Swincher what a great read. Im out on the olympic peninsula and Ive been trying similar experiments for a few years now. Awesome stuff
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Welcome to the forum! I’d love to hear more about what you’ve tried so far and how it’s worked for you. I’m sure other people who follow this thread would agree!
You’re within the bioregion for the avocado project if you want any trees in the next distribution (late winter, early spring), here’s the page with a summary of project membership (which is free):
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Edit: application submitted!
I already found that link and I’m definitely going to join! Besides starting every seed I can I’ve been working on propagation through nodal cuttings, very difficult. I picked up a few books (Plant propagation principles and practices, the reference manual for woody plant propagation) to help learn the techniques. I’m very interested in the different styles. In general with other native plants I’ve had a lot of successes, still havent grafted or chip budded anything but Id love to. I had my first successful air layers last year of various native trees 2 years ago that are now in the ground, looking for some citrus or avocado in the area to do more! I would love to be a care taker for some genetic experiments of yours in the future when the time comes. Its all soo fun and exciting.
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You may have already seen this other thread, but if not then check it out:
In general for avocados the botanical group/“race” of the avocado makes a huge difference in ability to root cuttings. Hass (and Hass seedlings) are dominated by the Guatemalan group genetics, which are usually very hard to get to form roots. The hardiest botanical group – the Mexican group – is also the one that happens to root most easily. Even still, it takes a lot of patience and success rates are often not good.
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Update on 135
June 2024
The tree died back to the mulch level. My Duke grafts also survived that were protected by mulch.
October 2024
Summer grafts of Teague and Jade look alive but didn’t push growth. I’m planning to cover grafts with mulch again.
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Hey @maesy I subscribed to this forum because Winn from the tropicalfruitforum sent me here. Haven’t found out how to dm you yet… I’m interested in cold tolerant avocados and am in Switzerland as well.
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I’m wondering if you @swincher have tried to cross any Reed avocados to a more cold hardy type? I just saw a great video tour from Grow your own Avocados channel and Ellen from Epicenter said Reed seems best for me here because it flowers and sets fruit later on when it warms up. I should have got a Reed last year. 
If you can get that late fruit set on a Duke x Reed might be great. I’m sure you already know or have tried though but jic.
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Welcome to the forum!
I have sent you a message.
Marcel
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Welcome to the best fruit forum, @tritonus!
I’ve been avoiding including any genetics in my greenhouse that hold fruit through winter in CA, and Reed is one of the longest-hanging varieties out there, so it’s definitely not one I’m considering grafting. It might be a good one for crossing with various pure Mexican types in northern CA, though!
I did get some Reeds in a fruit box from Brad Spague last year, and sprouted the seeds of course. They were completely killed above ground by 27°F in their pots, when I moved them to the greenhouse for the rest of the winter. I think those ended up with @CAvocado this year and maybe became rootstocks?
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Yeah that makes sense thanks.
FYI, I need to cut back some of my Aravaipa avocado branches so if anyone has any avocado (cold hardy) that wants to trade, send me a message.
Swincher, I got some fruits from the old Nancy avocado tree (formerly called HB_Lib) so if you want to plant out some seeds let me know. I should have some seeds this month and by end of November since I will be cutting some large branches from the tree.
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For sure, I’ll give them a try! I do have one or two of the seedlings from the last time you sent me couple of those and a couple Derek fruit too. I think one has been grafted but I’m planning to let the roots grow a stem too on that one.
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ok, I will save you some seeds of Nancy (10-20) and send it. If you want cuttings of either Nancy or Derek let me know.
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I’m interested in Nancy too, along with Hamada whenever that happens.
Did you come to a conclusion on what relation Nancy, Derek, and Hamada have to Bacon?
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its free for swincher’s avocado trial. I’m selling the cuttings on TFF if you want to purchase either. Also having a free give away of the Peluche loquat cutting for TFF members, check it out.
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What’s TFF and are the loquat self fertile? Do they root just like figs?
TFF is the tropical fruit forum, another forum/website.
I believe most loquats are self-fertile, but they do not root easily. Usually they are grafted. I do have one cutting that I think I’ve rooted, but it had leaves and was longer than most scionwood. I know Fruitwood Nursery sells rooted cutting plugs, so it’s definitely possible to do.
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I didn’t believe loquats could be rooted, so I bought some of those you mentioned. Yes, they are rooted cuttings, first time I have seen that, but you probably need to do it in a greenhouse or use the humidity chamber with bottom heating. I prefer to just grow out seeds and use them for rootstock to graft onto in a year.
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I actually asked Marc at Fruitwood how they do it awhile back and posted his answer in this thread:
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