Taste Testing the Rare NIMLIOH Avocado!

The Nimlioh Avocado is an elusive, almost mythical avocado variety. Over the years, folks have been speaking of a giant avocado, nearly the size of a cantaloupe, growing on trees in the area. I've seen just a handful of Nimlioh trees in my lifetime, and each time it's a breathtaking sight. It's almost unbelievable that a fruit this size can grow on a tree.
This was one of the first varieties introduced to California from Guatemala. In 1917, an agricultural adventurer named Wilson Popenoe went to Guatemala and sent scion wood of this variety to California. Unfortunately it never became a popular commercial fruit, due to its large size and hard shell, which doesn't allow one to do the squeeze test for ripeness.
I've finally managed to get one to maturity, and in this video, I do a taste test and talk about the quirky characteristics of this variety. Enjoy!
0:00 - 4:32 - The Nimlioh Avocado
4:33 - 5:23 - The Lyon Avocado
5:24 - 5:49 - Outro

[@Elmnt5]

Love your videos! Love the fact that you tell a bit of story! Someone who did not grow up even knowing of this fruit- it’s fascinating to me…. the history !

[@OrlandoBackyardGardening]

Thanks for sharing

[@bobc.6672]

Aj you are the guy when it comes to those special varieties of avocados Nice looking avocado. This avocados grow in Guatemala in Antigua city you will find them growing there

[@miett49]

Ola Aj! Como estas? We Avocado aficionados are very grateful to God for people like you searching for these beautiful varieties that are hard to find even in CA.

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Olá Meu Irmão! obrigado!

[@rayannoor4110]

Great video, as always AJ. Looks like a lovely variety!

[@SVmathfarmer]

Hi AJ Been waiting for this video. Looking forward to more. We corresponded a little bit about Nimlioh and I asked you about procuring a tree sorry for not following up. I’ve now got 5 young Nimlioh that Ellen from epicenter made for me. The first was planted in Vista last year and is doing very well. Then the other 4 were all planted this April in San Jose. So far so good all doing well.

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Thanks Pat. I’m glad to hear you got your Nimlioh trees. It’s a pretty tree and a great fruit

[@juliovelasquez5589]

Saludos Amigo , I like your videos. I live in Hemet ca.

[@johnnysworld-backyardorchard]

Great video AJ, that avocado looks delicious, thanks for sharing!

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Thanks Johnny 👍🏼🍀🪴🥑

[@RyanScion]

Great video AJ! Loved all the info

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Thanks Ryan! You’ve helped me a lot with annonas. Thanks

[@The7thSonSteve-O]

Looking forward to see sharing the green gold

[@Raytwin30]

Keep up the good work: I'll pay whatever for a scion of that Nimlioh tree. I currently have in my possession; Stewart, Furtee, Reed and my new addition the (Nabal).

[@Raytwin30]

and Mexicola, which i hear you can eat the skin, I'll see in a couple of years.

[@williambutler4976]

AJ thanks for sharing this video. I have a young Nimlioh that I just planted in April. It has been growing nicely but I’m sure that I’m still a few years away from seeing any fruits. There’s just not a lot of info on line about this variety. Keep us updated about the Lyon variety. There is a old variety called Tertoh that I always wanted to try but unfortunately I don’t think it is in existence anymore.

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Thanks. Will do. I’ve heard of Tertoh but I’ve never come across it. There are a number of older varieties that I’m on the hunt for

[@williambutler4976]

I found Tertoh in a collection in Florida but unfortunately it had been infected with the sun blotch virus so obviously budwood was not available. Perhaps there is a old tree of this variety somewhere in Southern California in someone’s backyard and perhaps they don’t know what it is. Creamhart and Stearns are tw varieties that were registered by the California rare fruit growers. I had Stearns once but lost it to gopher damage.

[@AJTheGraftMan]

@@williambutler4976 Sucks to hear about the Tertoh. Some scions of that would’ve been great. There are some great old trees in some neighborhoods. If you ever find Mayapan, Kashlan, Cabnal, Lamat, Panchoy or Benik, please let me know

[@bradspaugh9827]

good one

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Thanks Brad

[@handsomejohnjohn]

Thank you for the video. I live in San Diego and I am wondering if I can have scions of Monroe, Simmonds and other unique varieties if you have them.

[@tinyjungle_]

Nice taste test. I'm also curious about how easily it separates from the skin and seed. Thanks man.

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Thanks. I didn’t test that, but I will with the next one

[@aaronevans5209]

On my father-in-laws property there are two Guatemalan varieties that are very similar to this and the skin doesn’t peel away…

[@hawaiigirl5588]

You better NIMLIOH your way over to my house with that avocado AJ! 😅

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Lol you got it 😂

[@faustobautista8923]

New subscriber...

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Welcome :)

[@zachmandoooo]

I'd be interested in a scion. How can we get ahold of some of those scions? Do you have a webpage?

[@SVmathfarmer]

Oh almost forgot been meaning to ask you - in Popenoes book “the Avocado in Guatemala” where he documents all the varieties that he brought up, have you put any energy into trying to track down the others beyond Nabal and Nimlioh. So many of them look very interesting. There just has to be some old trees hiding around out there.

[@AJTheGraftMan]

I’ve been looking for those varieties for a while now. So far, no luck. But I won’t stop searching

[@mateogruszynski8362]

I have a question my avacado trees new leaves point up what does that mean i cant find anything on the internet( all the questions are about the leaves drooping)

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Doesn’t sound like a problem. New leaves usually point up and then eventually go downwards as they get bigger

[@mateogruszynski8362]

@@AJTheGraftMan thank you !!

[@iabuchan]

Love the videos. Curious if you are available for some avocado grafting help. I have set up a decent food forest in my yard over the past 5 years but didn't make the best choices among avocado varieties when I first started out. I have a pretty large Zutano and Fuerte that I want to graft other more productive varieties on to. I've had mediocre success with grafting seedlings after watching your videos but was wondering if you do "consults" in Long Beach, CA. Thanks.

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Yes sure I can help with that. Send me an email [e-mail] Thanks

[@1971chevyblazer]

Do you have any nimlioh trees ready for purchase im in northern California about 5 hrs from you! Please I NEED one 😂 now

[@AJTheGraftMan]

I will have some Nimlioh trees available in early 2023

[@Marioscorneraquatics]

Do you have any other Scions available? I have a huge tree that needs grafting. I was thinking of making it a multi variety tree

[@bkzlab]

Do you sell scions?

[@gabeleon2922]

Would you happen to know where scion wood for the Lyon avocado is obtainable?

[@gabeleon2922]

By the way, I too am in So Cal zone 10b

[@dani.afiiq_]

What type fertilizer you used, granular or fluid ones.... for avocado especially

[@AJTheGraftMan]

I mostly use granular. Liquid works fine too

[@dani.afiiq_]

@@AJTheGraftMan what do you think, big seed make a better rootstock or anything just fine whatever their size?

[@devinha9381]

Hi AJ..I am interested in buying avocado scion from you...how do I contact you.thank you

[@AJTheGraftMan]

Email me [e-mail]

[@zachmandoooo]

Could you not just use the stem test to estimate the interior's ripeness?

[@ANour-ud9cb]

AJ Are you on FB?

[@AJTheGraftMan]

I don’t have FB