Can an avocado tree grow and bear fruit in the Willamette Valley?
No, probably not. Here is why it is difficult to grow avocados in the Willamette Valley.
Avocados are not hardy enough for unprotected culture in the Willamette Valley, as even the hardiest forms are hardy only into the lower 20°F range. They would require some sort of winter protection.
Avocados flower very early, starting in late winter–early spring, and their flowers are not tolerant of frost.
The flowering pattern of avocados is not reliable outside of the tropics.
Avocados have two different flowers, called type A and type B, depending on what time of day they open and when they release pollen. So, one plant of each type would be required for pollination and fruit production. The flowering pattern of avocados (the type A and B types) is not reliable outside of the tropics. While producers in California have shown that the type A and B flowering is less critical in cultivar selection, there is even less information on avocado pollination unprotected in the Willamette Valley.
Also, the availability of pollinators such as honeybees might be problematic during cool weather blooms.
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