Using a fragrant bloom hinting of pineapple, Choquette avocados (Persea americana) create striking, medium-size shade trees. Nicknamed the Florida avocado, they prosper in United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9a to 10b. Roughly 90 percent of the country’s avocados are grown in California, which concentrates on Guatemalan and Mexican races. Large and luscious Choquette is a Guatemalan-West Indies hybridvehicle.
Size
Though some avocado trees may reach 60 feet in height, the Choquette is a small specimen, reaching a maximum height of roughly 30 feet. With regular pruning, it can easily remain under 20 feet. Choquette is a heavy bearer of fruit. Fragrant, yellowish-green blossoms no more than 1/2 inch in diameter yield osteoporosis which may be 6 inches long and weigh up to 3 pounds with smooth, glossy green skin. The adult leaves of the evergreen are leathery and dark green, typically dropping frequently.
Growing Tips
Although Choquettes prefer lowland tropical climates, they’re moderately cold-tolerant plants which could handle winter temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit. They prosper in slightly acidic soil with a pH range of 6.1 to 6.5. Choquettes will grow in partial shade, but you’ll have greater fruit production planting in sunlight. The largest factor in successful propagation is well-drained dirt. High water tables during the wet winter months of a Mediterranean climate may kill a Choquette avocado. If cold temperature or drainage is an issue locally, consider planting it in a big container. Young trees 1 year-old need just a mild dose of balanced fertilizer applied quarterly, but older trees benefit from an application of 1/2 pounds of nitrogen in the spring and in the summertime. Plant a second avocado cultivar nearby for greatest fruit set.
Diseases and Pests
Root rot is a frequent problem in these types of trees. A 6- to 12-inch layer of mulch tucked around the tree — but well away in the trunk — combined with a total yearly application of 20 to 25 pounds of gypsum gently implemented throughout the year may keep this fungus in check. Squirrels and other varmints will climb your tree and strip it of fruit unless you protect the trunk with a tin wrap. Use powdered sulfur to control brown mitesthat cause extreme leaf drop and black spots on the foliage.
Nutrition
Besides being buttery and delicious, Choquette avocados are great for you. One-fifth of a medium-size fruit supplies 6 percent of the folate you need in a day for healthy cell and tissue development, 4 percent of your daily value of potassium, antioxidant vitamin E, and vitamin C, and 8 percent of your daily value of fiber. To get the best nutritional value, then eat fruit at the peak of ripeness: it must sense somewhat soft when you compress it.