Avocado Dilemma

[carolaa]

OK, I love avocadoes, and I had this great idea that I could sprout some seeds and plant them and have all the avocadoes my heart desired. So I saved several seeds and put them in water to sprout. More than a month later, nothing had happened and I finally threw them out. What did I do wrong? I'm wondering if these avocadoes have been genetically modified to not reproduce.

[carolaa]

Thank you, dgrimm60. No, I didn't do toothpicks. I probably did everything wrong. I have an infamous "black thumb," you know. But I did read somewhere that in-home plants often do not bear fruit, even if they sprout and grow.

[LynnDel]

If you start with a really ripe avocado - one so ripe that it's past edibility, you have a better chance. It's even better when you get one in which the seed has already started to crack open from the internal sprout.

I've had best luck with I cut off the top 1/2 inch or so of the seed, then suspend it in water as dgrimm said. Several of mine have grown a foot or more while in the house, at which point I've planted them outside where they grow into little trees until one of our regular deep freezes kills them off. I just live too far north for it to work for long.

[Pockey]

not sure how to grow them, but best food evarrrr!

[Neil D]

I've had best luck with I cut off the top 1/2 inch or so of the seed, then suspend it in water as dgrimm said. Several of mine have grown a foot or more while in the house, at which point I've planted them outside where they grow into little trees until one of our regular deep freezes kills them off. I just live too far north for it to work for long.

Is the "cut side" of the avacado out of the water or in the water, lynndell?

[LynnDel]

Uh... I'd set the root end (rounded side) down, Neil. Most plants I know tend to grow that way. OK, basic gardening lesson over.

The cutting is not actually necessary, I just had better luck with it. I think that in my very dry climate, the end of the tip that is out of the water would dry out and the pointed tip kind of sealed itself together, making it more difficult for the sprout to break out.

If you set the toothpicks closer to the top, you don't have to keep your water container as full. You have to wait 2 to 6 weeks for anything to happen. Put it in a clear container so that you can easily see the roots grow. It's fun!

Here's more I found on The Garden Helper:

Quote:

They are also easily sprouted in a well-drained 4- or 5-inch pot of porous, fertile soil. The top of the seed should just barely peek above the surface of the soil. If the soil is kept fairly moist and the temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees, the seed will begin to sprout and a pretty, leafy plant will develop.

When the seedling reaches 12 inches, it should be pinched back to about 6-8 inches to produce a rounder, fuller plant.

Avocados grown inside thrive in sun or in a good, lighted location. Once they've filled their pots up with healthy roots, they should be potted in larger ones. Repotting should be done in the spring. Well-rooted plants should be given a dilute liquid fertilizer every week or two. Watering should be done so that the soil never becomes really dry but isn't ever soggy and waterlogged. They should be fertilized with a balanced houseplant food every two or three weeks in the summer and about every six weeks during the winter. It's also a good idea to mist the leaves of your Avocado if the air in your home is very dry. Indoor trees need low night temperatures to induce bloom. Transplanting should be done in early spring. Potted plants should be moved outdoors gradually, so they can acclimatize themselves, and adjust to the new elements.

[Amelia]

I found this on The Gardners Network

Quote:

How to Grow

Here are a few easy steps to growing your first Avocado:

Cut open an Avocado fruit.

Carefully, remove the pit (or seed). Be careful not to cut the seed with your knife.

Clean the Avocado off, and let dry overnight.

Remove the dry, papery outer coating.

The seed will have a flat side and a pointed side. The pointed side will be up, and the flat side will be emersed in water.

Insert three or four toothpicks part way into the sides of the seed.

Fill a small glass or jar with water.

Set the Avocado seed into the water with the toothpicks resting on the rim of the glass..

Adjust the water level so the bottom 1/3 to 1/2 of the seed is in water.

Place the jar with the seed in a cupboard, or in a place where it is out of sunlight.

Check regularly and add water as needed.

In 10 to 12 weeks, the seed will sprout a tap root. Then, a shoot will appear at the top. Take the seed out of the water, and plant it with just the tip showing.

After the plant reaches 6-8 inches, you can pinch the top to promote bushier growth.Your Avocado tree should grow for years. It can be grown indoors. In southern locations it is usually grown outdoors.

Water thoroughly. Let the top of the soil dry between waterings. Add a general purpose fertilizer once a month. Your Avocado plant likes moderate to full sun.

[Dr. Shane]

I suggest going to a local nursery and buying a plant. If they do not sell avocado plants it is probably because the local climate doesn't allow them to grow there.

Quote:

What are the climate requirement of an avocado tree?

The avocado tree is a native understory tree to the humid and semihumid tropics. It seems to do best at moderately warm temperatures (60 - 85F) and moderate humidity. It can tolerate temperatures, once established, to around 32 - 28F with minimal damage.

[jasd]

If your city is anything like Los Angeles, cruise the neighbourhoods to spot avocado trees overhanging alleyways. That which overhangs the fenceline is on public property.

I had my favorite 'overhanging' trees that had I not 'harvested' occasionally, would spill its fruit only to rot. Being addicted to 'world-class' homemade guacamole, it is needless-to-say,

I was a conscientious harvester - and regret that practically the only overhanging trees thisaway up north are crab apple trees. Ah well, I suppose I might as well learn to make

crab apple jelly...

Per, homegrown thingees: I like to make salsa - so, grow tomatoes. After having gone through the tedious task of saving seeds from a particularly flavorful hybrid, I planted with expectations and found that that that beautiful large red tomato reverted to a yield of small, yellow, cherry tomatoes. ...word to the wise,

buy a commercially started sapling about 4-5 years old.

[nuff sed]

There are no seeds of hybrids that I know of that will grow the hybrid fruit. If you find some fruit or vegetable that you like you must always purchase the hybrid variety plant/tree if you wish to grow it yourself................HOWEVER.............. branches from hybrid trees can be grafted onto root stock to continue producing the hybrid fruit. I have not tried it with hybrid plants but I do not see why it wouldn't work.