How to Identify the Type of Avocado on Your Backyard Avocado Tree

Avocado varieties are knows as: cultivars, types, and varieties. The terms are synonymous. If you've got an avocado tree in your backyard it's important to know what cultivar you are growing. This video teaches you how to tell if your tree is of a know cultivar or if it is a seedling variety.
Get your Sleepy Lizard avocados at: www.guacfarm.com

[@nathanaelquaye501]

I started watching your videos back in Ghana, West Africa now that I've moved over here to New Mexico I still watch them, there are very informative and well put together.

[@SleepyLizard]

I've mentioned this to some subscribers so I apologize if I already told you this but I visited Ghana in 2008. Beautiful place, I loved it!

[@nathanaelquaye501]

@@SleepyLizard Wow that's amazing I never knew.

[@SleepyLizard]

@@nathanaelquaye501 I asked them not to tell anyone.

[@nathanaelquaye501]

@@SleepyLizard lol, but have you ever tried to clone an avocado tree or any tree for that matter by first grafting and then air layering it.?

[@heerasingh7844]

Thank you tom for sharing the valuable information great job well done bro

[@SleepyLizard]

you're welcome

[@babetteisinthegarden6920]

Thank you very much for the information. And my largest avocado is about the size of a Pinto bean. So I think I should wait before I pick it.

[@SleepyLizard]

yes wait until it gets big for sure

[@lethal_designs]

Tropical fruit nerd here 👋 and I love this 🥑🥭🍍

[@SleepyLizard]

🤣

[@user-ur6gy4gm4b]

By the way, I'm shocked that I taught you a new word (chucklesome). Never thought I would teach a native speaker!

[@SleepyLizard]

I endeavor to remain teachable

[@devbachu7072]

Well done grafted ones the best I brought some an when the rainy season comes I plant them out br

[@SleepyLizard]

fantastic!

[@nancytharp8213]

Thanks for sharing Tom and Noe. 🙏 😎🏖🏝

[@SleepyLizard]

Hey Nancy! You're welcome

[@miguelschoedel7691]

Love these vids. Agriculture is so interesting.

[@SleepyLizard]

Thanks Miguel. We got some grafting vids coming up

[@MasterKenfucius]

Tropical Fruit Nerd... I like it...

[@SleepyLizard]

😁

[@robrod7120]

Have a seedling avocado that I’ve been babying since I planted it 7 years ago thats put on about 30lbs of fruit this year. Currently testing some fruit to see what the ideal time to pick for this variety is, last year tried some it put out in late september and early november and it was delicious with slightly larger than hass sized fruit and a small seed. Thanks for the idea to find exactly what time would be best to pick ✌️

[@SleepyLizard]

long wait but what a great payoff!

[@Eugenia_Farms]

great lesson! Avocado school - sleepy lizard edition.

[@SleepyLizard]

yep!

[@stevet8121]

The best way to identify the avocado is to order a box from Tom because he always has a paper telling what variety it is.

[@SleepyLizard]

you make an excellent point 🤣

[@realvipul]

his head also shaped like an avocado.

[@SleepyLizard]

@@realvipul astute observation

[@ToniLovesSkateboarding]

Love it! I have a seedling tree thats giving fruit for the first time. It came from an avocado that my neighbor ate and then planted in a pot. he said it was one of the best avocados he's eaten. On another note, I'd love a mango tree. Im in florida but where im from, every other tree is a mango tree, hahaha. what kind of mango tree stays small to mid size? I dont want a giant mango tree in my backyard. haha!

[@SleepyLizard]

Hi Toni, that's awesome that you got your first fruit this year. Please come back and let us know how it tastes when it's mature. As for small to mid size mango there's really no need to chose a mango tree based on how big it grows because you have to prune the every year to maximize fruit production anyhow. You may as well just pick the variety you enjoy to eat and then keep it pruned to the size that best fits your yard.

[@bogdanc77]

Hi @Sleepy lizard,I have an avocado tree from seed which is about 3 and a half months old, its in water but im about to plant it in soil,it has an average size stem ,it has it's first set of leaves and a bud which is opening and my question is should I cut of the bud or should I leave it, please tell me what you think is the best thing for me to do, and also thankyou for all your video's and time🙂🌴🌱🪴🇺🇲

[@SleepyLizard]

Dream, transplant it to soil and let it adjust to it's new home then pinch off the next new bud that starts to form. but make sure you don't do anything to the tree for the first 30 days in the pot except water and sunlight. it needs time to adjust to it's new home.

[@dmatcardoug2986]

Hello Tom: As usual, you have done a fantastic job of describing the how, what, when and where to identify an Avocado cultivar! Thanks. PS: Since we don't know what mine is, but it is a great tasting fruit, how do I go about naming the fruit?

[@SleepyLizard]

Well one thing you can do is just name it and that's that. The other thing you can do is contact an attorney and obtain a plant patent and then you have the rights to the cuttings.

[@dmatcardoug2986]

@@SleepyLizard Really, that’s all? Thanks Tom! I think we will do that!

[@lethal_designs]

I can't wait to hear what you name your cultivar!

[@johanconradie2120]

I had a single Fuerte bearing heavily every year

[@SleepyLizard]

💪💪

[@angelicafigueroa2513]

From my understanding watching all the educational videos. I bought a avocado from the store. The avocado taste amazing. I planted the seed. Thinking I would get the same great tasting avocado from years to come. 10years plus I would wait. And my avocado could taste Disgusting. Or it could be amazing. Depending on the month of the sweet spot!! Did I get that info correct?

[@SleepyLizard]

you got it right. it's going to be a random outcome

[@GoldenBoy-et6of]

Are you gonna have advacados in stock soon? I plan to preorder some mango boxes soon! :) also what type of mangos come in the boxes?

[@SleepyLizard]

Hi Golden Boy. We will have avocados starting in June. We’ve got a lot of different mango varieties so it’s hard to say what will go in each box. It depends on what we are picking.

[@maryblue75]

Hello! I live in Europe Greece, Mediterranean. You tube shows here too 😅

[@SleepyLizard]

Hello from Florida

[@ernestoquezada1870]

Hi! Question if you have 2 Hass avocado trees only and they somehow pollinate each other ... I do know about having to have type A and type B.. but let's say you only have hass.and It gives fruit... those seed.. will they give Hass as well?

[@SleepyLizard]

Ernesto, Excellent question. The answer is no. avocados are heterozygous so even a seed from a flower that self pollinates (which happens) you still have variations in the DNA.

[@ernestoquezada1870]

@@SleepyLizard perfect!! Thank you so much taking your time to answer

[@RimmPurple]

nice my friend love ya

[@SleepyLizard]

Yo Rimm!

[@RimmPurple]

@@SleepyLizard stay blessed my friend much love

[@JuanMiro507]

i wonder if there is a way of creating a grafted variety of avocado that can manage root rot with ease... It's so complicated for me down here in Panama to get my trees on the right track... soil is not deep.. and it's CLAY and rocks... i have to mound high and pray... i definetely want to know how to create the perfect avocado!!!!

[@SleepyLizard]

it's tough with root stock because that's the part that comes from seed and avocados don't grow true to seed so you never know what you're going to get.

[@valterzc8187]

I grafted 3 seedlings today, but I have no idea what variety is the mother plant, I just crafted it so it will bear fruit earlier.

[@SleepyLizard]

Best of luck with the grafts. Keep us posted

[@Mom4God2]

So I know that my avocado tree was grown from a seed. I was given it in 2020. It is now flowering. I was told in 2020 that it was approximately 5-7 years old. We don’t know what “kind” it is but after what you said about the tree growing I’m confused. Is there a way to send a photo and get your opinion?

[@SleepyLizard]

my contact info is in the "about" section of my KZbin channel page, feel free to send a pic with your questions.

[@Mrbfgray]

Noticed significant differences in ripening time between my inland little farther North Cali trees and those in, say SF Bay area. Several months.

[@SleepyLizard]

Each variety have its own time ranging from may to November

[@chinatownboy7482]

Temperature, humidity, soil, sun...... it makes a world of difference. I'm in San Francisco. Surrounded on 3 sides by salt water. A lot of fog. Salt in the air. Overcast days with no sunlight. Skyscrapers casting a shadow all day. I can't grow anything like my cousins in The South Bay or The East Bay.

[@Mrbfgray]

@@chinatownboy7482 Yeah microclimates matter. Noticing Gary Gragg's (True Plant Stories, YT channel you should know) SF area ripening times vs my own tiny experience. Specifically recently the Zutano. Have dozen going on 16 or so types on modest 1/2 acre in fabulous Chico. All young just beginning to fruit.

[@MarufTonmoy-zm9kd]

Which commercial avocado varieties are best for hot climates? Here the temperature reaches 40 to 45 degrees

[@SleepyLizard]

holy crap this is hot 🥵. I'm not sure what to recommend for that type of heat. You might have to experiment and figure it out for yourself. they are gonna need a lot of water that's for sure.

[@mariavasquez9504]

Fuerte is a good one is really tuff in does good in hot weather

[@sonnymery4193]

how can I identify whether my avocado tree is a type A flower vs B flower??

[@SleepyLizard]

This vid goes into detail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZjQXmqtfblrgZIsi=yC6aJcHnGttcRtlM Essentially, go out and look at your tree when it's flowering around 11am. Look at the flowers. If they are female you have an A. If they are male you have a B

[@veronicaali3507]

Hello,Mr Tom, l am in Trinidad, l would like u to help me identify an avacado. I bought an avacado which was imported from the Dominican Republic, it's large, about 2 pounds, round, with a slight taper to the stem, one side of the taper is slightly flat, has a thick skin, is dark green, very good quality, and has a CARLA, stamp which l believe is the farm where it was grown. Do u have any idea what variety and type this might be?, we are getting it at this time, April 2023. Thank you

[@SleepyLizard]

hmmmm, I don't know for sure. Simmonds have the taper and flat spot but they don't harvest this time of year. I wonder what it could be

[@alightuntothegentiles]

Can I graft different avocados on one tree?

[@SleepyLizard]

yes. up to four varieties have been done successfully

[@alightuntothegentiles]

Thank you so much. Aloha from The Big Island, Hawaii.

[@SleepyLizard]

🥑

[@mzp]

do you ever sell scions ?

[@SleepyLizard]

Hi Mzp, I used to but I don't sell them anymore

[@mzp]

@@SleepyLizard oh okay! i have hundreds of avocado seedlings, just need some scions. im in south florida area as well

[@brianwatson4647]

Nice information but how do we determine and A from a B?

[@SleepyLizard]

Type a are. female in the morning, whereas b will be male in the morning

[@krisnagandhasha6759]

choquette and monroe flower tipe B sis? n simmonds tipe A?

[@SleepyLizard]

Hi Krishna, Choquette and Simmonds are A. Monroe is B

[@krisnagandhasha6759]

@@SleepyLizard can i have your whatsapp sir?

[@SouthernMarine10]

What if the seed came from like a Brogdon avocado?

[@SleepyLizard]

a seed grown tree is unpredictable. you'd have to do what I said about picking one each month and seeing when it tastes good.

[@Bluesidian]

Now don't Kill your neighbor's tree so he'll have to buy your 20-dollar Avocado LOL LOL.

[@SleepyLizard]

Oh look who's back to show us how little he understands about business. What's up Blue?

[@Bluesidian]

@@SleepyLizard LOL, Oh come on, why don't you want people to know you charge SO MUCH for an Avocado? lol. You don't have to have a degree in business, Oh Wait I DO lol, to know you can walk over to Walmart and buy the same avocado for a fraction of what you charge lol. I'm going to come to your place for a visit but not tell you it me until I'm leaving, tea hehehehehheheheh.,

[@SleepyLizard]

​@@Bluesidian the only thing I see somebody overcharging for is the business degree your school owes you a refund for. You don't understand business.

[@Bluesidian]

@@SleepyLizard LOL LOL, So you mean i have to be GREEDY for my Business degree to be Valid? lol. You silly silly man. I got my degree to learn how to keep costs DOWN not get rich off of hardship-stricken "hardworking" people like a parasite would do.

[@Bluesidian]

@@SleepyLizard LOL , You mean I have to be GREEDY for my degree to be valid? Silly silly man. I got my degree to learn how to keep costs down to the consumer while still turning a profit. I didn't get it to feed off of already "hardship-stricken, hard-working people" like a parasite would do.

[@noneof4520]

In my yard we have avocado grown from seed that produce the best avocados i ever experienced, its produces HUGE black to purple skin avocadoes.and another one that doesnt bare next to it

[@SleepyLizard]

sounds delicious. Who planted the tree?

[@noneof4520]

@@SleepyLizard no one, I remember when I was small it was avocado season and we bought some and we threw the seeds by the mango tree and 2 AVOCADO TREES GREW

[@SleepyLizard]

@@noneof4520 I love a good origin story

[@turtlegaby]

So I saw this very unusual avocado yesterday at Aldi. It was huge, about 3 pounds, and looked like an elongated longneck squash with green skin. I ate it today and it was disgusting. Extremely watery, not buttery at all and the skin was like parchment paper. The pit just fell out of it when I cut it in half. This was the first avocado I didn't like at all. Do you have any idea what variety it could have been?

[@turtlegaby]

Never mind, I just found out it is called long neck avocado. Not my taste. Not buying it again.

[@SleepyLizard]

Hi Gaby, it's still a month early for the long neck varieties. We grow one called Russel and we pick it in august. It is delicious and in extremely high demand. tastes like butter I'm guessing they picked them too early.

[@turtlegaby]

@@SleepyLizard It was ripe and soft, just tasted like crap

[@SleepyLizard]

😢

[@jkyontz]

So that's how you do it.

[@SleepyLizard]

That's one way anyhow.

[@johannesvanhoek9080]

Not all straight , erect avocados trees come from seedlings, my Brogdon grows that way and produces tons of fruit 😎 PS. Interesting video 👍

[@SleepyLizard]

yes it's not a 100% sign but most of the time a seedling just grows wild and straight up but a grafted tree is cared for and pruned so it gets lateral growth. I've yet to taste a Brogdan

[@johannesvanhoek9080]

@@SleepyLizard all my friends, including myself, say that it taste better then Hass and about twice the size 😊. Purple when mature ! 'Brogden' trees produce B-type flowers. The fruit is shaped like a pear, and averages just under a pound in weight. The flavor is rich and nutty, somewhat like Hass. en.m.wikipedia.org › wiki Brogden (avocado) - Wikipedia

[@SleepyLizard]

I'm going to try them this year for sure.

[@ryanpiatt1804]

Google doesn't know jack! I tried looking for cultivars with a detached seed and all Google had to say was its most likely over ripe.

[@SleepyLizard]

maybe if you asked google to take you to a page that lists the characteristics of avocado varieties you might find something more helpful

[@ryanpiatt1804]

@@SleepyLizard I tried your advice, but no luck.

[@SleepyLizard]

@@ryanpiatt1804 lemme know if this one helps: www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/variety-viewer-variety-avocado-reference-1

[@arniekando6846]

i use a app on my phone to identify exactly.

[@SleepyLizard]

dang that's cool

[@jsthaut]

living in an avocado farm must be heaven. imagine having an unlimited supply of avocados and eating them everyday.

[@SleepyLizard]

it's a dream. we have all kinds of tropical fruit. something is ripe at all times of the year.

[@benheaver4332]

👍🍺

[@SleepyLizard]

🥑

[@oftin_wong]

Cut to the chase

[@SleepyLizard]

This ain't TikTok

[@oftin_wong]

@@SleepyLizard Waffle

[@SleepyLizard]

@@oftin_wong Do you grow avocados?

[@oftin_wong]

@@SleepyLizard one across the road I'm eating the fruit now ..I worked out it's a reed They have no idea ...planted from seed ...I was just in a hurry to find out ...sorry and thanks

[@SleepyLizard]

@@oftin_wong If they planted from seed that came from a Reed it's technically a Reed variant. I'd be curious if you detect any difference from the Reed.

[@lukemitch1009]

My avocado tree that took seven years to fruit is fruiting now.

[@SleepyLizard]

that's great! Did you plant if from seed?

[@lukemitch1009]

we got it from Lowe’s.

[@lukemitch1009]

We’re not sure what variety it is.

[@lukemitch1009]

The fruit is round and it is the size of a golf ball.

[@SleepyLizard]

@@lukemitch1009 what month do you pick it? sounds like a seedling variety

[@nateross14]

There are only two kinds of Avocado. Tasty and not tasty.

[@SleepyLizard]

What kind is your favorite?

[@nateross14]

@@SleepyLizard They're both useful, my favorite to eat are the tasty variety of course, but the not tasty avocado's are great for throwing at people trying to pick your tasty ones.

[@SleepyLizard]

😝