I am looking for a few good candidate plants to grow in the shade of large
redwood trees. Would Avocado trees do well there? I understand these
plants normally grow in shade of the canopy in the forest. This is for
California Bay Area climate.

--
W

On 10/23/12 12:55 PM, W wrote:
I am looking for a few good candidate plants to grow in the shade of large
redwood trees. Would Avocado trees do well there? I understand these
plants normally grow in shade of the canopy in the forest. This is for
California Bay Area climate.


Sunset's "Western Garden Book" indicates avocados require full sun.
While part-shade might be okay in desert areas, you might not get enough
heat in the shade in your climate for the fruit to ripen.

In any case, make sure you get a variety suitable for your climate. Not
all avocados do well that far north, even in full sun.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

"W" wrote in message
...

I am looking for a few good candidate plants to grow in the shade of large
redwood trees. Would Avocado trees do well there? I understand these
plants normally grow in shade of the canopy in the forest. This is for
California Bay Area climate.

Is this not the sort of question state Agricultural Extension departments
were designed to answer?

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

"David E. Ross" wrote in message
...
On 10/23/12 12:55 PM, W wrote:
I am looking for a few good candidate plants to grow in the shade of
large
redwood trees. Would Avocado trees do well there? I understand these
plants normally grow in shade of the canopy in the forest. This is
for
California Bay Area climate.


Sunset's "Western Garden Book" indicates avocados require full sun.
While part-shade might be okay in desert areas, you might not get enough
heat in the shade in your climate for the fruit to ripen.

In any case, make sure you get a variety suitable for your climate. Not
all avocados do well that far north, even in full sun.

Perhaps there are different answers for different cultivars. I read in one
source that the Avocado tree's bark cannot protect it from full sun. They
grow in the forest canopy and then pop out of the canopy as adults. Of
course at that point it is the leaves and not the bark that get full sun
exposure.

--
W

On Oct 24, 6:17*am, "W" wrote:
"David E. Ross" wrote in ...

On 10/23/12 12:55 PM, W wrote:
I am looking for a few good candidate plants to grow in the shade of
large
redwood trees. * Would Avocado trees do well there? *I understand these
plants normally grow in shade of the canopy in the forest. * * This is
for
California Bay Area climate.

Sunset's "Western Garden Book" indicates avocados require full sun.
While part-shade might be okay in desert areas, you might not get enough
heat in the shade in your climate for the fruit to ripen.

In any case, make sure you get a variety suitable for your climate. *Not
all avocados do well that far north, even in full sun.

Perhaps there are different answers for different cultivars. * I read in one
source that the Avocado tree's bark cannot protect it from full sun. * *They
grow in the forest canopy and then pop out of the canopy as adults. * Of
course at that point it is the leaves and not the bark that get full sun
exposure.

--
W

Adjust your thinking to the tropical climates such as Guatemala and
Mexico, where
avocados are native plants. Quite a different environment from CA Bay
Area, yes?
There they may pop out of forest canopy, but that is a near the
equator, and a very
different solar exposure....
They are definitely NOT going to do well, popping out of a forest of
Redwoods;

Avocados need rich soil, perfect drainage, ample moisture in fruit,
FULL SUN, and shelter
from strong winds.
Emilie