Esther Avocado - Grafted and Semi Dwarf
Esther Avocado (Persea americana)
Esther is a medium to large oval shaped fruit very similar to Hass. The flesh is creamy and delicious, similar colour to Hass, the seed however is slightly bigger than the Hass. The special thing about Esther is that the plant is semi dwarf. The fruit lasts longer on shelves once picked and extremely prolific.
Plant Care
- Soil: Prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 6 and 6.5.
- Watering: Water deeply at regular intervals, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings to avoid waterlogging.
- Temperature: Thrives between 15°C and 30°C. Frost protection is necessary in cooler climates.
- Light: Requires full sun for optimal growth and fruit production.
- Fertilising: Fertilize with a balanced NPK ratio such as 10-10-10 every three months during the growing season. Avocados also benefit from additional zinc, so consider a fertilizer that includes micronutrients or add a zinc supplement.
- Pruning: Prune in early spring to shape the tree and remove any dead or diseased wood.
- Mulching: Use organic mulch to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and add nutrients back to the soil as it decomposes.
- Pest Control: Monitor for pests like aphids, mites, and scale, treating with appropriate pesticides as needed.
- Flowering and Fruiting: Avocado trees have self-incompatible flowers; having multiple varieties can improve pollination and fruit set. Fruit typically matures 6 to 18 months after flowering.
- Potting: While avocados can be grown in large pots, they perform best planted in the ground. Ensure adequate drainage in containers.
- Feeding Regime: Supplement with phosphorus and potassium-heavy fertilizers during the flowering and fruiting stages to support fruit development.
We ship our plants and garden supplies throughout New Zealand. Due to the increased costs of shipping and packaging, we now apply a minimal delivery charge. After offering free shipping for three consecutive years, we find it necessary to adjust this policy to align with current market conditions. However, we have lowered our prices to help offset this change.
Please note, we do not ship plants or garden supplies internationally from New Zealand. We do export plants and tissue culture materials from our overseas nursery, which requires a minimum order. Please contact us at hello@exoticanz.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Shipping (per plant)
Auckland & Northland: $20
Rest of North Island: $25
South Island: $45
Rural Address: Additional $5
Shipping Garden Supplies
Auckland & Northland: $10
Rest of North Island: $15
South Island: $20
Rural Address: Additional $5
Delivery
- Our plants are available for shipment throughout the year, depending on stock levels. Typical delivery times range from 5 to 7 business days, although they can take up to 10 business days depending on the destination.
- We take extra care in packaging; most of our plants are secured in bespoke inserts and shipped in individual boxes to ensure they arrive undamaged.
- Deliveries are scheduled once a week, typically on Monday. If you place your order over the weekend, we aim to dispatch your plants on the following Monday. This scheduling allows our team to prepare your order thoroughly and ensures the courier has sufficient time to deliver your plants safely, avoiding any unnecessary delays over the weekend.
- All orders are shipped via courier track and trace service (not signature required)
- We cannot deliver to PO Box addresses.
- If you have a rural address, please contact us beforehand to discuss the best delivery options and avoid any potential issues.
Additional Delivery Information
- We dispatch our plants year-round, as most are shipped with soil. During the winter months, we closely monitor weather conditions and may temporarily delay shipments if the weather is particularly severe. Our packing process includes adding insulation when necessary to protect the plants against temperature extremes.
- In summer, we ensure that plants are thoroughly watered before they leave our nursery. Occasionally, we may need to ship plants bare-rooted, particularly when they cannot be comfortably re-potted into smaller packaging for shipping. We will always discuss this with you in advance if your plant needs to be shipped in this manner.
- It's important to note that shipping can be a stressful experience for plants, often due to spending several days in a dark, confined space. While most plants withstand this with little to no stress, some may experience leaf drop. However, they generally recover quickly with some additional care, including proper watering and gradual reintroduction to light after arrival.
