The Monroe Avocado is one of the most popular commercial varieties grown in both Florida and South America. The large friuts are high eating quality and the trees grow abundant crops. Monroe Avocados produce mature one to two pound fruits from November through January and a newly planted grafted tree can begin to make fruit within two years. The trees are cold hardy and can take low temperatures down to 25ºF. Monroe Avocados do best when growing in the ground in Zones 9 to 11, or in containers within Zones 4 to 11.
Monroe Avocados have slightly bumpy, deep green, shiny skin and the flesh is smooth, fiberless, and has a nutty mellow taste. These trees grow 20 to 25 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide. Potted Monroe Avocado Trees will stay smaller, and usually only grow to about 8 feet tall and as wide. Monroe Avocado Trees are moderate growers and they can be easily maintained at manageable sizes with yearly prunning. One Monroe Avocado Tree will produce fruit in most locations, and additional Avocado Trees can be added to increase fruit production. Plant a Monroe Avocado Tree in the edible landscape and pick your own tasty and nutritios Avocados at home.
If you are in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, the best way to grow your own Monroe Avocados is to plant a Monroe Tree in the ground. Pick a spot that has soil that drains well and that gets about 6 hours of sun or more each day. Give the tree about 12 feet of room on each side, and water once per week for the first 2 months. When new growth appears, reduce watering to when the soil under the tree is dry to 2 inches deep.
You can also grow a Monroe Avocado Tree in a pot. Use a 7-gallon or larger pot with drainage holes and rich potting soil with added sand and perlite for drainage. Plant the Monroe Avocado Tree so that the rotball top, and potted soil surface, is about 2-inches below the pot’s rim. This will provide space at the top of the pot for watering. Flood this space well and allow the pot to drain fully when watering. Position the potted Monroe Avocado Tree in full sun, and bring indoors if freezing weather is expected.
Fruit & Harvesting
Monroe Avocados ripen from November through January making them a holiday tradition on many tables. As the Monroe Avocados become mature and ready to pick, their skin will become slightly bumpy and develop a glossy green shine. Avovados will remain hard on the tree, even when ripe. Harvest them when they are between one and two pounds, and between four and six inches long. Allow the picked fruit to soften in a cool dry location, such as on the counter, or in a fruit bowl.
When harvested Monroe Avocados are ready to eat, they are somewhat soft when squeezed. Split the fruit into two halves with a knife, remove the seed, cut the halves into top-to-bottom slices about ½ inch wide and peel away the skin. A sprinkle of lemon or lime juice will help the slices keep their bright yellow-green color. Ripe Avocados are eaten fresh in salads, used to top sandwhiches, and are the main ingredient for Avocado Toast. Monroe Avocados are also great for making creamy dips, dressings, and other preparations.
Advice
Avocado trees can be grown from seeds, but the resulting trees may produce fruit that is vastly different from the fruit grown by the parent tree. This is due to the complex process of cross pollination and plant genetics. If you are growing an Avocado seedling for fun, and you have the gardening room and time, growing a tree from seed can be a rewarding project. It is possible that the fruits your tree grows will be delicious, but they may also be filled with root fibers, or have very large seeds and very little flesh.
If you want to grow an Avocado Tree that you are sure will produce a reliable, high-quality fruit, then the best option is to buy a grafted Avocado Tree from a reputable nursery. Avocado Trees thrive in similar soils and locations as citrus and mango trees. As such, Avocado Trees make great companions for orange, grapefruit, or tangerine citrus trees, as well as mango trees like Haden and Valencia Pride.
FAQs
Can I grow a Monroe Avocado in a pot?
Yes. Monroe Avocado Trees can grow and make fruit in a pot. Use a 7-gallon or bigger container with holes for drainage, rich potting soil with perlite, and place the tree in as much sun or light per day as possible.
What are some ways to prevent pests from harming a Monroe Avocado Tree?
A healthy tree is the best defense against most pests. Plant where there is well-drained soil and good air flow. Always remove pruned limbs and broken branches from the area under the tree, and prune limbs so that leaves never touch the ground.
Do Monroe Avocado Trees have to be pruned to grow fruit?
Monroe Avocados do not require pruning in order to grow fruit. The trees can be pruned in late winter to maintain their size and shape.
How long does it take a Monroe Avocado Tree to grow fruit?
Grafted Monroe Avocado Trees that are well cared for, growing in direct sun, in the ground, and within their suggested Zone can make fruit within 2 years.
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