How to Start Your Own Avocado Tree
The next time you use an avocado in the kitchen, save the seed. Wipe away and remove any of the green fruit that might be left on the seed. Rinse the seed off and then pat dry. Allow to sit on the windowsill or somewhere close by until the skin becomes papery and is easy to peel off. Once you remove the skin you will need to slice the seed in half. Make the cut about a quarter inch from the bottom (the fat end).
Push three toothpicks, equal distances apart, around the middle of the seed. Place the seed on the top of a glass filled with water. Have the fat end of the seed resting in the water and the toothpicks resting on the rim of the jar. You should change the water periodically to provide fresh oxygen to the seed.
The seed will germinate in a few months and roots will form. Once that happens you will need to plant the seed in a soil filled container. Ordinary potting soil and a larger container, 8-12 inches, is perfect. Fill the container with soil to nearly an inch from the top. Make a small hole in the middle and place the seed, root-side down into the hole. Be careful not to plant it too deep, you want to have the top half of the seed above the soil line. Add extra soil around the seed to fill in any air holes that are close to the roots and then gently pat down the soil around the base of the seed. The tree's stem and leaves should be straight and pointing skyward. Water the tree so that the soil is completely saturated. In the future, water your plant regularly but never so much that the soil looks muddy. If the leaves turn yellow the tree is too wet. Let dry out for a few days before watering again.
Your tree will grow best if you feed it regularly. Pinch off the growing tip (light red stalk) at eight inches. Once the stem grows six more inches you should pinch off the two sets of leaves at the top. This will help your plant grow side shoots and more leaves, making it bushier. Each time the plant grows another six to eight inches pinch off the two newest sets of leaves on top.
Published by Cami Farmer Tozer
Cami has spent nearly l0 years writing launch documents as a United States Air Force contractor working closely with the Air Force, NASA, Boeing, ULA, etc. Cami recently created and designed the Probe Resour... View profile
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