Growing Avocado From Seed - Learn How to Plant Avocado Seed
Those who take a serious care of their health know all about the benefits of eating avocados. Unfortunately, they are not the cheapest, so many people don't include them in their diet. But you can try to grow an avocado tree in a pot and have your own fruits after some time. Are you wondering how to plant an avocado seed and take care of it to achieve the right results? You don't have to rack your brains anymore. We have prepared all the info on how to turn an avocado seed into a plant. Use our method and see how easy it is!
What do you need to grow an avocado from seed?
To grow an avocado plant from seed, you need the seed - it’s quite logical. You can get it from a fruit bought at any large grocery store or market. Of course, you can eat the avocado after you retrieve the seed. But be careful not to damage it when cutting the fruit. It might negatively affect the future house plant.
Apart from the above, you will also need the following elements:
- a jar or a tall glass with water
- a few long toothpicks
- a pot
- planting soil
- gravel
- plant fertilizer
How to prepare the avocado seed for planting?
The first step in growing an avocado from seed is the seed preparation. After taking it out of the fruit, clean off the remaining flesh. You can also leave the seed for a while so it dries off.
Next, insert toothpicks in it. They should be placed in the lower part, horizontally towards the ground. If your toothpicks are short, you probably need 4 of them. If they are longer, 3 should be enough to hold the seed.
Now the seed is ready to put it in water - in a jar or a glass. The toothpicks should rest on the edges and hold the seed by the surface, while keeping it wet. Replace the water in the jar every 2-3 days. You will notice the right moment when the water becomes cloudy.
The first effects become apparent after just a month. The avocado seed cracks and roots start to grow in water. Then you should notice first sprouts, although it might take a little longer before they appear - sometimes even two months. Patience is key.
What to do when the avocado seed starts sprouting?
The next step after the seed sprouts is planting the avocado seed in a pot. But remember that it cannot be done until the stem is at least 15 cm tall. Check that regularly and follow all the previous instructions. Changing water is even more important at this stage, as the plant is prone to various fungi and mold. If they appear, all the effort will go down the drain and you will need a new avocado seed.
How to plant avocado seed in a pot?
If the sprout is tall enough, you can plant the avocado in a pot. But to do this, you need a proper preparation.
- Fill the bottom of the pot with some gravel. You can also use expanded clay if you have it.
- Cover the floor with foil and pour some soil (best if with compost) onto it. Add some fertilizer and mix it together.
- Pour the prepared mix onto the gravel. Leave some space for potting soil.
- Pour the potting soil into the pot and put the avocado seed in it.
As you complete those steps, water the seedling. Keep it in moderation - the soil cannot be too wet.
Avocado plant care - how to grow an avocado?
A potted avocado needs proper conditions regarding the environment. If you follow a few rules, the plant will quickly start growing.
- Choosing a good spot with proper lighting is the basic element. Avocado plant loves natural sunlight - but it cannot be too strong.
- The interior temperature is another important factor - it should be around 24°C (75.2 F). A difference of a few degrees is not a problem but the temperature cannot drop below 18°C (64.4 F).
- Make sure to water the avocado seed everyday - moderately. Don’t overwater the plant.
If you notice the humidity is low in the room, you can sprinkle the leaves with water. It will greatly benefit the plant - especially in winter.
When will my potted avocado bear fruit?
Unfortunately, avocado grown from seed is not for impatient people. Although the plant grows relatively fast, you are going to wait a little longer for the first fruits. Sometimes they appear after 4 or even 6 years. You need to put a lot of work in it if you want to achieve good results.
The ripening process of the fruits is not the fastest either. It lasts about half a year. For this reason, many people treat the plant as a decoration instead of a fruit-bearing tree.
How long can you grow an avocado from seed?
Avocados are long-living plants that can grow even for 100 years and reach over a dozen of meters tall. As it grows, the plant can become an ornamental shrub bearing healthy fruit. Under the right conditions, it can be planted in the garden. Unfortunately, it cannot grow outside in the temperate climate where temperatures are low in autumn, winter and early spring. It’s not the best idea, as the tree would wilt.
📍 How to grow an avocado from seed?
Growing an avocado from seed requires preparation - cleaning the seed, drying it and fixing it in place using toothpicks. Then, the seed is placed in water. After it grows roots and the sprout reaches 15 cm - the avocado can be transplanted into a container. It should be lined with gravel and soil with fertilizer. Lastly, the plant should be watered.
📍 How to use an avocado seed?
You can use a seed from avocado to grow your own plant. To do this, you have to follow the process step by step. After about 3 months, your potted avocado can become a perfect windowsill decoration. But you are going to wait a long time for the first fruits - they appear minimum after 4 years.
📍 What will grow from an avocado seed?
An avocado seed becomes a plant which might bear some fruit after a few years. It's also a perfect home decoration for all flora lovers. A good avocado plant care is an important factor here - if done properly, it will grow significantly. Avocado tree is a long-living plant. It might even live 100 years.
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