Avocado is an amazing fruit with many beneficial properties, so its consumption is something we rarely give up. When cutting open the avocado the core reveals a large stone. Those wishing to grow avocados at home should not thrown it away.
What needs to be done step by step for the goal?
First, seedlings must be prepared.
At a depth of no more than a centimeter, the knife is driven into the fleshy part of the fruit to separate the stone and the blade is slid around the entire circumference. The two halves are pulled apart to open it up. The stone is removed and set aside.
It must be washed and cleaned of all the remains of the fruit. It should not be removed from the shell, because then the plant may not sprout.
4 toothpicks are inserted into the central part of the stone, in order to secure it to the container, in which it will be placed and prevent it from falling into it. The bottom of the stone should be 2.5 centimeters into the pot, and the top should be above the pot itself.
It is best that the container is a glass or a jar with an opening large enough to hold the avocado stone.
About 2.5 centimeters of the stone should remain under the water, which the pot will be filled with. The top should point up and the bottom should point down. Otherwise, the avocado may not grow.
The seed pot should be placed in a warm, sunny location to germinate.
The water should be changed every 1-2 days, so that there are no contaminants, that interfere with the germination and the stone should always be moist and immersed in water.
Root development must be monitored. When changing the water, they need to be handled carefully, so that you don't injure them.
When the first buds, leaves and sprouts of the avocado appear, it is time to plant seedlings.
Here's how to plant and grow avocado seedlings
Since the avocado is very picky about the climate and growing conditions, it should be planted in a pot and it should be moved from time to time to get used to the temperature changes. This fruit likes a temperature range of 15 to 30°C, but it can grow a little below zero.
The soil should be well drained but not fertilized, until the fruit is 1 year old. The soil itself should contain coir and earth in equal proportions. A hole is drilled in it to accommodate the roots and the stone. It is half-buried, which ensures that it will not rot prematurely. The soil is pressed with your hands.
The avocado is watered daily to keep the plant moist. If the tips turn brown, it needs more water. If they turn yellow, you shouldn't water it for 1-2 days.
With good care, after a few years a tree grows, which bears fruit.
Also read on how to make avocado oil, is the avocado stone edible and what the avocado stone is used for.
And if you've managed to grow your own avocados, be sure to try some of our priceless avocado recipes.
