Growing avocado
subtropical / tropical fruit
WINTER CHILL NEEDED
~0–100 hrs
POLLINATION
Partly self-fertile — crops much better with a partner
Pollination
Self-fertile, but flowers are 'type A' or 'type B' and open as male and female at different times of day - planting one of each greatly increases fruit set.
Growing it
Zones 9-11; cold-hardy Mexican types survive brief drops to about 20 F. Needs excellent drainage - wet feet cause root rot. Container culture is possible with dwarfing types.
Will you get enough chill?
Avocado needs roughly 0–100 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.