UC Riverside Releases A New Avocado Variety (the Luna UCR™ - one of Time's 2023 Best Inventions)

A new avocado variety that’s the result of more than a half-century tree breeding by University of California, Riverside, horticulturists has been released to commercial growers worldwide. It’s called the Luna UCR™ and offers consumers great flavor, a rind that turns a tell-tale black when ripe, and high postharvest quality. Growers, meanwhile, benefit from a smaller tree size, allowing denser plantings for more efficient and safer harvesting, minimal pruning, and potentially higher yields. Here, UCR agricultural scientists describe their quest for a better avocado.
For more information on the Luna UCR™ please check out this article:
news.ucr.edu/a...
For more information about the Luna UCR being named on of Time's "2023 best inventions":
news.ucr.edu/a...
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[@DovidM]

One advantage of Luna UCR is its color change when ripe. When it is ripe, the skin turns from green to black. Consumers will no longer have to guess whether the fruit is ripe.

[@bradspaugh9827]

Advantage over what? Hass also have this trait.

[@1970SBenny]

This is just for California avocado growers/farmers, so it helps them be sustainable. That being said, the markup for a Luna tree or scion are crazy, and the royalties that need to be paid out are comical. Sustainable... yeah sure!! It's about making that old mighty dollar. Avocado farmers are already growing Lamb, GEM, and Hass . There is no need to spend more money on planting a Luna UCR. Is this Luna filling in the fall and early winter months? These people don't even reply to any of these messages....

[@RareAvoTrees]

Yes whoever put this video up does not comment and they don't explain any real differences than a gem , all they say is more creamy than a Hass, they don't say if it can handle any colder temps then a gem to be better suited to grow in cold central valley , we need something that grows short wide and can handle temps of 27 in central valley to be a truly commercial crop up north of Bakersfield.

[@bradspaugh9827]

Yes, "sustainable" is a meaningless buzzword. Its hype

[@RareAvoTrees]

I think they don't respond to any message because they know Luna is a flop it will go extinct the small farmer not allowed to buy it and the large commercial growers prob few will buy it cause to almost no advantage to current other non patient varieties.they look foolish for not coming up with something much better than this.

[@mikekraidy7467]

ML is a thief.

[@justincurti7913]

Living in Tulare, California, an area where avocados do not traditionally grow, I am excited to learn more about this new Luna variety of avocado. It is to my understanding that it can handle, colder winter temperatures and hotter summer temperatures. So long story short maybe this is something that can grow in the central valley of California? Because I sure hope so. I would be really eager to try growing avocados in my area of California.

[@bradspaugh9827]

Where is the data to back that up? Not trying to put you on the spot, just asking. How did anyone come to that conclusion?

[@RareAvoTrees]

Tulare can handle many good variety to try,but nothing like a Nabal unless planted close to a house to keep warmer, bacon zutano gem Hass and Mexican types do well in Tulare just shade in summer for first few years till leaves are very thick plant on mounds if slow draining soil.

[@socalyte]

Since it was first grown in Camarillo in Ventura County, I'm not sure I'd be confident of claims it can grow in colder winter and warmer summer temperatures. I'd be interested to know the source of that information. We are very temperate here in Camarillo, rarely below 45 or above 85, so there's very little temperature stress on plants.

[@bobbif100]

Where can homeowners buy Luna avocado trees in Southern California?

[@swissdude7653]

Very excited about this variety. Can you tell us something about temperature range (upper and lower limits) resistance to anthracnose and seasonality of fruit production?

[@gushernandez9059]

Where can I get one for my yard?

[@moj8945]

Any inside on the variety Flor de Maria?

[@rich2376]

Hi, wonder if you could help me increase my yield on my one tree. I have a dwarf avocado tree probably 15 years old. Each year I get tons of leaves and a lot of shoots that end up falling off the tree. I probably get 10 edible avocados a year from the tree. How can I prevent those shoots from falling off the tree and becoming edible fruit? Any suggestions?

[@MiguelMikeHernandez-uy9sz]

Found this helpful because I have two 3yr old trees and fertilizer helped bear more fruit. Avocado trees in California should be fertilized every 4-6 weeks during the growing season, which is from March to October. The amount of fertilizer needed depends on the tree's maturity and the composition of the soil. Here are some tips for fertilizing avocado trees: Fertilization rate A common recommendation is to apply nitrogen fertilizer once a month in equal doses throughout the growing season. For example, in the first year, you can sprinkle a tablespoon of nitrogen over the soil three times, once in each season. In the second year, you can increase the amount of nitrogen to ¼ pound, still divided into three applications. In the third year, you can increase the amount of nitrogen to ½ pound. Time of application Applying more nitrogen right before periods of high uptake can help increase fruit size and yields. Other nutrients Avocado trees also need other nutrients, such as potassium, zinc, calcium, magnesium, boron, iron, and manganese. Potassium can be applied at almost any time, as it's not easily leached or volatilized

[@MiguelMikeHernandez-uy9sz]

Avocado trees in California should be fertilized every 4-6 weeks during the growing season, which is from March to October. The amount of fertilizer needed depends on the tree's maturity and the composition of the soil. Here are some tips for fertilizing avocado trees: Fertilization rate A common recommendation is to apply nitrogen fertilizer once a month in equal doses throughout the growing season. For example, in the first year, you can sprinkle a tablespoon of nitrogen over the soil three times, once in each season. In the second year, you can increase the amount of nitrogen to ¼ pound, still divided into three applications. In the third year, you can increase the amount of nitrogen to ½ pound. Time of application Applying more nitrogen right before periods of high uptake can help increase fruit size and yields. Other nutrients Avocado trees also need other nutrients, such as potassium, zinc, calcium, magnesium, boron, iron, and manganese. Potassium can be applied at almost any time, as it's not easily leached or volatilized

[@oscaraguilera612]

Where can UCR employees buy one?

[@mikekraidy7467]

Doubt it.

[@oscaraguilera612]

@@mikekraidy7467 :(

[@RareAvoTrees]

We already have a new avo to replace the Luna it's called a Gem. the patent on Luna is far too costly and complicated why not just put a flat rate extra fee on each trees at 2 or 3 bucks per tree ? I would grow gem, lamb or Maluma commercialy over Luna.

[@mikekraidy7467]

Pretty sure the Gem was sold to the S Africans.

[@RareAvoTrees]

@@mikekraidy7467 I see that large farms are growing Gem in Africa , and more farmers are planting gem in Cali now including myself ,, the trademark is off gem now so anyone can graft gem .

[@mikekraidy7467]

They will sell this variety to the biggest payer, no one in the public will ever get to have one. This department gets huge amounts of money that way.

[@seanF1885]

This whole video screams California. "People are crapping in the streets and smoking crack in front of kids, but HEY we invented a whole new avacaaaado maaaannn"

[@gypsy317]

LOL, 25 year royalty contract to buy Luna trees. That's how they are "helping" California avo growers? Comical. I predict this will take off like a lead ballon!

[@mikekraidy7467]

ML will be there til she croaks.

[@pannellclara]

great we don’t have to deal with Mexicos import

[@geniuspharmacist]

Dr. Arpaia is the avocado Queen.

[@franmusolino2660]

Maybe the guy in the video should get a hair treatment….

[@frankyancy1347]

But the public taxpayer can't but any trees....thanks for nothing