Malama Avocado, B Flower. Guatemalan Race Hybrid
The size of the fruit, about 20% oil content, late fall (October) maturity in Hawaii caught my attention. Not sure how it would do in South Florida. It would take a few years to find out. At the time I only have one grafted tree and is not doing great after about 60 days post graft, it has taken a while to take off. Let's hope it makes it. The pictures bellow were taken a few days latter. I guess it would be a while before we can taste it.
4/01/2012: The graft is doing better. Looks like we have a tree.
This tree was develop by the University of Hawaii. This link will take you to their report Nice looking fruit It did very well in blind test with various chefs in Hawaii. See the article
May 13, 2012: Looks like the tree is doing well. I transferred to a 5 gal. fabric pot and is growing fast. It is flushing new growth now. See pic. Will have bud wood to top work by the end of the year.
January 13, 2013: The Malama avocado tree did not grow much since the picture taken in July 11, 2012. The rains and the fabric pot did not help. I was able to get three very thin pieces of bud wood to top work a tree. Was done last week, not sure if they will take. Would be a miracle.
January 24, 2013: One of the thicker bud wood grafted shows encouraging signs of growth, we may have a take. One is all it takes.
February 14, 2013: The top worked tree is not looking well. The one piece that was showing growth Signs seems to be wilting for no apparent reason. The other two pieces are alive but not doing much. They behave the same as the tree I grated in the pot in early 2012. Malama is turning to be challenging all around.
March 28, 2013: Malama Avocado is continuing to be challenging. The Top worked tree in January has only one graft growing the other two died. In the last 10 days it has taken off. Other trees grafted on the same day are 10 times its size. See Pictures. Also a couple of grafted trees in pots are showing a lot of clorosis (yellowing) I had to spray them 3 days in a row with this mixture: 2 oz of nutritional liquid, 1 tablespoon of urea, a splash of Super Thrive and a teaspoon of sea weed extract. They did green up, they seem to suffer form nutritional deficiencies at an early age after grafting. If you propagate this you need patience.
September 26, 2013: The Top worked tree is doing better after it is getting more sun light, It is really taking off. See picture. The trees in container have greened up with multiple application of nutritional drenches.
December 31, 2013: This tree is about 50% of other trees grafted around this time. But it looks green and healthy, may be is a small tree. Is not close to flowering.
February 27, 2014: The Malama Avocado has a hand full of flowers, it is just flushing leaves. That some times is good. Next year it should be typical of what it can do in this area. Would be good to remember that only one graft took in this tree and was a very slow to develop. I'm kind of glad is not flowering. Hope it surprises us next year.
April 17, 2014: No fruit set
March 15, 2015: The tree is growing but is smallish in size. The grafts moved slowly. Not sure if it is the variety or the stump. Today's picture shows the tree to the left center, to the right center is the Murashige tree a lot bigger grafted at about the same time. The tree is flowering nicely and should set some fruit.
April 13, 2015: The Malama is flowering well, nothing like the Murashige but I do see some fruit set. Lets hope it can grow it.
August 28, 2015: This tree is small and compact compared to others grafted at the same time. Great for tight yards. It is holding a dozen or so fruit. No indication they are getting dark. Looks like now they are around 9-10 oz. The University of Hawaii says they grow from 1.1 to 1.5 lbs. So we have a while to go, they report is an early fall avocado. October - November?
September 18, 2015: This tree is close to Hass and other varieties that the fruit gets sun burned. And grows small. If it is an October fruit in Hawaii we need to be getting close here. See today's picture.
October 2018: Did monitor this tree, the fruit is small, fear quality not worth it for Florida. the tree have been cut to top work with production variety. Most Hawaiian varieties have been disappointing.