It is undeniable that garnishing with avocado is a great way to enjoy a number of meals. This is in addition to its tremendous nutritional value. Although you may be used to buying your avocados from the store, learning how to grow avocados is something you should consider especially if you love the fruit as much as I do.
Although it usually takes a long time (5 to 13 years) to produce fruit, the benefits that come after the waiting phase make the whole process worth it. Imagine having a tree full of creamy avocado in your garden. You will not need to spend so much buying from the store anymore! If you are ready to have a whole avocado tree to yourself, read on to learn how to grow avocados from seed in two different ways.
How To Grow Avocados in Water
If you have planted any trees in the past, you will notice that most trees are planted in the soil from the first day. Although this is also applicable to avocados, it is not always the case. You can plant avocado in water and transfer it later or plant it directly in the soil. Below is a step-by-step explanation of how to grow an avocado seed in water.
1. Clean the Seed and Mark Its Top and Bottom
Firstly, remove the seed also called the pit carefully from the avocado. Wash it clean without cutting or removing the brown skin that covers it. If need be, soak the seed in water for a few minutes before cleaning it up properly.
Although the shape of the pit may vary with fruit, all avocado seeds have a top and a bottom. While some seeds are more spherical, some have clearly defined tips and bases. The stem will grow from the narrow top while the root will grow from the flat bottom.
Therefore, it is important to mark both ends so that you can place the seed in the correct position to help it grow. This is how to grow avocados and get the best results.
2. Pierce Seed With Toothpicks and Place in a Glass of Water
After identifying the two ends, hold the pit with the narrow top up and flat bottom down. Next, pierce three to four toothpicks around the circumference of the seed at a slightly upward angle. These toothpicks will support the pit and prevent it from becoming completely submerged in water.
In case you do not like the idea of using toothpicks or are struggling with stabilizing the seed with the toothpicks, you can get growing kits or glass and jar toppers. With these materials, you can suspend the seed effortlessly in the water.
Consequent to piercing the seed with toothpicks, place it in a glass of water and ensure that it is partially immersed. Also, endeavour to change the water regularly (every 5 days) to prevent fungal and bacterial growth.
3. Allow It To Sprout Then Transfer It to the Soil
Sprouting usually takes between 2 weeks to 8 weeks. Hence, you have to be patient with the process. The pit first cracks open from top to bottom before the root and shoot start to grow. When the tree is about 15cm tall, transfer it to the soil in a pot and continue to nature it there.
Since you love avocado, I’m guessing you love healthy meals. Learn more about healthy meals and healthy meal ideas in the articles below
How To Grow Avocados in the Soil
If you prefer to plant your seed directly into the soil to avoid the hassle of planting it in water first, follow these steps on how to grow avocados in the soil for better results.
1. Clean and Peel Off the Skin of the Pit
Take out the seed, clean and peel the brown skin on the seed. The skin might be firmly attached to the seed, so you may need to detach it using a peering knife. If you accidentally cut into the pit, you do not have to worry because a slight cut will not affect the germination of the seed.
2. Put Some Soil in a Pot and Press the Seed In
One of the secrets of how to grow avocados and get the best results is in the soil. The best soil for planting avocado seeds is slightly acidic soil with a PH of 6 – 6.5. Add enough water to moisten the soil, but provide good drainage so that the soil does not become flooded.
Next, press the seed into the soil such that only half of it is in the soil and you can still see it. Ensure that the bottom part goes in while the top starts up.
3. Provide Warmth, Moist and Sunlight
Avocado needs sufficient sunlight to grow well. Also, a humid and warm soil of about 18°C to 39°C will help your plant grow healthily. More so, check regularly to ensure that the soil remains moist. Just like I mentioned with how to grow avocados in water, it may take between 2 – 8 weeks before you start seeing the root and stem.
Extra Tips on How To Grow Avocados
- When your plant is about 12cm tall, pinching out the first two leaves will help make it fuller. Repeat the same when it grows 6cm more.
- Similar to the first tip, when the plant is about 15cm tall, cut it down to 8cm so as to encourage new growth.
Finally
The process of growing an avocado tree may take a long time, but the benefits you get from the fruit make it worth it. Here, we have discussed how to grow avocados in two different ways. We have discussed how to grow an avocado seed in water and how to grow avocados in soil. The steps are simple and easy to practice.
If you found this guide on how to grow avocados from seed helpful, kindly let us know in the comment section below.
