Pinkerton Avocado Trees

The Pinkerton Avocado: The Compact "Flesh-Heavy" Performer

If you have a smaller garden or a limited urban space in the Eastern Cape, the Pinkerton is your perfect match. Unlike the sprawling Fuerte, the Pinkerton is a semi-dwarf, upright grower that naturally stays much more compact. In garden design, it works beautifully as a mid-layer "Personality" tree. Because of its manageable size (typically around 4–7m, but easily kept smaller), it is ideal for planting near patios or even in large 50L–100L containers.

Pinkerton Avocado Tree

Growing in the Eastern Cape

The Pinkerton is incredibly productive and well-suited to the humid coastal and temperate inland conditions of our province.

Climate & Hardiness: It is relatively cold-tolerant and handles mild winters well. However, like most avocados, young trees need protection from the occasional frost snaps inland.
Wind Resistance: Its compact, sturdier frame makes it slightly less prone to limb breakage than the Fuerte, but it still thrives best when sheltered from the harshest coastal gales.
Heavy Bearing: In the Eastern Cape’s rich soils, the Pinkerton is known as a heavy and consistent bearer, often starting to fruit within just 3 years if you plant a grafted nursery tree.

The Fruit: Maximum Flesh, Minimum Seed

The Pinkerton is a favourite for those who want the most "meat" for their money.

Appearance: Distinctive elongated, pear-shaped fruit with a slender, "definite" neck. The skin is thick, rough, and dark green.
The "Green-Skin" Hybrid: It is a cross between a Hass and a Rincon. While it has pebbled skin like a Hass, it remains green when ripe.
Texture & Taste: Exceptionally high flesh-to-seed ratio because of its very small seed. The flesh is smooth, creamy, and nutty with a high oil content.

How to Grow & Care

Smart Spacing: Because it is less spreading, you can space Pinkertons 4 to 5 metres apart. Plant it at least 3m away from buildings.
Soil & Drainage: Like all avocados, it must have well-drained soil. In clay-heavy Eastern Cape areas, always plant on a mound to prevent root rot.
Mulching: Keep a thick layer of organic mulch (like pine bark) over the root zone to protect its shallow roots from the hot sun.

Harvesting Your Reward

The Window: In South Africa, Pinkertons are generally harvested from April to July. In the Eastern Cape, this typically hits its peak in mid-autumn.
The Ripeness Test: The skin doesn't turn black; look for the fruit to reach full size and for the skin to lose its shiny "sheen".
Picking: Gently twist or snip the fruit from the branch. It will take roughly 7 to 10 days to soften on your kitchen counter.

Pro Tip: If you notice your Pinkerton flowering over a long period (June to December), be prepared for staggered ripening—pick the largest ones first to give the smaller fruit more energy to grow.

Visit us at the shop or contact us on Whatsapp 072 867 3243.

Our Pinkerton Avocado Trees are currently available at R340 each.

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