Growing Avocados From Seed

It is a lot of fun to present someone with a gift that you have created. That is possible with mini avocado trees. I propagate these in a corner of the house without any hard work or sophisticated equipment. The folks that receive these gift plants are tickled. The seedlings are even suitable for youngsters as a means of introducing them to indoor gardening and to help them develop a sense of responsibility in terms of watering.

I begin by saving the seeds of the avocados left over from salads. I clean them, and set them in a corner of the kitchen counter on a small piece of paper towel. Over a period of two to three weeks, the paper-like covering over the seeds will begin to dry. At that point, this can be gently rubbed off, a step that will help minimize the possibility of mold and mildew.

When the seeds are cleaned, I carefully poke three toothpicks about halfway up the sides. The toothpicks may break, but be patient and keep trying. I have found the rounded toothpicks work a little better for this. Next, I place the seed with the rounded end down and the pointed end upwards into a small jar filled with water. The lower half of the seed should be immersed in the water with the toothpicks resting on the rims of the jar. At this stage, the jar can go almost anywhere indoors. Usually, I pick a spot out of direct sun.

I keep a watch on the jar and change the water as it becomes the least bit dirty or cloudy. At the same time that I am doing that, I give the jar a good washing as well. In between times, I add a little additional water as some evaporates below the halfway point.

It will take several weeks, sometimes three or four or even more, for the seed to show any signs of growth. The first clue will be when several long white roots begin appearing at the bottom of the seed and growing into the water. Following that, single or multiple stems will begin to appear at the top within about another month. Normally, these will cause the seed to start splitting. Over a period of time, these stems will begin to produce small, shiny leaves.

Not all of the seeds will produce growth. Any that don't show signs of life after five or six weeks should be discarded.

The plant should be potted up at this point. I normally use a soiless potting mix, and pot them into five or six inch containers. At that point, the containers need to be placed in full sun or set under indoor plant lights. The new avocado plants will be large enough within several months to distribute to friends. Because avocado plants grow slowly, they can be kept indoors as houseplants for some years. As they grow larger, they can be repotted as needed.

Usually, I take the containers outdoors for the summer months. They do require hardening off just as any other plant you are moving to the outdoors. Otherwise, they aren't fully accustomed to full sun outside.

Because avocado plants are so lush and tropical-looking, they make wonderful patio container plants. Their shiny, dark green foliage is very attractive. Often, they will have reddish tinges on the newest growth.

In sub-tropical and tropical regions, the trees can be planted outdoors. They may not be good fruit producers since most commercial varieties are hybrids. However, they can still serve as shade trees and attractive evergreens for landscapes in warm regions. When grown outdoors, they require a sunny spot with well-drained, reasonably fertile soil. As houseplants, avocado plants will rarely encounter insect or disease problems. The potting soil should be kept moist. Whenever you water, add enough so that it runs out the drainage holes of the pot. This helps to keep salts under control. I add a soluble fertilizer to the water about once a month at about half the recommended rate listed on the fertilizer label.

So far as blooms and fruit set are concerned, avocado plants are unusual in some respects. The flowers come in both male and female versions. However, these are ready for pollination at different times. The females are only receptive to pollination for a limited period. There are even some varieties that do not produce any mature pollen, thus requiring another variety for pollination. Bees are largely responsible for the pollination process.

The origin of the plant's name stems from the ancient Aztec word, ahucatl. Originally native to Mexico and Central America, this was initially introduced to parts of the Caribbean by early Spanish explorers.