1912; very small; skin black; flesh of excellent flavor; seed large. Season: Aug. to Oct. Grown only in home gardens in California. Bears early and regularly; very heat- and cold-resistant; much used as a parent in California breeding programs. In some places I seen quotes that Mexicola has up to 20% oil. That's why I grafted a tree. To keep my cholesterol down. Very cold hardy, down to 20 degrees. I just top worked a tree see video. The picture to the left is from http://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/tfphotos/111599.htm the fruit they picture has a narrower neck.
Below find pictures of the fruit, I took in May 28, 2011. A couple of fruits were given to me by a friend, I did not know what is was, he did't know either, so I called "Chiquitico" small. Doing research for such small fruit, I came to the conclusion it must be Mexicola. What is interesting: this tree had mature fruit in the 3 week of May. Normally there is no avocado fruit in South Florida with the exception of Arue. It appeared to me the fruit I ate had a smaller seed than the above picture. The fruit was very good tasting. If you think this is something else let me know, we'll call it "Chiquitico"
December 12, 2012. My top worked Mexicola tree is doing very well. It is actually within days of opening flowers (see picture) I don't know if it will set fruit but is has the size to hold 10+ fruit.
December 26, 2012. The tree looks nice, the flowers are beginning to open This is the earliest flowers to open in the grove in quantity, with the exception of Arue. The tree seems very comfortable and happy growing in South Florida. See pictures with today's date in the album below.
January 13, 2013: The Mexicola is in full boom,
February 14, 2013: The tree seems to be setting a good amount of fruit. I'm very surprised how well this tree is doing in South Florida. Pictures soon. Leads me to belief that it is possible to try some other Mexican varieties or hybrids The Oro Negro is a Mexican hybrid and tree wise it does very well here.
April 23, 2013: The tree is holding the fruit. Has at least 30. Sizing up very nicely and even looking a bit dark. I'm not sure how much bigger than this they get.
May 22, 2013: Some of the fruit is beginning to darken. I do not see the little neck developing. It is a more rounded fruit. The ones I got last year did show a bit of a neck.
June 1, 2013: First fruit turned totally black on the tree.
June 5, 2013: Picked about 40% of the fruit maturing fast. Not tasted the fruit yet. The maturity of all the fruit can be a 10-15 day event.
June 10, 2013: Had my second Mexicola from my tree. Is a different experience from what we are just to but pleasant. The first fruit I had plain no dressing, or even salt. Remind it me of a smoked cheese. Strange yes, I agree. The second fruit we had with the salad with dinner. Very pleasant, your brains needs some adjustment at eating the skin of an avocado. Very appealing to the eye, the colors are beautiful.
June 12, 2012. Picked up another 45% of the fruit. There were 2-3 on the ground. The range of the fruit picked was 4-5 oz. Definitely the harvesting of Mexicola in Miami-Dade County is a short term event between 15-20 days. I have not tasted Mexicola from another locations. These keep having an unusual taste, seems to me like the fruit has been "smoked". It is not unpleasant but at this time of the year we have better tasting fruit. So the value here is for possible pollination. I wonder if they taste like this in other locations.
October 18,2013.The tree is building flower buds. Very early.
November 12, 2013: This year the tree seems to be early. I saw 2-3 flowers fully open, some others ready to open and some branches not even with flower buds. Seems like it is going to have a long flowering season.
January 17, 2014: The tree had some more open flowers in December but all of the sudden it stopped. At this time last year it was in full bloom, now about 75% of the tree's flower buds have not opened.
January 28, 2014. For sure this tree is being confused by our cold January. Just a few open flowers in December. Now seems like it could be flowering in 7-15 days. Last year I had fruit in the end of May, does not seem likely this year. See Picture.
February 12,2014: This year the flowering has been erratic at best. Seems like it is going to flower in the next few days. Considering it was in full bloom last year in mid January is very late.
February 27, 2014: The Mexicola is in full bloom, almost 45 days after last year.
April 7, 2014: It was delayed but the Mexicola is setting a decent amount of fruit. See today's photos.
May 26, 2014. This year the fruit is behind about 30 days or more. Still small size looks like it has anothe 3-4 week before they start to darken.
June 9, 2014: Some fruits are dark, seem like smaller fruit compared to last year.
July 4, 2014: Fruit is dropping fast after it turns black. There are still some green fruit in the tree. Very small size.
March 9, 2014: This year the tree is setting a decent amount of fruit. The tree has not increase its size by much seems to be 1/2 or less than trees grafted at about the same time.
June 16, 2015: The Mexicola has the same amount of fruit as the year before. It is staying a small tree. The fruit is also smaller than last year ripening at the same time starting the first week of June.
Below find pictures of the fruit, I took in May 28, 2011. A couple of fruits were given to me by a friend, I did not know what is was, he did't know either, so I called "Chiquitico" small. Doing research for such small fruit, I came to the conclusion it must be Mexicola. What is interesting: this tree had mature fruit in the 3 week of May. Normally there is no avocado fruit in South Florida with the exception of Arue. It appeared to me the fruit I ate had a smaller seed than the above picture. The fruit was very good tasting. If you think this is something else let me know, we'll call it "Chiquitico"
December 12, 2012. My top worked Mexicola tree is doing very well. It is actually within days of opening flowers (see picture) I don't know if it will set fruit but is has the size to hold 10+ fruit.
December 26, 2012. The tree looks nice, the flowers are beginning to open This is the earliest flowers to open in the grove in quantity, with the exception of Arue. The tree seems very comfortable and happy growing in South Florida. See pictures with today's date in the album below.
January 13, 2013: The Mexicola is in full boom,
February 14, 2013: The tree seems to be setting a good amount of fruit. I'm very surprised how well this tree is doing in South Florida. Pictures soon. Leads me to belief that it is possible to try some other Mexican varieties or hybrids The Oro Negro is a Mexican hybrid and tree wise it does very well here.
April 23, 2013: The tree is holding the fruit. Has at least 30. Sizing up very nicely and even looking a bit dark. I'm not sure how much bigger than this they get.
May 22, 2013: Some of the fruit is beginning to darken. I do not see the little neck developing. It is a more rounded fruit. The ones I got last year did show a bit of a neck.
June 1, 2013: First fruit turned totally black on the tree.
June 5, 2013: Picked about 40% of the fruit maturing fast. Not tasted the fruit yet. The maturity of all the fruit can be a 10-15 day event.
June 10, 2013: Had my second Mexicola from my tree. Is a different experience from what we are just to but pleasant. The first fruit I had plain no dressing, or even salt. Remind it me of a smoked cheese. Strange yes, I agree. The second fruit we had with the salad with dinner. Very pleasant, your brains needs some adjustment at eating the skin of an avocado. Very appealing to the eye, the colors are beautiful.
June 12, 2012. Picked up another 45% of the fruit. There were 2-3 on the ground. The range of the fruit picked was 4-5 oz. Definitely the harvesting of Mexicola in Miami-Dade County is a short term event between 15-20 days. I have not tasted Mexicola from another locations. These keep having an unusual taste, seems to me like the fruit has been "smoked". It is not unpleasant but at this time of the year we have better tasting fruit. So the value here is for possible pollination. I wonder if they taste like this in other locations.
October 18,2013.The tree is building flower buds. Very early.
November 12, 2013: This year the tree seems to be early. I saw 2-3 flowers fully open, some others ready to open and some branches not even with flower buds. Seems like it is going to have a long flowering season.
January 17, 2014: The tree had some more open flowers in December but all of the sudden it stopped. At this time last year it was in full bloom, now about 75% of the tree's flower buds have not opened.
January 28, 2014. For sure this tree is being confused by our cold January. Just a few open flowers in December. Now seems like it could be flowering in 7-15 days. Last year I had fruit in the end of May, does not seem likely this year. See Picture.
February 12,2014: This year the flowering has been erratic at best. Seems like it is going to flower in the next few days. Considering it was in full bloom last year in mid January is very late.
February 27, 2014: The Mexicola is in full bloom, almost 45 days after last year.
April 7, 2014: It was delayed but the Mexicola is setting a decent amount of fruit. See today's photos.
May 26, 2014. This year the fruit is behind about 30 days or more. Still small size looks like it has anothe 3-4 week before they start to darken.
June 9, 2014: Some fruits are dark, seem like smaller fruit compared to last year.
July 4, 2014: Fruit is dropping fast after it turns black. There are still some green fruit in the tree. Very small size.
March 9, 2014: This year the tree is setting a decent amount of fruit. The tree has not increase its size by much seems to be 1/2 or less than trees grafted at about the same time.
June 16, 2015: The Mexicola has the same amount of fruit as the year before. It is staying a small tree. The fruit is also smaller than last year ripening at the same time starting the first week of June.
