At least once, every person thought about how to grow some kind of fruit or vegetable on their own. To do this, you do not need to have private plot... You can also do with a home windowsill. But the question is what to grow. Everyone has long been accustomed to green onions and even tomatoes on the balconies. What about exotic plants?

For example, there are several ways how to grow an avocado from a seed and get a real tree. Moreover, if all the recommendations are followed, it will bear fruit even soon. Self-grown avocado will not only be useful product, but it will also become an exciting experience.

What is Avocado

Avocado has appeared on store shelves for a long time. Finding it in the supermarket is no problem. At the same time, it remains an exotic product, the origin of which is not known to everyone.

Avocado is a fruit, as strange as it sounds. It grows on a tree bearing the same name. The tree originates in the laurel family. Its height can reach 20 meters, but there are almost 400 varieties of fruit. Some of them are edible, but others are better not to be eaten.

The avocado looks like an ordinary pear. Differs in the color of the peel. It comes in green, red and purple flowers... The fruit tastes like pumpkin with a nutty flavor. In the process of maturation, it has different taste... The fruits themselves, eaten, weigh no more than 300 grams. Half of the weight comes from the bone in the very center. It is not worth trying, it contains toxic substances. But the pulp of the fruit has useful properties... The consistency of a ripe avocado resembles butter, with a rather oily pulp.

How to grow an avocado from a seed

Although the bone of this unusual fruit is not advised to be used as food, you should not throw it away. It is quite possible to grow a full-fledged tree from it. To do this, you just need to learn about some of the intricacies and secrets.

For these purposes, we need a bone from a ripe, healthy fruit. It is important that it is not damaged. Then you choose the very method of its germination. There are few such ways; you can germinate an avocado seed in water or earth.

How to germinate an avocado seed in water

To do this, place the avocado seed in half in water. It should be noted that it should be located with the sharp side up. Exactly dumb Bottom part subsequently gives the roots of the plant. You can put it in a container and fill it with water to the desired level, or you can use this method.

Several toothpicks are taken, with which you need to very carefully pierce the bone. The depth of the punctures should be small, half a centimeter is enough. After that, it must be immersed in a container filled with water. So, the bone will be covered with water at the required level - exactly to the middle. It is better to store the bone on a windowsill in a warm, sunny place.

Photo: We grow avocados from the seed at home

It is necessary to add water daily to the same level as at the beginning. Water must first be defended and monitored by its temperature, it should be 25-27 degrees.

If the bone is submerged in water using toothpicks, it is important that no water gets into the punctured areas.

Tip: To speed up the process of seed germination, you can pre-peel the skin in the part that is immersed in water.

After a few weeks, a sprout forms at the bone. The time of its appearance will depend on the season in which germination takes place. Avocados, like other plants, are positively affected by the sun's rays. The more sun the plant receives, the better for it.

After the roots grow to a length of 3-4 cm, you can transplant the avocado into the soil.

Photo: We grow avocados from the seed at home

What soil should be chosen for germinating avocado

This issue must be approached with full responsibility. You cannot plant avocados in absolutely any soil. This plant does not take root well in an acidic environment. The best choice will become a land for flowers, which is available for sale in any gardening store or large supermarket. This land has already been prepared in a special way, fertilized, and for better growth of the future avocado tree, it would be ideal to mix it with peat and sand.

You also need to take care that the bone has the ability to breathe in the soil. Therefore, you need to make sure that the soil is loose enough, and also remember to add drainage to it.

Choosing an avocado seed pot

In addition to the soil, due attention must be paid to the pot in which our tree will grow. For the initial planting, a small pot is selected. A 10 cm deep is fine.

The presence of several holes at the bottom of the pot is imperative. They allow unnecessary moisture to pass through. If this condition is neglected, rotting of the plant roots may begin. This can cause the death of your future tree. For the same reason, drainage is laid at the bottom of the pot, a couple of centimeters high. For this purpose, you can use expanded clay or special drainage granules. Drainage will remove excess water from the roots of the plant and will serve as an excellent means for aerating the soil.

When it comes to pot material, we recommend sticking with plastic. Clay or ceramic should not be chosen for this. fruit tree... Subject to all the above conditions, the avocado bone will be very comfortable and very soon it will definitely sprout.

Germinating avocado seeds in the ground

Germinating a bone in water is a very entertaining and visual activity. Here the whole process takes place before our eyes. But you can use another method to grow an avocado from a seed. Plant her directly into the ground. This option is less troublesome, but it will take much longer before the first shoots appear.

It is better to plant avocados in the spring. Especially it concerns this method germination (into the ground). This is due to the fact that at this time of the year the sun's rays are the most favorable, which help the sprout to break out of the bone.

A large pit is best for planting avocados in the ground. She is more capable of a quick emergence of the plant. When immersing a bone in the soil, its upper part must be left above the ground. This should be the pointed side of the bone. Accordingly, the widest part will be in the ground.

The planted bone must be transferred to a bright place. Watering should be carried out weekly at a large number... It is worth checking the soil and not letting it get dry. Water the avocado better with water filtered, with the addition of a small amount of salt (2-3 pinches).

A seed planted in this way will sprout no earlier than 3-3.5 months after planting.

Photo: We grow avocados from the seed at home

Tree care

Avocados are native to the tropics. This means that you need to create warm and wet conditions... The temperature in the room is maintained at least 22-25 degrees Celsius. It should be very light. However, the direct rays of the sun should not be allowed to reach the leaves of the plant. This can cause burns on them.

If the avocado endures a cold snap or, conversely, overheats, the leaves from the plant may crumble. This is not a reason to throw it away. Resume comfortable conditions and foliage will soon reappear on the tree.

It will be good to support the vital activity of the tree by spraying the leaves from a spray bottle with water. It is best to do this as often as possible. You also need to put a pallet under the pot with a tree, which must be filled with water.

If the tree is oversaturated with water, the leaves of the avocado will turn yellow. If it is lacking, it will turn brown.

Avocados are fertilized once a month on average. For feeding, you can use any complex mineral fertilizers... If this procedure is done in a timely manner, the tree will develop quite actively.

The most active growth time is considered to be 3 months after the formation of leaves. By the end of the third month, the tree will already be 50-55 cm high. After that, its growth slows down a little. Once the avocado reaches the height you want, you need to pinch the top.

Every year you need to pick up a pot for the avocado bigger size and replant it. This is done in mid-spring using the transshipment method. It is good to add clay and compost to the soil. But an adult avocado (over 5 years old) does not need to be transplanted more often than once every 2 years. It is better not to stress him unnecessarily with the transplant unless necessary.

Avocado fruit

Many who are interested in the question of how to grow an avocado from a seed pursue the goal of obtaining fruits. At home, this is possible. In the third year, the avocado has flowers.

Photo: We grow avocados from the seed at home

They look like a yellow-green bunch. For pollination to take place, you need to grow another tree. Then they can cross-pollinate. This procedure is performed with a soft brush three times a month. Mature pollen is removed from the blossoming flowers and transferred to the flowers of another avocado tree. These actions are best done in an early sunny morning.

Growing a few avocado trees at home can accomplish another goal. If you germinate 2 or 3 seeds in one pot, the stems can be intertwined. This weaving is done carefully, without damaging or breaking the stems of the plants. It looks very impressive.

Photo: We grow avocados from the seed at home

The desire to grow your own homemade avocado haunts many growers, although it is no secret that from the point of view indoor breeding it is a problem fetus. And this article is for those who are ready to "not stand up for the price" and grow an avocado from a seed.

On the problems of growing avocado

First, as numerous sources indicate, it is almost impossible to get a fruiting avocado at home. It seems that it is this “almost” that provokes exotic lovers.

Secondly, only ripe avocado seeds have the ability to sprout, and they are rarely brought to our stores.

Third, homemade avocados require cross-pollination to produce a full harvest. Self-pollination significantly reduces (but does not exclude) the likelihood of fruit emergence on seed-grown avocados.

Fourth, the leaves of some avocado species are poisonous and therefore can be dangerous to children or pets. Leaves of other varieties of this plant can cause allergies.

And, fifthly, an avocado tree that easily sheds leaves rarely looks decorative.

Germinating an avocado from a seed

As mentioned, not every avocado seed is ready to sprout. In order to keep the process under control, they resort to open way its germination, which we will describe below. Those who wish to follow the traditional path can plant the seed in the ground, deepening its blunt end by 2-3 cm. If the seed is ripe, it will germinate in fifteen to thirty days.

Open method for sprouting avocado from seed

The task is to hang the bone above the surface of the water so that its blunt end is immersed in the liquid. To do this, three or four small holes are made in the dense skin of the bones, into which matches or toothpicks are stuck. A bone suspended on such struts is placed over a glass of water, and make sure that it is always sunk by a third. After a while, the ripe seed will have roots and, possibly, a sprout. After the roots grow up to 3-4 cm, carefully, trying not to damage them, the bone is moved into a pot with earth.

Lighting... Avocado doesn't like straight sun rays... A north window or a closed loggia is fine. In winter, it's a good idea to organize.

The plant is thermophilic, dies at a temperature of 10-12 ° C.

Watering... Like any tropical plant, homemade avocados love to feel moisture around them. Frequent spraying, air humidification is required. Abundant and regular watering is necessary, the frequency of which will ensure constant uniform moisture in the coma.

Fertilizer... Once a month, they are fed with any complex fertilizer.

Use a mixture of garden soil, sand and peat (humus) in a 1: 1: 1 ratio. The earth should always be loose.

Transfer... A young avocado grown from a seed is transplanted once a year, an older one - once every two to three years. In the spring.

Formation... The formation of a tree is carried out by pinching young twigs after 4-7 leaves have appeared on them. The usual height of a homemade avocado is about one and a half meters.

Graft... Vaccination is done in order to obtain edible fruits. True, in our conditions it is difficult to find material for inoculation.

Potential Problems When Growing Pitted Avocados

The tree dries and leaves fall. Probable cause- too dry air, it is necessary to spray more often, place the pot on a pallet with wet moss or expanded clay. The second of possible reasons- drying out of the soil. It is important to ensure correct mode glaze.

The leaves of the plant become covered with dark spots and fall off... Perhaps the tree is disturbed by a draft, or it has suffered from mechanical stress. Sinking lower leaves- a natural process.

Irina Surdu specially for the site All about flowers

2012,. All rights reserved. Use of site materials in any form is prohibited. Copying articles with reference to the source - only with the written permission of the site administration.

Discussion: 10 comments

Do you need to change the water when we germinate a bone in a container with toothpicks?

Anyway, every three days, if not lazy, well, or once a month. You can add germination stimulants for seeds and seeds to the water, or a universal fertilizer! I-huh! To germinate faster.

))))))))) I just threw the seeds into a pot of soil) 2 avocados sprouted - without any trouble with toothpicks. more medlar, pomegranates, something from citrus fruits) such a magic pot turned out))

We, too, have sprouted an avocado just in a pot with soil, now about 20 centimeters. Besides, I would not say that it was especially ripe. I don't know, so by at least it seemed to me)

The attractive avocado bush has fragile twigs that are covered in glossy bark. The leaves of this plant are dark green, usually elastic and large in size, up to 25 centimeters in length. Leaves are either oval or lanceolate. Avocados have small bisexual flowers that open at the ends of the shoots. Growing an avocado from a seed at home is quite possible, while the tree reaches a maximum height of 2 meters.

The fruit tastes like ordinary butter. They contain many different vitamins. The fruit is often used to prepare various salads, Japanese cuisine. The plant is very popular now, so many want to know how to properly grow an avocado from a seed.

Choosing a seed for growing

To plant an avocado at home, you need to purchase a fully ripe fruit in which the seed will be in the necessary condition for germination. It is very easy to understand whether the fruit is ripe or not: you need to press on it from the sides, after which depressions must appear on the fruit, indicating that the stone is suitable.

The bone is taken out in this way: sharp knife the fruit is neatly cut lengthwise. When the fruit is ripe, the stone will easily separate from the pulp. Next, you need to pull it out, rinse thoroughly running water, then put on a plate for a couple of hours to dry. Now you need to prepare a container for planting.

Growing an avocado tree from a bone: basic methods

Nowadays, there are 2 methods of growing avocados from the seed:

1. she immediately sits down in the ground;
2. the seed first germinates in water.

Using the first method, a positive result will be noticeable only after a few weeks, and sometimes months. Thanks to the second method, the growing process moves much faster. In addition, planting directly into the ground is often performed by experienced flower growers who are well aware of all the subtleties of seed germination, are able to regulate the humidity of the air and substrate. Therefore, for someone who knows a little about floriculture, it is more suitable to pre-germinate the seed in water, and then plant it in the ground.

First, you need to make three small holes on the surface of the bone, for this you can use a thick needle. You just need to carefully pierce the top layer without damaging the inside. It is necessary to insert toothpicks or matches into the holes made. It turns out a kind of design with three handles sticking out in different directions.

After that, the bone is placed in a glass of water, so that its thick side goes down. The matches lie on the sides of the container, thereby preventing the bone from completely submerging. It is advisable to use boiled water that has been cooled to a temperature of 20-22 degrees. After a while, the water will evaporate, you need to top it up and make sure that the bone only touches the liquid and is not completely immersed.

After about 15 days, the first roots will appear. They will appear only if a small part of the bone is in the water all the time. A transplant into the ground is performed when the length of the roots is about 3 centimeters.

Planting a bone with roots in the ground

Growing an avocado from a sprouted seed is carried out in this way: loose soil is prepared, including: raw peat, humus, earth and sand, they must be taken in equal quantities, and 14 parts of lime are added to them.

You need to transplant into a plastic pot. It is better to take a small container, no more than 9 centimeters deep and wide. In its bottom, it is necessary to make 3-5 holes to drain excess water. It is imperative to pour drainage material at the bottom of the container, it can be expanded clay, crushed stone or foam crumbs.

A bone is dropped into the finished substrate, but it cannot be completely buried in the ground, in which case it will not germinate, but rot. It must be immersed in the substrate with a blunt end down about half. In the same way, propagation of an avocado from a seed is carried out without first germinating in water.

When the seed is planted in the substrate, you need to immediately create it in the room high humidity... In addition, you need to water the soil regularly so that it is always moist. With sufficient watering and a high humidity, the first leaves will appear quite quickly.

Caring for a tree grown from a bone

It is advisable to grow avocados in a bright, sunny room, but the plant must be protected from direct sunlight... The tree is thermophilic, however, it is better that the temperature in the room does not exceed 18-20 degrees. V winter period the temperature should not be allowed to drop below 12 degrees, this will be detrimental to the avocado, and the leaves will begin to fall off the tree.

In spring and summer, it is necessary to water the tree abundantly and regularly; the soil should not be allowed to dry out. In autumn and winter, you need to water less, and only when the soil dries up slightly. Waterlogging of the earth is not allowed. In addition, in autumn and winter, the plant needs additional lighting; for this, you can use special phytolamps.

In order for a tree to grow from a bone quickly and without problems, it is impossible for the air in the room to be dry. To moisturize it, you need to often and regularly spray it in the room, and it is also advisable to place an open container of water next to the planted avocado.

Why do I need to pinch a tree

The avocado grows fast enough, and it stretches upward. For this reason, you need to pinch the tree from time to time so that it takes on a bushy shape. When the tip is pinched, the plant begins to branch better. The procedure is performed so that the avocado takes on a stunted shape and later its shoots sprout from dormant buds. A tree is pinched at a height of at least 15 centimeters from the ground, while you need to leave three or four shoots. When the trunk grows to 20 centimeters, it is necessary to pinch the top again to form the branches of the next order.

For the first time, the procedure must be performed on the 8th leaf, after which the avocado will actively branch. And the branches are pinched over the 5th leaf.

A beautiful crown will form thanks to the correct pinching and regular tree care. Without this, the avocado will not bear fruit.

How a tree is pollinated

For an avocado to begin to bloom and actively bear fruit, it is not enough just to plant it from the seed and wait with folded arms. Although the plant can pollinate on its own, get good result possible only if cross-pollination is performed. Not every avocado flower will give fruit in natural conditions. For example, a tree 20 meters high, which blooms profusely, can produce no more than 200 fruits.

Cross-pollination can be done at home artificially for many avocado flowers. The procedure is carried out with a soft brush when the flowers have blossomed and the pollen is ripe, preferably in the morning on a sunny day. Cross-pollination is done 3 times a month and then the avocado needs to be fertilized. But if the tree was grown in violation of the above tips and conditions, then there will be no fruit on it. When it is cloudy and rather cool outside the window, then it is imperative to extend the lighting of the tree when it blooms. The plant should receive light during this period for 15 hours a day. Experienced florists a phytolamp is installed over it.

Proper feeding of avocados

The tree needs to start feeding when it is 1 year old. Approximately 4 times a year, it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizer in the spring and summer period 1-2 times a month. If fed mature tree, then you need to give him more nitrogen. This element is introduced into the soil 2 times a year, most often in February and June.

From time to time on an adult tree, a loss of color of the leaves may occur, they turn from green to yellow. The reason for this is the lack of iron and zinc. This is a fixable situation, the plant must be sprayed with iron chelate, as well as fertilized with preparations with a large amount of these elements.

How is an avocado transplant performed?

Young trees need to be replanted every year. It is best to perform this procedure in early spring when the plant begins to emerge from dormancy. You need to transplant only in fertile soil, and in new pot be sure to fill in the drainage material first.

It is advisable to take out a pot with a tree outside in the summer, on Fresh air however, it is worth remembering that young avocado is very sensitive to sunlight, its delicate leaves can suffer from the influence of the bright sun. Therefore, first you need to keep the avocado in the shade, and only sometimes take it out for a short while in the sun. In addition, you can whitewash the trunk to keep it healthy.

If it is impossible to completely transplant the plant, then you can remove the upper substrate, and pour the soil remaining in the pot abundantly with boiled warm water... Thanks to this, the soil will not be salted.

What diseases and pests do avocados have?

The most common plant pests are spider mites, false shields and shields. When they start, the edges of the leaves dry out, they turn yellow and fall off. To prevent this from happening, you need to regularly inspect the tree and observe it in order to timely detect pests and eliminate them.

When the avocado leaves turn brown and fall off, this indicates that the air in the room is very dry. To avoid this, you need to spray the plant with warm water more often.

When the leaves change color, then you need to adjust the lighting. The tree may not have enough light, or vice versa, there may be too much of it.

If you pinch, water and fertilize an avocado grown from a seed in time, then it can still bloom and bear fruit very rarely. Experienced growers say that fruits can appear only five years after planting. To speed up the fruiting of an avocado, you need to regularly pinch the tree.

So, grow a big tree Avocados are pretty simple and easy to seed if you follow the guidelines in this article. But it is very difficult to ensure that fruits appear on the avocado, not everyone succeeds. Neither correct, timely care, nor regular pinching of the tree, nor fertilization and watering may bring any result. However, there is no need to give up. Even if there are no fruits, you will have a very beautiful, overseas tree with huge, extraordinary leaves at home. A tropical, exotic self-grown avocado will be the real pride of the hostess or owner, this plant will always decorate the home and bring only positive emotions.

The fact that avocado feels great not only in the hot tropics, but also on the windowsill, has been convinced by many lovers of home plants. But to grow an exotic tree outdoors middle lane not everyone dares seasoned gardener... This caution is understandable: culture is extremely sensitive to low temperatures... And yet there are daredevils who, despite the difficulties, managed to "tame" the thermophilic plant.

Varieties of avocado

There are 3 well-known categories (races) of avocados in cultivation. However, for open ground middle latitudes are not suitable for all of them. The Guatemalan and West Indian races are immediately excluded because of their thermophilicity. The latter does not tolerate even zero temperature poorly. But the Mexican avocado is worth looking at. This race is able to withstand a drop in temperature to -6 ° C. Of course, this indicator of winter hardiness is very modest, but in the presence of a well-organized seat there is every chance of success.

Growing seedlings from fruit seeds

The technology of growing avocados from seeds is well known to lovers of homemade plant exotics. Trees for cultivation in the garden are grown in the same way:

• To obtain seeds, select several ripe fruits. You will need at least two bones, since in single landing avocado does not bear fruit well. For safety reasons, it is better to take a few seeds.
• The selected fruits are cut, the seeds are removed and washed under running water.
• In the hard shell of each bone, 3-4 holes are drilled into which matches or toothpicks are inserted.
• The bone on toothpick spacers is fixed over a glass of water so that its lower blunt part is immersed in liquid. V drilled holes water must not enter!
• After 2–4 weeks, the shell will burst, and the roots will appear a little later.
• When the length of the roots reaches 3-4 cm, the stone is planted in a loose nutritious soil, removed in a warm place and watered regularly.

This method of planting is very common among plant breeders, however, when planting, there is a high risk of root damage. If the seed is germinated in a different way, this problem can be avoided:

• The bones are soaked in hot water(about + 50 ° C), after which they are peeled off.
• The upper (sharp) part of the seed is cut (1 cm), the cut site is treated with a solution of any fungicide.
• The seeds are planted in separate pots with a diameter of 12-15 cm, filled with a soil-sand mixture. Sowing depth is about 2–3 cm. The cut must remain above the surface.
• Germination takes place in a dark place at a temperature of + 18–20 ° C. Seedlings appear in 20–30 days. During this time, crops are provided with regular, moderate watering.

At home, seedlings are kept until they reach a height of 35–40 cm, after which they are planted in the ground.

Planting place for avocado

In the middle lane, the cultivation of such an exotic crop as avocado is possible only in a specially dug trench, since in the open area the plant will freeze out in the first winter. Preparing a trench is a laborious process, so you should start it in advance:

• Having determined a warm, sunny area for planting, they dig a trench with a width of 1.2 m and a depth of about 1.5 m.
• The excavated soil is thrown on 2 sides. Fertile soil the top layer will subsequently serve as the basis for a nutrient substrate. At the end of the preparation of the trench, a protective shaft is formed from the poor soil of the lower layers, which shelters the plantings from the northern winds.
• The cold wall of the north side is made vertical, after which it is faced with bricks or sewn up with plywood sheets. To ensure uniform illumination of the future subtropical garden, it is recommended to paint plywood or brick white.
• The slope of the opposite direction is made gentle, and so that it does not overgrow with weeds, the soil should be covered with a black film.
• The bottom of the pit is drained with gravel, crushed stone or pebbles.
• A polycarbonate "roof" is installed over the finished shelter.

In a thoroughly prepared trench, tropical trees will not only be able to fully develop, but will also comfortably endure the harsh frosty winter characteristic of the middle lane. By the way, in such a shelter, you can successfully grow other thermophilic crops - figs, lemon, laurel, pomegranate.

Landing in the ground

On the appointed day of planting, work is carried out as follows:

• The soil of the fertile layer is generously filled with matured compost or humus.
• The resulting mixture is poured into a trench with a layer of about 40 cm and carefully trampled down.
• With an interval of 1.3–1.5 m, hills of earth 35–40 cm high are poured along the bottom of the trench.
• The seedlings are placed on hills without disturbing the old earthen coma, and the space around them is filled with a nutritious substrate.
• After planting, the soil is carefully compacted and watered abundantly.

Further development of seedlings will depend on how competent the care for them will be.

Watering mode

Avocados equally poorly tolerate both drought and waterlogged soil, so watering should be regular, but not plentiful. The need for a procedure is determined by immersion in the ground wooden stick to a depth of 20–25 cm. If the soil is dry and crumbly, the plants need water. After watering the soil trunk circle loosen, providing oxygen flow to the roots.

Top dressing

Avocados are fed quarterly with complex mineral fertilizers. For these purposes, special citrus fertilizers are also suitable. Organic matter is applied twice per season - at the beginning and at the end of the growing season. Once a year, the trees are sprayed with compounds containing iron and zinc. In order not to burn the roots of plants, top dressing is applied after abundant watering.

Pruning

Avocados are characterized by rapid growth, as a result of which the trees require formative pruning. Every spring, the tops and shoots of trees are shortened so that they do not look out of the trench, since excessively tall specimens will be very difficult to cover for the winter. Saplings with a pyramidal crown are rounded by pruning. Formative pruning is not required for mature plants. For them, the procedure is of a sanitary nature, during which sick, weak or dry branches are cut out.

Wintering avocados outdoors

At the end of autumn, the polycarbonate "roof" covering the plantings is removed. To prevent tropical trees from suffering from severe frosts, the trench is closed for the winter with a shield made of tightly knit boards. A thick layer of earth is poured over the shield. Until the snow falls, the structure can be additionally insulated with dry leaves or straw.

With the arrival of spring wood flooring remove, dry leaves are removed from the trench, and the polycarbonate is returned to its original place. Overexposing the avocado in a shelter is not worth it: in the heat, the plant will begin to flutter. The best way to do this is last days April.

After 5-7 years, the lucky ones who managed to grow a full-fledged tree will be able to taste the first harvest. Mexican avocado fruits weighing about 200–250 g have a thin skin and tender oily flesh. They are removed from the branches at the stage of technical ripeness, after which they are ripened, folded into a bag of thick waxed paper.

Sooner or later, each of us decides to plant a tree. And the point is not only that this is one of the three things that a man must do, but also that it’s just nice to watch how a sprout appears from the seed, how it grows and after a certain time becomes beautiful tree... In case you are not an experienced gardener and previously were not even kept in own hands any garden accessories, we advise you to start your experiments with avocado. If you do not know how to properly grow an avocado from a seed and are worried that such an experiment will not give the desired result, then just read this article, because in it we will tell you how to settle a beautiful exotic plant in your house.

Avocado belongs to the laurel family, in natural conditions it reaches eighteen meters in length. At home, the tree will be significantly shorter in length, and it will not give fruit, but despite this it looks very beautiful. In addition, this exotic fruit is completely unpretentious, and therefore a miracle will definitely happen.

To do this, you just need to buy the fruit you like in the store and you can safely start working.

The only trick is that you should definitely take only ripe fruit, since nothing may grow from an unripe fruit.

Sprouting avocado seeds at home in water

To plant an avocado seed at home, you need to go preparatory stage, that is, germinate the seed. To do this, select a bone from a mature, intact fruit and remove it. Be careful not to damage the bone when you cut the pulp. Do not make an incision deeper than 1 cm.

The stone is covered with a brown peel, which can be removed, but it is better to leave it anyway, it will fall off itself over time. Rinse the pit gently under warm running water to remove any remaining pulp.

There are 2 options for seed germination. You can simply place the bone on the bottom of a plastic cup with a little water so that half is above the water. But more often the method using toothpicks is still recommended. Insert 4 toothpicks into the bone no deeper than 5 mm and place on the surface of a glass of water. There should be only half of the bone under the water, the blunt part should be in the water, and the sharp part should be above the water. Place the glass in a well-lit place and prepare to wait. The water needs to be added and changed periodically, as it becomes contaminated with dust and microorganisms.

Most likely it will take a long time to wait, from 3 weeks to 2 months. First, the brown peel will crack, and then a crack will appear on the bone itself, a root will appear, and then a sprout in the upper part.

After the sprout appears, the seed can be planted in the ground, very carefully so as not to damage the root. The pot should be medium in size right away. The soil can be purchased at any gardening store. Don't forget drainage. Avocados do not tolerate drought or excessive moisture and standing water. It should be planted with the blunt side down, so that the top of the seed with the sprout is not sprinkled with earth. If the whole bone is covered, the sprout will begin to rot and you will not wait for the tree. While the tree is small, it needs to be watered daily, but in small portions. It will give you a sign that you are over-watering: the leaves will turn brown.

Germinating avocado seeds at home in the ground

The avocado seed is also sprouted in the ground. This will require soil mix from earth, humus, sand and peat. We take all components in equal parts and add 14 parts of lime. To prevent water stagnation, we make small holes in the bottom of the plastic container. The container will need a small one - only about 10 cm in depth and the same in diameter. At the bottom, we make drainage from expanded clay or foam. Now we start planting the bones.

Only half of it is immersed in the ground with a blunt tip down. The soil should always be moist, and then after a certain time avocado sprouts will appear.

Articles about indoor and ornamental plants

Transplanting an avocado seed into the ground

Avocado does not like soils that are too heavy, acidic and clayey, therefore simple land with garden plot will not work. The soil mixture will have to be prepared as follows: It must be taken in equal proportions garden land, peat, coarse sand, humus and a pinch of lime. Mix all components thoroughly. That's it, the soil mixture is ready. The same soil must be used in the case of planting the bones directly into the ground.

Since the soil from the garden can be filled with harmful microbes, it is better to try to disinfect the prepared mixture by spilling it with boiling water the day before planting a seed or sprouted seed.

For planting, it is better to take a simple plastic pot, no more than 15 cm high. Clay container is better in this case do not use, as the walls of such a pot can allow moisture to pass through, which is vital for an avocado. The bottom of the selected pot should be water-permeable, it should also be equipped with drainage system, which can be made using special granules or the usual expanded clay.

A seed with a sprout does not need to be completely buried in the ground. It is only necessary to dig it in by a third. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the root system.

Features of caring for an avocado tree

After the seedling began to grow, there will no longer be any special problems with growing avocados, all the most difficult things have been left behind. When creating a tree good conditions it will grow and develop rapidly, decorating the room with a lush crown.

Lighting. An adult plant does not need too much light; you can grow avocados in rooms facing north, east or west. From 12.00 to 16.00 be sure to shade from direct sunlight. In winter, it is advisable to provide additional lighting.

Air temperature. The plant is thermophilic, it will feel good in the range from +14 ° C to +21 ° C. The critically low indicator is +10 ° C.

Watering and humidity. The plant should be watered often, but without allowing dampness in the pot. Upper layer the soil should always be slightly moist. Air humidity is required at least 65%; to create a suitable microclimate, frequent spraying and decorative containers with water, placed near the avocado, are suitable.

Fertilization. After the avocado seed has been planted in the substrate, the seedling does not need additional nutrition. As it grows, fertilization can be started in the soil after 4–6 months. The procedure is carried out once a month, you can use any complex fertilizers intended for indoor floriculture.

Crown formation. To grow a beautiful tree with a lush crown, it is imperative to pinch. The first pinching of the main stem is recommended after the appearance of the 8th leaf. Next, form a crown from the side branches. As soon as the 5th-7th leaf appears on the young shoot, it should be pinched. Optimal height avocado at home - about one and a half meters.

Transfer. Young specimens should be replanted annually in the spring, choosing spacious containers. Upon reaching the age of 3-4 years, the tree can be planted in a tub and not disturbed for 3 years.