Hello! I came across your very informative blog regarding avocado trees for South Florida. I am considering planting an avoca do here in Sarasota County and thought 'Oro Negro' might be the best variety for beauty and winter fruit (we are not here in the summer months). However, I noticed on your blog that you do not recommend 'Oro Negro' for home planting though I could not determine why that might be. Can you elaborate? Also, if 'Oro Negro' is not recommended, can you suggest another variety to produce fruit in Sarasota County between Nov 1st and May 1st? Any advice you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks again for sharing your information with novices like myself!
Reply:
Some times I may have given mixed signal about Oro Negro Avocado. Yes it is true.
In my grove Oro Negro has about the same maturity period as a Monroe. The issue becomes: If I were a homeowner with limited space which of the two I would grow?
Oro Negro VS Monroe:
1. The production is not even ½ of Monroe
2. I think is a bit more susceptible to late diseases. May not be relevant in an area there are not a lot of avocados
3. In my particular case I do not favor a certain taste some creamy avocados have. To me is like an egg salad, canistel flavor. That is me, a lot, lot of people like it. Catalina avocado has it. I prefer the taste of a properly matured Monroe, it has just the right flavor for me. I have seen Monroe trees holding fruit to February, especially if they are not given extra nitrogen.
4. I think Oro Negro will take more cold temperatures than Monroe
If you like the taste it will make a decent tree at home but a lot of people buy trees that have not tasted, only to get disappointed down the road.
Reply:
Some times I may have given mixed signal about Oro Negro Avocado. Yes it is true.
In my grove Oro Negro has about the same maturity period as a Monroe. The issue becomes: If I were a homeowner with limited space which of the two I would grow?
Oro Negro VS Monroe:
1. The production is not even ½ of Monroe
2. I think is a bit more susceptible to late diseases. May not be relevant in an area there are not a lot of avocados
3. In my particular case I do not favor a certain taste some creamy avocados have. To me is like an egg salad, canistel flavor. That is me, a lot, lot of people like it. Catalina avocado has it. I prefer the taste of a properly matured Monroe, it has just the right flavor for me. I have seen Monroe trees holding fruit to February, especially if they are not given extra nitrogen.
4. I think Oro Negro will take more cold temperatures than Monroe
If you like the taste it will make a decent tree at home but a lot of people buy trees that have not tasted, only to get disappointed down the road.