Q. I have started two avocado
trees with the intent of having them available to my son if and when he buys a
home in the Las Vegas area. I went on-line and doubt that this is going
to be possible unless he is willing to nurse them religiously. Do you
have any suggestions? Do you know if a myrtle variety the wax flower can
be grown here? I know it is native to Australia and some varieties are hardy
to 25 degrees.
trees with the intent of having them available to my son if and when he buys a
home in the Las Vegas area. I went on-line and doubt that this is going
to be possible unless he is willing to nurse them religiously. Do you
have any suggestions? Do you know if a myrtle variety the wax flower can
be grown here? I know it is native to Australia and some varieties are hardy
to 25 degrees.
A. I would suggest that you take a look at my blog located at http://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/
and search the word avocado in the
search box near the top. I’ve talked quite a bit about this plant and growing
in Las Vegas in this blog.
and search the word avocado in the
search box near the top. I’ve talked quite a bit about this plant and growing
in Las Vegas in this blog.
I do not really
recommend it for our climate unless you want to grow it more as a curiosity.
Avocado trees do not survive much below freezing. In December this past month
we had two solid days that never really broke freezing in some parts of the
valley.
recommend it for our climate unless you want to grow it more as a curiosity.
Avocado trees do not survive much below freezing. In December this past month
we had two solid days that never really broke freezing in some parts of the
valley.
They are much too
large for a greenhouse. Your son would be much better off trying some citrus
rather than an avocado. And even with citrus here are some parts of the valley
which will be too cold for any citrus to survive for more than about five years.
large for a greenhouse. Your son would be much better off trying some citrus
rather than an avocado. And even with citrus here are some parts of the valley
which will be too cold for any citrus to survive for more than about five years.
If you really
want to give your son a reliable fruit tree for our climate he would be better
off with pomegranate, pistachio, apricot, peach or almond.
want to give your son a reliable fruit tree for our climate he would be better
off with pomegranate, pistachio, apricot, peach or almond.
If you still want
to move ahead with your avocado then make sure you put it in a window that will
give it full sun for at least six hours every day. Turn the container 180
degrees every week to prevent the plant from leaning in one direction toward
the sun and growing at an angle.
to move ahead with your avocado then make sure you put it in a window that will
give it full sun for at least six hours every day. Turn the container 180
degrees every week to prevent the plant from leaning in one direction toward
the sun and growing at an angle.
If you do not
have this kind of window Then you will need to supplement The avocado seedling
with extra light. If you do not supplement with extra light, the small avocado
seedling will become tall, thin and spindly.
have this kind of window Then you will need to supplement The avocado seedling
with extra light. If you do not supplement with extra light, the small avocado
seedling will become tall, thin and spindly.
You can use
fluorescent lights a few inches from the plant on a timer with about 16 hours
of light each day. This will work while the seedling is still small but
eventually it will have to be planted outside.
fluorescent lights a few inches from the plant on a timer with about 16 hours
of light each day. This will work while the seedling is still small but
eventually it will have to be planted outside.
There are parts
of the valley which have a better chance of growing avocado than others. Locations
downtown surrounded by a lot of cement are usually much warmer than outside the
city. These locations should be in places where it is not windy. But even in
these locations when the avocado tree gets larger it will be damaged.
of the valley which have a better chance of growing avocado than others. Locations
downtown surrounded by a lot of cement are usually much warmer than outside the
city. These locations should be in places where it is not windy. But even in
these locations when the avocado tree gets larger it will be damaged.
There is the
dwarf avocado called ‘Little Cado’ that you might be able to obtain from an
online source that he could use in a container. The container would need to be
protected when there is danger of frost.
dwarf avocado called ‘Little Cado’ that you might be able to obtain from an
online source that he could use in a container. The container would need to be
protected when there is danger of frost.
I have never
heard of a variety of Crape myrtle called wax myrtle. But then again there are
a lot of things I’ve never heard of. There is a woody plant native to the US
called wax myrtle and it should do well in most parts of the valley. That is
the problem with using common names. If you have a scientific name for the
plant I might be able to tell you more.
heard of a variety of Crape myrtle called wax myrtle. But then again there are
a lot of things I’ve never heard of. There is a woody plant native to the US
called wax myrtle and it should do well in most parts of the valley. That is
the problem with using common names. If you have a scientific name for the
plant I might be able to tell you more.