Avocado is a fruit tree native to Mexico. The pear-shaped green fruits it produces are used in numerous recipes, from guacamole sauce to desserts. The rich and creamy pulp owes its texture to the high content of monounsaturated ("good") fats, which exceeds that of most other fruits. It is possible to spawn an avocado sapling from seed, but it will likely not produce fruit unless cross-pollinated. However, even without the fruit, avocado is a nice decorative plant that can be kept indoors. There are several ways to get a new seedling starting from a seed; follow the steps in the article to sprout that of a store-bought fruit.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: Choosing an Avocado Fruit
Step 1. Purchase a ripe avocado
Gently squeeze it with your fingers to make sure it's slightly soft to the touch. Remember that it needs to be soft, but not mushy.
Part 2 of 6: Remove the Seed
Step 1. Cut the fruit in half using a sharp knife
Let the blade slide around the central seed without cutting or scratching it.
Step 2. Grab the two halves of the fruit and rotate your hands in opposite directions (for example right forward and left backward) to loosen the pulp from the seed
After dividing the avocado in half, remove the seed.
Step 3. Wash the seed with cold water to remove pulp residues
Part 3 of 6: Using the Kitchen Paper
Step 1. Prepare the seed for germination
Remove the two ends by cutting them with a sharp knife. Just remove a very thin slice. Opening the seed slightly favors the germination process.
Step 2. Wrap the seed with some damp paper towels
Step 3. Place the wrapped seed in a covered dish
Place the dish in a dark place, for example in a cupboard, and wait 2-3 weeks.
Step 4. Check if it has sprouted
From time to time go to see if the roots have started to grow. When they are about 8 cm long, the seed will be ready to be planted.
Part 4 of 6: Using Toothpicks
Step 1. Insert 4 toothpicks into the seed, one on each side, about halfway between the top and bottom ends
Step 2. Place the seed in a glass of water
The pointed part must face upwards and the toothpicks must rest on the edge of the glass to support the seed, which must remain immersed in water for only ¼ of its length.
Step 3. Place the glass on the windowsill, but out of direct sunlight
Step 4. Add more water as often as needed
Check the level periodically and make sure that the lower quarter of the seed always remains submerged.
Step 5. Look at the seed
In about 2-4 weeks it should start breaking at the bottom and a root should appear, followed by a shoot at the top. When the root is about 5-8 cm long, the seed is ready to be planted.
Part 5 of 6: Planting the Seed
Step 1. Prepare the vase
Make a layer of clay balls in the bottom of a small pot with holes for water drainage. Fill the remaining space with soil.
Step 2. Place the seed in the potting soil with the roots facing down
The shoots must remain exposed, as well as the upper third of the seed. Press the soil around the seed well, then water it.
Part 6 of 6: Caring for the Avocado Plant
Step 1. Place the pot in a room where the temperature remains between 16 and 27 ° C
Step 2. Water it periodically to ensure the soil is always moist, but be careful not to overdo it
Advice
- If some leaves of the plant turn yellow, it is because you are watering it too much. The avocado tree suffers from waterlogging and the roots tend to rot easily when the soil is soggy.
- If the seed does not crack and develop a root within 2-3 months, throw it away and try a new one following the same method.
- You can also try planting the seed directly in the soil without letting it root first. If this is the case, remove the brown outer skin, then plant it in a small pot with water drainage holes filled with fertile soil. The upper quarter of the suit must remain exposed. Water it periodically, but be careful not to overdo it.
- When the small sapling has grown too large to stand upright, transfer it to a larger pot.
