Epic Gardens

Immersive hands on learning experience. Exotic fruit tasting, nature walks, planting, garden skills, food growing, natural healing, herbs, fruits and community. 

The Brogdon, Avocado tree variety is cold hardy to 27 degrees and is a really great producer! Brogdon Avocado fruit has deep purple skin and a creamy pulp with a rich nutty flavor that's high in oil content, much like the beloved California Hass variety. Hass doesn't produce fruit here in the southeast so we always recommend Brogdon as the perfect substitute.

The Brogdon Avocado actually originated in Sow Exotic's hometown - Winter Haven, Florida - in the 1930's.  It gained its glory as a cold hardy fruit tree when it was reported to have survived a North Carolina winter in the 1950's.

The Russell Avocado stands out as an exceptional choice for food forest and fruit tree cultivators who value both taste and versatility. This variety is known for its mid-season production, typically bearing fruit from July to September, which nicely bridges the gap between early and late-season varieties.

One of the most striking features of the Russell Avocado is its fruit size. The avocados are impressively large, often weighing between 24 to 40 ounces, and are known for their elongated, pear-like shape. The skin is moderately thick and pebbly, providing good protection while still being easy to peel. Inside, the flesh is a vibrant green, buttery, and richly flavored, with a lower oil content than some other varieties, yet still offering a smooth, creamy texture that's excellent for both fresh eating and culinary uses.

The Russell Avocado tree itself is a robust grower, tending towards a broad, spreading habit, which makes it an ideal shade provider in a food forest setting. It can be a great choice for creating canopy layers or as a standalone feature. The tree is also relatively hardy, though it prefers a warm, frost-free environment and requires well-drained soil.

Flowering occurs in the early spring, with the Russell being a Type B avocado. For optimal fruit production, cross-pollination with a Type A variety, such as Hass or Gwen, is recommended. Regular care, including deep watering and annual fertilization, will support its health and productivity. The Russell Avocado is particularly well-suited for those looking to add a robust and productive element to their diverse edible landscape.

Origin: Florida, USA (Introduced in the early 20th century)

The Harvey Lemon (Citrus limon 'Harvey') is a robust and productive lemon variety, prized for its ability to thrive in a range of climates, including regions with cooler temperatures. Originating in Florida, the Harvey Lemon is known for its high juice content, smooth rind, and rich, tangy flavor. This lemon is a favorite among citrus growers for its reliable yield and versatility in the kitchen, making it ideal for fresh consumption, juicing, and culinary uses.

Distinctive Features and Uses

Leaves: The Harvey Lemon tree features dark green, glossy leaves that provide a lush, evergreen appearance throughout the year. The foliage is dense, giving the tree a full, rounded canopy that adds beauty to any landscape.

Fruits: Harvey Lemons are medium to large in size, with a smooth, yellow rind that is slightly thinner than other lemon varieties. The flesh is juicy, with a bright, tangy flavor that makes it perfect for juicing, cooking, and baking. The fruit has a high juice content, making it a favorite for those who love homemade lemonade or need fresh lemon juice for recipes.

Uses: Harvey Lemons are extremely versatile in the kitchen. They are ideal for fresh juicing, zesting, and incorporating into a wide range of dishes, from savory to sweet. Their reliable juice yield and tangy flavor also make them a popular choice for homemade lemonades, cocktails, and preserves.

Classic Juicing Citrus with Vibrant Flavor

Common Names: Valencia Orange, Summer Orange
Family: Rutaceae
Origin: Spain

The Valencia Orange (Citrus × sinensis ’Valencia’) is the quintessential juicing orange, renowned for its bright, sweet flavor and high juice content. Named after the city of Valencia in Spain, this variety is one of the most popular and widely grown oranges in the world, especially prized for its double crop and long late-season harvest. Valencia Oranges are perfect for fresh eating, juicing, and adding a burst of citrus flavor to various culinary creations.

Distinctive Features and Uses

Fruits: Valencia Oranges are medium to large, with a thin, smooth, bright orange rind that is easy to peel. The flesh is juicy, sweet, and has a few seeds. This orange is especially known for its vibrant flavor and rich juice, making it the go-to choice for freshly squeezed orange juice. Valencia Oranges are also ideal for slicing into fruit salads, adding to desserts, or using in savory dishes where a burst of citrus is desired.

Leaves: The tree features dark green, glossy leaves that are evergreen, providing a lush, vibrant appearance year-round. The foliage is aromatic, releasing a fresh citrus scent when crushed.

Growth Habit: Valencia Orange trees are vigorous and can grow 15-20 feet tall, though they can be pruned to maintain a more compact size. They are highly productive and often yield an abundant harvest from late spring through summer, making them one of the few oranges that produce in the warmer months.

Common Names: Meyer Lemon
Family: Rutaceae
Origin: China

Meet the Meyer Lemon, a highly-regarded Citrus fruit tree native to China and introduced to the US through Frank Meyer, the fruit’s namesake. The Meyer Lemon (Citrus × meyeri) is a beloved citrus variety prized for its sweet, juicy flavor and thin, fragrant skin. Unlike typical lemons, Meyer Lemons are thought to be a hybrid between a regular lemon and a mandarin orange, which gives them a unique sweetness and floral aroma. This compact, evergreen tree is a favorite among home gardeners for its prolific fruit production and versatility in culinary uses, making it a must-have for any citrus lover.

Distinctive Features and Uses

Fruits: Meyer Lemons are medium-sized, with a smooth, thin skin that turns from deep yellow to orange when fully ripe. The flesh is juicy, less acidic than other lemons, and has a sweet, tangy flavor with hints of mandarin. The fruit is perfect for a wide range of culinary applications, from baking and cooking to making fresh lemonade and cocktails. Meyer Lemons are also ideal for preserving in marmalades, lemon curd, or as candied zest.

Leaves: The tree has glossy, dark green leaves that are evergreen, adding year-round beauty to any garden or patio. The leaves are aromatic when crushed, releasing a sweet citrus scent.

Growth Habit: Meyer Lemon trees are compact and bushy, typically growing 6-10 feet tall, making them ideal for container growing or small gardens. They are highly productive, often yielding fruit multiple times a year, particularly in warm climates. Keep in mind that Lemons are the most cold sensitive of the Citrus family, but the Meyer Lemon, thanks to its Mandarin Orange origins, has a higher cold hardiness than most Lemons.

The Tonnage avocado is a distinctive cultivar known for its remarkable productivity and sizable fruit yield, which is how it presumably got its name, suggesting it can produce a "tonnage" of fruit. This variety typically produces fruit that is large, with an oval to pear-shaped appearance. The skin of the Tonnage avocado is usually green, even when ripe, and has a texture that can range from smooth to slightly pebbled.

The flesh of the Tonnage avocado is creamy, buttery, and rich in flavor, with a high oil content that is common in many avocado varieties. It's prized for its excellent taste and texture, making it a favorite for both culinary professionals and home cooks. The seed inside is sizeable, as is typical with avocados, but the flesh-to-seed ratio is favorable, offering plenty of edible fruit.

Cultivation-wise, Tonnage avocados are appreciated for their resilience and adaptability. They thrive in warm climates typical of avocado-growing regions and require well-drained soil to prevent root rot. The tree itself is vigorous and can grow quite large, providing not only abundant fruit but also shade and ornamental value with its glossy, green leaves. It blooms with inconspicuous flowers that, under the right conditions, lead to heavy fruit set.

Gardeners and farmers value this variety for its relatively consistent and heavy bearing pattern, often yielding fruit in abundance annually or biennially, depending on the tree's care and local growing conditions. The harvest time can vary based on the geographical location but generally falls within the main avocado growing season.

Common Names: Pineapple Orange

Family: Rutaceae
Origin: USA, Florida

The Pineapple Orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) is a distinct and flavorful variety of sweet orange, known for its unique flavor profile that combines the classic sweetness of an orange with subtle tropical notes reminiscent of pineapple. This variety has been a favorite in Florida citrus groves for decades, valued for its juicy flesh, bright color, and exceptional taste.

The Pineapple Orange is the oldest cultivated citrus variety in Florida, originating from seedlings planted around 1860.  Highly productive and cold hardy to 26 degrees, this thornless variety matures mid-season with a rich, sweet flavored fruit. The Pineapple Orange is a versatile fruit that’s perfect for fresh eating, juicing, and adding a burst of tropical flavor to your favorite recipes.

Distinctive Features and Uses

Fruits: Pineapple Oranges are medium to large in size, with a smooth, thin, bright orange skin that is easy to peel. The flesh inside is rich orange, juicy, and sweet, with a distinctive hint of pineapple flavor that sets it apart from other oranges. The fruit is mostly seedless and is perfect for fresh eating, juicing, or using in fruit salads and desserts. The Pineapple Orange’s unique flavor makes it a delightful addition to a variety of dishes, from breakfast to dinner.

Leaves: The tree features dark green, glossy leaves that remain evergreen throughout the year, adding a lush, vibrant appearance to the garden or landscape. The foliage is aromatic, releasing a fresh citrus scent when crushed.

Growth Habit: Pineapple Orange trees are vigorous growers, typically reaching 12-15 feet in height, though they can be pruned to maintain a smaller size. They are highly productive, often yielding an abundant harvest from late fall through winter.

Common Names: Clementine, Christmas Orange, Algerian Mandarin

Family: Rutaceae
Origin: North Africa (Believed to be from Algeria)

The Clementine (Citrus reticulata 'Clementine') is a beloved citrus variety known for its sweet flavor, easy-to-peel skin, and nearly seedless fruit. Often referred to as a "Christmas Orange" due to its popularity during the winter holiday season, Clementines are prized for their bright, tangy flavor and convenient snack size. This small, round fruit is a favorite among children and adults alike, making it a must-have for home gardens and patios.

Distinctive Features and Uses

Leaves: The Clementine tree features glossy, dark green leaves that provide a lush, evergreen appearance year-round. The foliage is dense and compact, making the tree an attractive ornamental as well as a prolific fruit producer.

Fruits: Clementines are small, round, and typically bright orange with a thin, smooth, and easy-to-peel skin. The fruit is juicy, sweet, and usually seedless, making it perfect for fresh eating, juicing, and adding a burst of citrus flavor to salads and desserts. The fruit's convenient size and delicious taste make it a popular choice for snacking and packing in lunches.

Uses: Clementines are incredibly versatile. They are ideal for fresh consumption, juicing, and incorporating into salads, desserts, and savory dishes. Their sweet flavor and easy-to-peel nature make them a hit with kids, and they are often enjoyed as a healthy, refreshing snack.

The Monroe Avocado is a highly sought-after cultivar among food forest and fruit tree enthusiasts for its exceptional qualities. It's a late-season variety, typically maturing between November and January. This cultivar is known for producing large, flavorful fruits, often weighing between 24 to 40 ounces each. The skin of the Monroe Avocado is thick and woody, providing excellent protection for the rich, creamy, and nutty flesh inside, which is high in oil content.

The Monroe tree itself is vigorous and upright, capable of reaching substantial heights, which makes it an excellent choice for those looking to add vertical diversity to their food forests. It's also cold-tolerant compared to other avocado varieties, though it thrives best in warm climates. The tree blooms with small, greenish-yellow flowers, primarily in the spring.

In terms of cultivation, the Monroe Avocado requires well-drained soil and benefits from full sun exposure. It's a Type B avocado, meaning it pairs well with Type A avocados like Hass or Reed for improved pollination and fruit set. Regular watering and annual fertilization help ensure a healthy growth and abundant fruit production. This variety, due to its size and growth habit, is particularly suited for larger spaces and can be a centerpiece in a diverse food forest.

The Classic Citrus for Tart, Zesty Flavors

Common Names: Key Lime, Mexican Lime, West Indian Lime, Bartender's Lime
Family: Rutaceae
Origin: Southeast Asia (Cultivated extensively in the Caribbean and Florida)

The Key Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia) is a small citrus tree known for producing the famous Key Lime fruit, renowned for its tart, aromatic flavor. Often associated with the Florida Keys, this lime is a staple in many classic recipes, including the iconic Key Lime pie. Its small, juicy fruit packs a powerful citrus punch, making it a must-have for those who love to cook, bake, or simply enjoy a refreshing lime twist in their beverages.

Distinctive Features and Uses

Fruits: Key Limes are small, usually around 1-2 inches in diameter, with a thin, smooth, greenish-yellow skin when ripe. The flesh is pale green and packed with juice, offering a sharp, tangy flavor that is more intense than that of the common Persian lime. The fruit is typically used when fully ripe and yellow but can also be harvested green for a more acidic taste. Key Limes are perfect for use in pies, marinades, cocktails, and any dish that benefits from a zesty citrus kick.

Leaves: The tree has glossy, dark green leaves that are aromatic when crushed, adding to the overall sensory appeal of the plant.

Growth Habit: Key Lime trees are relatively small, usually growing to about 6-10 feet tall, making them ideal for container growing or small gardens. They are evergreen and can produce fruit year-round in warm climates.

Common Names: Tango Mandarin, Tango Orange
Family: Rutaceae
Origin: USA (California)

The Tango Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) is a standout citrus variety known for its exceptional sweetness, easy-to-peel skin, and completely seedless nature. Developed in California, the Tango Mandarin has quickly become a favorite among citrus enthusiasts for its rich flavor, vibrant color, and versatility. Whether enjoyed fresh, juiced, or added to various culinary creations, the Tango Mandarin is a citrus experience that delights all ages.

Distinctive Features and Uses

Fruits: Tango Mandarins are medium-sized, with a deep orange, smooth skin that is easy to peel, making them perfect for snacking. The flesh inside is juicy, sweet, and completely seedless, offering a pure, unadulterated citrus flavor with no bitterness. This makes the Tango Mandarin ideal for fresh eating, juicing, or incorporating into salads, desserts, and other dishes where its bright flavor can shine. Its vibrant color and rich taste make it a favorite for kids and adults alike.

Leaves: The tree features dark green, glossy leaves that are evergreen, providing a lush, vibrant appearance year-round. The foliage is aromatic, releasing a fresh citrus scent when crushed.

Growth Habit: Tango Mandarin trees are compact and bushy, typically growing 8-12 feet tall, making them ideal for small gardens, containers, or as ornamental shrubs. They are known for their heavy fruit production, often yielding an abundant harvest in late winter to early spring. This variety is particularly valued for its resistance to alternate bearing, meaning it produces consistently from year to year.

Common Names: Blood Orange

Family: Rutaceae
Origin: Mediterranean Region (Primarily Spain and Italy)

The Blood Orange (Citrus x sinensis 'Blood Orange') is a unique and visually stunning citrus variety known for its deep red, almost crimson flesh and distinct flavor profile. Originating from the Mediterranean region, this orange is highly prized for its sweet, berry-like taste with a hint of tartness. Blood Oranges are a favorite among chefs and home gardeners alike, offering both beauty and culinary versatility. The striking color of the fruit makes it a standout in any garden or kitchen.

Leaves: The Blood Orange tree features glossy, dark green leaves that provide a lush, evergreen appearance throughout the year. The foliage is aromatic, adding a pleasant fragrance to the garden.

Fruits: Blood Oranges are medium-sized, with a smooth, orange rind that may have a reddish blush. The true surprise lies within: the flesh ranges from streaks of red to deep crimson, depending on the variety and growing conditions. The flavor is sweet with a hint of tartness and notes of raspberry or strawberry, making it perfect for fresh eating, juicing, and adding a unique twist to culinary creations.

Uses: The versatility of Blood Oranges makes them ideal for fresh consumption, juicing, and culinary uses such as salads, desserts, cocktails, and sauces. Their striking color also adds a vibrant aesthetic to any dish.