Growing Your Very Own Avocado Tree from a Seed
Starting an avocado plant from a seed is a delightful and rewarding hobby. Unlike the seeds of many other plants, avocado seeds are large, giving you a fantastic view of the germination process. By germinating the seed in water, you can easily observe the seed splitting, roots growing, and the stem pushing through, bringing the learning experience to life.
You Will Need:
A few avocados
Some kitchen towel or a small cloth
A container with a lid
A clear glass, jam jar, or small vase filled with water
Toothpicks
Eventually, a plant pot and some potting soil
Steps to Follow:
Though avocado seeds generally germinate well, not every seed will sprout. It’s a good idea to try growing a few seeds at a time.
Start by removing the pits from your avocados. Clean them thoroughly without damaging the seed. Use your fingernails to remove the brown skin that covers the pit. This isn’t strictly necessary but can speed up the process, especially if the skin is tough. If it proves difficult, soak the pits in warm water for a few hours beforehand.
After peeling, you can choose one of two methods to get your seeds growing.
The Toothpick Method
The first approach involves suspending the seed over a jar of water. Recognize the top and bottom portions of the seed. The bottom is slightly flatter and where roots will sprout.
Insert three toothpicks evenly spaced around the widest part of the seed. Angle them slightly downward into the seed.
Place your glass or jar on a sunny windowsill and fill it with water so the bottom of the seed is submerged by about a centimeter. Be sure to change the water weekly and keep the base of the seed in water.
The Wet Cloth Method
The second method is to wrap the peeled avocado seed in a damp cloth or paper towel, placing it in a lidded container in a warm spot. This is usually a faster and more certain way to kick off germination.
Look in on the seed weekly. Keep the cloth damp and replace it regularly to prevent mold.
In about 2-4 weeks with either approach, you will see your seed starting to crack. The split means that a root is forming and soon appearing at the base. Look closely and you might spot the growing stem inside the cracking seed!
If you started with the wet cloth method, once the root is about an inch long you can move to the clear glass method. Perhaps, with a narrow-necked vessel, you can rest the seed directly on its top opening.
In the following few weeks, anticipate seeing the tap root delve into the water, sending out smaller roots.
After another week or two, watch as a stem emerges from the seed’s tip, eventually developing leaves. Once sprouting begins, avocado plants can grow quite rapidly!
Keep an eye on the water level in your container. As the plant matures, water will evaporate, leaving the root exposed.
Transitioning to Soil
When your avocado stem measures about 30 centimeters, it’s time to move it into a pot where it can access soil nutrients. Get a pot with good drainage and fill it with well-draining potting mix.
Place the seed in the pot, making sure it’s centered and the seed’s top is approximately level with the pot’s brim. Fill the sides with soil, covering half the seed but leaving an inch above the dirt. Water the soil thoroughly after planting.
Prune the avocado stem with sharp scissors or snippers above a node so that the remaining stem stays 15-20 centimeters tall. Nodes are located where leaves sprout, even the smallest ones are nodes.
No need to worry if this seems drastic; pruning helps your avocado grow stronger and bushier!
Place your new avocado plant in bright, indirect light and water it regularly. Pinch off new leaves whenever the stem grows another 15 centimeters to promote growth into a fuller plant.
As your avocado grows, remember it needs extra nutrients like any plant. Feed it with fertilizer or fresh compost in spring, summer, and autumn, but let it rest in winter.
Each year, consider repotting your avocado tree into a larger container. A bigger pot means a bigger tree!
