Help me find avo trees!

August 2, 2009 5:24 PM

Can you recommend any plant nurseries near Santa Cruz that sell avocado trees?

Or almond trees?

Anon because it's going to be a gift...

posted by anonymous to Home & Garden (2 answers total)

Assuming you mean Santa Cruz, California, I bought an avocado tree from San Lorenzo Lumber nursery, though the company's name has changed and it's now ProBuild at [phone]. But the deer killed my tree, so whether that's a recommendation or not is debatable.

In any case I think the micro-climate here in Santa Cruz may be too coastal for either avocados or almonds. You could use Google Maps to find nurseries in Santa Cruz and call them.
posted by anadem at 9:16 PM on August 2, 2009

Try Redwood Nursery on El Rancho Drive. They had an avocado tasting back in April. Since they specialize in not selling plants that die from the cold, they may be able to help. Also, online discussion about people growing different varieties of Avocado in different areas of California, including Santa Cruz. (Zone 16? Zone 24?)

Finally, from the Avocado Grower's Handbook:
Chapter I HISTORY

Historical records do not indicate the exact date the avocado was introduced into California, but it is thought the introduction may have occurred around 1850. There was a tree planted near a building of the Mission Santa Cruz that was probably the oldest known avocado tree in the state.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 11:29 PM on August 2, 2009