How to Grow an Avocado From Seed Like a Pro
Growing avocado trees from seed is a popular project with varying degrees of success. There are two simple methods that work for all types of butter. There are two popular types of avocados available in most markets: Hass and Reed avocados.
Home avocado growers often grow avocado trees as houseplants rather than for their fruit. First, a tree grown from seed may take several years to bear fruit. Second, the resulting fruit will not be a clone of the fruit from which the seeds were removed and may be of lower quality. Finally, avocado trees do not self-pollinate. Two different varieties are needed, and houseplants must be pollinated by hand.
Growing an avocado tree from seed is not difficult, but to get the highest quality fruit in the shortest possible time, consider purchasing grafted seedlings from a garden or nursery. This will ensure that you get the variety of avocado you want from a tree that can bear fruit in three to four years.
Instructions
How to Grow an Avocado From Seed
Remove seeds from fruits
Using a sharp knife, cut the avocado around the circumference. You can cut along the length or around the middle of the fruit. In any case, avoid making too deep cuts, which could damage the seeds.
Turn the cut halves, then gently twist the seeds to separate them from the pulp.
Remove outer layer of skin
Rinse the seeds to remove the sticky pulp. Use your fingernail or the edge of a spoon to remove the brown outer layer. Removing the skin helps prevent mold growth.
Insert toothpick
Insert the pointed ends of three or four toothpicks into the seed, evenly spaced and slightly upward. Do not place toothpicks along the furrows of the seeds.
The top of the seed is the pointiest part, so angle the toothpicks in that direction. There is a small flat circle at the bottom of the bead. This is the part that needs to be soaked in water.
Fill a glass container with water and place the seeds.
Fill the glass to about an inch from the top and place toothpicks on the sides of the container so that the bottom half of the avocado pit is submerged.
Place in a warm place with indirect light
Place the glasses in a location exposed to bright, indirect light. A constant warm temperature of 75 to 85°F produces the best results.
Renew water as needed
When the water level drops, empty the glass and refresh it completely.
Finding Cracks and Tap Root
It can take anywhere from eight weeks to five months for a seed to form a taproot, which appears when the seed begins to crack. Once the taproot appears, the seeds can be replanted in regular potting soil.
How to Grow Avocados from Seeds in Soil
Follow steps 1 and 2 above.
Fill a 4- to 6-inch pot with drainage holes with moist soil. Make a well in the center and place the seed face down.
Pour in enough soil to cover 1/3 to 1/2 of the seeds at the bottom. Water thoroughly.
Place the pot in a warm location that receives indirect light and keep the soil moist. Sprouts will appear in six to eight weeks.
Tips for Growing Avocado Trees
Once several pairs of leaves have formed, pinch off the growing tips in the middle to make the plant more branched and bushy.
Provide avocado trees with at least six hours of indirect light each day.
This plant prefers constantly moist, but not soggy soil. Water when the surface of the soil is dry.
Regular potting soil is sufficient as long as it drains well.
Fertilize every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season with a low-phosphorus fertilizer such as NPK 8-3-10.
Maintain temperature between 60 and 85°F.