The Billabong garden nursery is a ConnectGV social enterprise that has provided employment opportunities for young people with disabilities for 20 years.
The nursery offers a year-round garden and on-site propagation that provides plants suited to native conditions and soil types.
Yes, avocados can be grown successfully in our cooler climate!
By selecting the correct varieties, planting in an appropriate position and with a little TLC, avocado trees planted in our cooler climate will reward you with fresh homegrown avocados.
Generally, if you purchase strong grafted advance stock, you will be enjoying home-grown smashed avo for brekkie in around two to three years.
To grow avocado trees successfully you will need to plant them in your garden in a position in full sun and ensure they are protected from strong winds.
Avocados like to grow in well-drained soil that has been prepared with the addition of organic matter. Be mindful not to overwater them as avocados are susceptible to root rot.
Once established, avocado trees are tolerant of our cooler temperatures, however when young they can be very sensitive to the cold so we recommend that you ensure they are protected.
You can grow avocados from seed however you will need to be very patient as they may take up to seven years to fruit or possibly may not fruit at all.
For success we recommend an advanced grafted tree that, in the correct growing conditions, will fruit much earlier, in two to three years.
There is a Type A and Type B avocado.
Most avocados are considered self-fruiting and therefore do not need a tree for cross-pollination.
However, to encourage optimal fruit development, it is best if both a Type A and Type B avocado tree are planted close by. However, while ideal, it is not absolutely necessary to have one of each type.
Hass and Reed avocados perform well when planted alone, however planting a Type A and Type B in close proximately will improve your success and provide a bigger crop.
Avocados have unique flowers. They don’t have separate male and female flowers like some plants; instead the avocado flowers will essentially change sexes.
Type A avocados flower with their female reproductive aspects available first, and do so in the morning.
Type B avocado flowers also open in the morning, but in their male phase.
Then, they transform and the flowers open as the opposite sex the following day in the afternoon.
Because avocado flowers take turns exposing their male and female aspects, it is more difficult for a single tree to pollinate itself and therefore to bear fruit.
As mentioned above you can enjoy fruit when you plant a single avocado tree, however it is to a lesser extent than when planting two.
The most common avocados planted together are Hass and Fuerte.
The best avocados suited to our colder climate are Bacon, Hass, Reed and Fuerte.
We have a range of grafted advanced avocados in stock at Billabong. The Billabong team will be happy to help you select the best varieties for your garden.
— Tracy Lamont, Billabong Garden Complex manager
Billabong Garden Complex is located at 295 Numurkah Rd, Shepparton. If you have any questions for Tracy, email her at billabongnursery@connectgv.com.au
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