Growing an avocado from a seed at home

Avocado is a type of tropical fruit tree that is very popular with exotic plant lovers. Many of them have a plant in their collection, since it is quite easy to grow an avocado with your own hands. But in order for it to grow and please its owner, careful care is needed.

Features of homemade avocado tree

A home-grown avocado tree has a number of features:

1. In its natural habitat, the plant grows to a height of 20 meters, and a small tree growing at home reaches a maximum of 2.5–3 meters.
2. Fruiting of this tree is very rare. It is mainly used as a decorative element.
3. If you are lucky, the fruiting of the tree begins at 3–6 years of growth. Its fruits are quite edible, although they are slightly inferior to the imported ones in taste.
4. The plant purifies the air, and thanks to the original and lush crown, a warm and cozy atmosphere prevails in the room.

Conditions for growing avocados

To grow an avocado from a seed at home, you must adhere to some rules. It is better to plant seeds in spring, it is during this period that active growth of plants is observed. For harvesting planting material, it is necessary to choose a ripe fruit that does not have deformations.

Indicators of a ripe product are the peel of the fruit of a dark color, dense and elastic pulp, after pressing on the fruit, it regains its shape, the bone is easily separated from the pulp, a high-quality bone is the size of a quail egg.

If the product is slightly unripe, you need to put it in a paper bag with products that contain a large portion of ethylene - this is a gas that accelerates fruit ripening. These include bananas, apples, or tomatoes. When storing the fruit at a temperature of 18 to 23 degrees, after 2 days, the avocado will reach the required condition.

Avocado seed germination stages

Growing an avocado at home from a seed is done in this sequence.

The seed is removed. To do this, a small incision is made in the center of the fetus, 1 cm deep and carefully, with rotating movements, its bone is cut out. Further, it is washed under running water without damaging the brown shell.

Before germinating an avocado, a place is prepared for its growth:

1. A drainage system is laid in the pot, for which ordinary gravel or expanded clay is suitable.
2. A nutrient mixture is prepared, consisting of equal parts of humus, garden soil and sand. Since you can plant an avocado directly in the soil, for the normal germination of its seed, it must have a loose consistency.
3. The prepared mixture is poured into the pot, leaving a little free space, 1–2 cm from the top edge.

The seed is germinated using different methods.

How to germinate an avocado seed

The closed method provides for the germination of planting material directly in the soil. To do this, the bone is placed in the ground 25 mm deep, the sharp end is on top and watered well, soaking the entire soil. The container is placed in a warm place with good lighting and watered throughout the entire germination period. After 20-30 days, a sprout will appear.

The open method of growing avocados is to hang the seeds in a container of water, suspended. This requires:

• prepare a glass or other container;
• in the middle part of the seed, from different sides, make 3-4 holes into which toothpicks are inserted, 2-3 mm deep (they act as a support so that the seed cannot completely submerge in water, but only its lower part);
• the seed is placed in a prepared container with cold water, with a blunt end, and the immersion of the planting material should be 1/3 of its part;
• instead of water, you can use a hydrogel, which is able to retain moisture for a long time;
• throughout the entire period of germination, you need to ensure that the water level does not decrease;
• after the first root appears, the plant can be transplanted into the ground, but in order for the plant to take root, its roots must be at least 30 mm.

It takes 2 to 6 weeks for the first roots to appear.

Avocado seed contains a substance such as persin, which disrupts the digestive system and causes various allergic reactions. Therefore, it is recommended to work with rubber gloves.

Conditions for growing an avocado tree

After the avocado seed has been planted at home, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures to arrange its place.

For the normal growth of avocados, you need to comply with some requirements:

1. Regular moistening of the soil, which occurs as it dries. On average, watering is performed once every 10 days. In the winter season, the tree is watered less often, allowing the soil to stand dry for a couple of days, this is necessary to maintain the optimum level of soil moisture.
2. Maintaining humid air is achieved in different ways - this is placing a pot with a tree next to crops that release a lot of moisture, spraying the leaves of plants, in the summer season or heating, the pot is placed on a pallet with wet sand.
3. Providing a favorable temperature regime in the room, which should be in the range of 16-20 degrees. In winter, the temperature is favorable - 10-12 degrees, as the plant falls into a state of dormancy and sheds its leaves.
4. Timely feeding of the plant. On average, it is performed 1–2 times a month. For feeding, mixtures are used for growing ornamental crops.

When the leaves turn yellow, you need to pay attention to the frequency and amount of watering. This is usually a sign of over-watering.

Avocado tree decoration

Before growing an avocado from a seed at home, you need to think over all the nuances of its decorative design:

1. Some options involve planting several shoots in a pot, with further intertwining of their stems, thereby obtaining a lush and original tree.
2. To obtain a tall tree, it is recommended to transplant it at least once a year.The favorable period for this procedure is the end of February, this is the time when the plants actively begin to grow. The first transplant should be carried out when the tree reaches a height of 15 cm.
3. To reduce the intensity of avocado growth, pinching of its top is carried out. This procedure accelerates the growth of lateral shoots, which makes the crown lush and attractive.

Forming pruning is done in the spring when all plants are actively growing. The first pruning of the top is done after 8-10 leaves, in the presence of lateral shoots, their shortening is performed after 5 leaves.

From seed germination to a formed tree - video

Avocado is a well-known fruit that came to us from tropical countries. Many lovers of exotic flora dream of getting this capricious guest on their windowsill. Growing an avocado from a seed at home is a snap. But in order for the tree to grow in the future and become a real decoration of your interior, you will have to learn several rules for caring for it.

What are the chances of growing an avocado at home

Avocado multiplies easily, so it's easy to grow it indoors from store-bought fruit.. The fastest growth of avocados is observed in the spring.... But this culture, most likely, will serve only a decorative function. The avocado growing in the natural environment reaches a height of 18–20 meters. The size of a tree obtained at home will not exceed 2.5 m.In addition, fruiting of such a plant does not always occur. But thanks to the lush crown, the avocado looks attractive even without flowers and fruits. Also, this tree is useful in that it effectively purifies the air.

Avocado grows well at home, but rarely bears fruit

Important! Choose only ripe fruit in the store, without visible damage or signs of wilting.

How can a seed germinate: two ways

Work needs to start with the preparation of planting material. The bone should be easily removed from the pulp, have a raised surface and be as large as a large quail egg. You can get a suitable option only from a ripe fruit. The ripeness of the fruit can be determined by the dark color of the peel and firm pulp.

Before planting, the seed must be removed and germinated.

Important! Press lightly on the fruit: if it regains its shape, the seed is suitable for planting.

You can buy unripe avocados if there are no others on sale. But it will first need to be put in a paper bag along with ripe apples, tomatoes or bananas and stored at a temperature of 18-23 ̊С for 1-2 days, avoiding direct sunlight. Ripe fruits contain a high concentration of ethylene - a gas that speeds up the ripening of fruits, and it will help your avocado to reach the desired condition.

The next step is to extract the planting material. Cut the avocado in half, turn the flesh out and remove the pit.

There are two ways to germinate it:

• closed;
• open.

Important! Avocado seed contains persin, a toxic substance that can provoke disruption of the digestive system and severe allergic reactions. Therefore, work is best done with protective gloves.

The closed method involves planting the seed directly into the soil... To do this, we need to do the following:

1. Prepare the pot, put a 1.5–2 cm thick drainage layer on the bottom. Expanded clay or small pebbles are suitable for this purpose.

   In pots, be sure to make a drainage layer

2. Combine equal proportions of sand, humus and garden soil to make a nutrient mixture.... You can also use ready-made soil mixture, but keep in mind that it must be loose and well-drained. Fill the pot with this mixture, no more than 1-1.5 cm to the top edge.

   We fall asleep on the drainage layer loose light soil

3. Place the bone with the blunt end to a depth of 3 cm. Water.
   

   Dip the avocado seeds 3 cm into the ground and pour

4. Place the pot in a warm and well-lit place such as a windowsill. After 20-30 days, the seed usually sprouts. Keep the soil moist all the time, do not let it dry out.
   

   Avocado germinates within 20-30 days

The open method involves germinating the seed in water... This will require a glass or other suitable container. Your actions will be as follows:

1. Punch 3 holes in the center of the bone. Then insert 3–5 mm toothpicks into each of them.

   Insert toothpicks into the bone

2. In this form, place the bone with a blunt end in a container filled with cold water. Adjust the water level so that only one third of the planting material is submerged in the liquid.

   We lower the bone in a glass of water by a third

3. Watch the water level, it is necessary that it does not change. You can transplant avocados into the ground after the roots have grown 3-4 cm. Root formation takes 1-6 weeks depending on the season.

   We are waiting for the bone to give a root 3-4 cm long

Home conditions for active tree growth

At home, it is difficult to achieve fruiting avocado. The plant yields only 5% of the time. If you are lucky, your tree will begin to bear fruit at 3-7 years of age, and these fruits will be quite suitable for human consumption, although they are usually inferior in taste to the purchased ones. Also, with this method of growing, the avocado will not reach its natural size, its growth will stop within 2–2.5 m.

For an avocado, a number of necessary conditions must be provided, then your tree can grow up to 2.5 meters

For the successful growth of this culture, the following set of conditions must be observed.

1. Regular watering... The plant needs watering as the soil dries out. As a rule, 1-2 times a week is enough. To maintain optimal soil moisture in the cold season, water the crop limited - only 2-3 days after the soil has completely dried out.
   

   Important! If the leaves of the tree turn yellow, this indicates over-watering.

2. Diffused light... Avocado is a light-loving plant, but at the same time it must be protected from direct sunlight so that there are no burns on the leaves. The culture is placed on the south, east or west window.
3. Wet air... This plant does not tolerate dry air well. There are several ways to maintain moisture readings at the required level:
   • the simplest, but troublesome way is to hang towels soaked in water around the room;
   • it is advisable to install plants next to the avocado with large leaves that evaporate a lot of moisture;
   • it is necessary to spray the leaves of the avocado up to 5 times a day from a fine spray bottle;
   • in summer and during the heating season, you need to place a pot with a tree on a pallet with wet sand or expanded clay.
4. Long daylight hours... In autumn and winter, the plant is illuminated using fluorescent lamps or phytolamps for 12 hours a day, and during the flowering period they provide it with 15 hours of daylight.
5. Compliance with the temperature regime during growth and rest... Temperature indicators in the room are set within 16–20 ̊С. During winter, avocados often enter dormancy and shed their leaves. In this case, the temperature is lowered to 10–12 ̊С. At higher rates, the plant dries and leaves fall, but the avocado usually does not die.
6. Fertilizer... You also need to take care of feeding. The frequency of fertilization depends on the season. Avocados are fed 2-3 times a month in spring and summer, and 1 time in autumn and winter. Mixtures for ornamental flowering plants are used as fertilizers. For example, Biochelate (10 ml per 2 liters of water) is suitable.
7. Timely transplant... As it grows, the plant is transplanted into a larger pot.The first time this procedure is carried out when the avocado reaches 15 cm in height. In the future, the transplant is carried out annually. In this case, the same soil composition is used that was used during planting. The most suitable time for transplanting is spring.
   

   Each time they pick up a pot with a diameter of 5 cm larger than the previous one.

8. Formative pruning... To increase the decorative properties of the avocado, pruning is carried out. Otherwise, the tree will only develop in height. Pruning is done in March. In the first year, the top is shortened after 7–8 leaves, lateral shoots - after 5–6 leaves. In the future, the height is maintained at the desired level. The formation of the crown should be carried out annually in the spring.

Table: possible cultivation problems and methods for their elimination

Video: how to care for an avocado tree

Reviews

I grow avocados in my room. It grew out of my bones. It sprouts very well, just be patient. I immediately plant the bone in the ground so that a third of the sharp end sticks out of the ground. At first it grows into one trunk, then gradually begins to branch. Can be shaped, is not afraid of pruning.

My avocado died after 2 years. And they watered and changed the land. Nothing saved him. This is not a domestic plant.

It is, of course, possible to grow an avocado from a seed, but it takes a very long time. It will take a couple of years to tinker with an avocado for the central trunk to just woody. And there is a high probability that in another three years this tree will wither away.

In indoor conditions, an avocado does not live long (no more than 6 months), if you do not deal with it and create conditions suitable for it.

Video: practical tips for growing avocados (part 1)

Video: practical tips for growing avocados (part 2)

Anyone can grow an avocado from a seed. For this, the culture must be provided with timely watering, top dressing, and a certain level of humidity and temperature must be maintained. But getting exotic fruits is unlikely to succeed. In the vast majority of cases, avocado is used as an attractive ornamental tree.

Hello! Let's get to know each other, my name is Yana Dmitrieva, a foreign economic activity manager by education.

For a real gardener who is passionate about his work, nothing is impossible - almost all tropical fruits can be grown from the seed: lemons, tangerines, pomegranates, date palm.

It is important to follow a number of simple rules in the care and choose a suitable place for the plant.

In this article, we figure out how to grow an avocado from a seed at home so that there are fruits.

Content:

1. How to grow an avocado from a seed in a pot - method number 1
2. How to grow an avocado from a stone at home - method number 2
3. Conditions for growing avocados at home + photos of plants
4. How to grow an avocado from a seed for fruits

Avocado is an evergreen fruit tree from the laurel family.

Under the usual growing conditions - in the Caribbean or in Mexico - its height reaches two tens of meters.

A bush grown at home in a tub will not exceed 2.5-3.

At the same time, it will be more of a decorative value, since no one can guarantee that the tree will begin to bear fruit.

This can take from three to six years, and it will take a lot of work.

At the same time, such an exotic plant not only decorates the apartment, but also perfectly cleans the air.

It is possible to grow an exotic avocado at home

How to grow an avocado from a seed at home in a pot - method number 1

Buy a ripe fruit from the store with no visible dents or discoloration on the skin.

If you can't buy ripe fruit in the supermarket, you need to wrap the unripe avocado in paper and give it a few days to ripen.

Then remove the bone, make delicious guacamole from the pulp and start sprouting the tree.

It is better to plant a seed in spring, when the most active growth of all plants is observed.

Avocado is, in principle, unpretentious, so you can just stick the seed into the ground and water it periodically, but this way it will take up to three months to germinate.

You will need a ripe fruit bone

Here's how to doThisfaster:

Rinse the bone removed from the fruit thoroughly with running water at room temperature, taking care not to damage the brown peel.

Then prepare the pot for sprouting the fruit:

1. Lay a drainage system consisting of expanded clay or gravel on the bottom. You can purchase ready-made drainage from a gardening store.
2. Prepare the soil from equal parts of earth, sand and humus - it should turn out to be loose in consistency.
3. Transfer the soil to a pot, 1-2 cm short of sleep to the edge.

Place the bone inside with a blunt end to a depth of about 25 mm.

Water well and place the pot in a warm, bright place. Water the soil regularly as the soil dries.

The first sprout, subject to all conditions, should appear in about a month.

The sprouts will hatch in about a month.

How to grow an avocado from a seed at home in a pot - method number 2

Step by step guide:

1. Prepare a jar or glass.
2. In the middle of the bone on four sides, make holes 2-3 mm deep, as shown in the photo below, and insert toothpicks - they serve as a support.
3. Place the bone by a third in a container of cold water with the blunt end down.
4. Before the first root appears, make sure that the water level in the glass does not decrease.
5. The plant can be transplanted into the ground when the roots that appear have reached about 3 cm in length - it will take up to 2 months.
6. Make sure to drain well in the pot before planting.
7. Plant the bone itself about halfway into the ground.

Make holes in the bone

Tip: You can use a hydrogel instead of water to germinate avocados.

Place the workpiece in a glass of water You need to transplant a plant with a strong root system.

Soon after planting, sprouts of the future tree will appear. Their shade should be reddish.

The first three months of life, the plant develops rapidly and can gain up to 50 cm in height without acquiring lateral shoots.

At the same time, you need to pinch the top of your head.

When the avocado is past the 15 cm mark, transplant it into a new pot.

The composition of the soil is the same as that which you used during planting. The pot should be 5 cm wider and taller than before.

In the future, replanting avocados is recommended every spring.

The plant needs regular replanting

How to grow an avocado from a seed at home - growing conditions

In order for the bush to take root and grow well in an apartment, it needs regular care and maintenance of the "correct" conditions:

Watering

The plant needs a sufficient amount of moisture, so you need to water the avocado 1-2 times a week.

In the cold season, it is advisable to reduce the frequency of watering and water the tree about the third day after the soil dries.

Tip: If the avocado leaves turn yellow and begin to fall off, it is likely that you are "overflowing" the tree.

Avocados need regular watering and plenty of light.

Light

The homeland of avocados is hot sunny countries. That is why a home-grown tree cannot survive without a lot of light.

Place the tub by the south or southeast window and protect the plant from direct sunlight - they can provoke leaf burns.

In winter, use additional light sources - fluorescent or phytolamps.

The distance between them and the plant should be about 40 cm. It is imperative to turn on such a lamp for 3-4 hours a day.

Humidity

The plant has a hard time tolerating excessively dry air, so spray the leaves regularly with a spray bottle.

Place open containers with plain water nearby and keep away from open sources of heat - batteries, stoves, electric heaters.

It is better to set the pot itself among other flowers with large leaves, since they evaporate a lot of moisture.

Avocados need a lot of light and moist air.

Temperature regime

The most comfortable temperature for a tree's life ranges from 16 to 20 degrees, while in winter it drops to 10-12.

Therefore, if conditions permit, it can be taken out to the glazed balcony.

In the cold season, avocados can shed their leaves - do not worry ahead of time.

With the onset of warmth, active growth will resume.

Top dressing

Like any houseplant, the avocado needs regular fertilization - in spring and summer 2 times a month. In winter, one is enough.

Any fertilizer for decorative flowers is suitable as a special food.

For the tree to take shape, it needs to be pruned regularly.

Regular pruning

If the tree is not pruned, it will grow exclusively in height and look unattractive.

To form a lush crown of the avocado, it is recommended to prune it every spring.

In the first year of life, the top is shortened after 7-8 leaves, side shoots - after 5-6.

Later, when the avocado is actively growing, the height is maintained at the required level.

To create an unusual decorative tree, you can plant several avocado seeds at once in one pot and weave a "pigtail" of them as you grow.

It should not be very dense - it is imperative to leave gaps between the segments so that the trunks have room to develop.

Fruiting avocado tree

How to grow an avocado from a stone at home, so that there are fruits + photos of fruiting trees

Of course, every gardener would like the bush not only to please aesthetically, but also to bear fruit.

It is quite difficult to achieve this at home: firstly, the tree must grow at least 1.5 meters in height; secondly, the plant will have to be pollinated manually.

Yellow-green flowers will begin to appear on avocados from about the third year of life.

Each of them opens twice and is bisexual. On the first day, only the pistils function.

Pick some flowers and mark them. The next day, the flowers will open again, but will already function as masculine.

Avocado flowers

Of course, it will be impossible to distinguish them outwardly from the ones that first opened, but marked peduncles will come to your aid.

Transfer pollen from one plant to another by hand.

Advice: if in the summer you take out an avocado to the country and place it under the crowns of trees so that a large amount of light falls on it, but not direct sunlight, under artificial conditions it can begin to bear fruit as early as the third year of life.

The fruits of a home grown plant are much smaller in size and have a less intense, but quite edible taste.

You will learn a few more useful tips on how to grow an avocado from a seed at home in this video:

Avocado is an unusual fruit that is increasingly found on the Russian table. It is called the alligator and butter pear, perseus and agacat. And yes! It's a tropical fruit! Someone loves avocado, but someone, on the contrary, does not like it at all. If you are a fan of this oily fruit, and wondered how to grow an avocado from a seed at home, this article will be useful to you. And even if this fruit is not to your liking, you will learn how to ennoble your home with a beautiful plant with a lush crown.

How to plant an avocado seed

Regardless of which germination method you choose, this is a simple and fun activity. In order to plant an avocado at home, you first need to get a ripe, good fruit in the store. Give preference to representatives with dark green skin. With light pressure, the fruit should easily regain its shape.

If you purchased an unripe fruit, place it in a paper bag along with a ripe apple, tomato or banana and leave it at room temperature for a couple of days. The released ethylene will accelerate the ripening of the avocado. The fruit must be ripe for seed avocado cultivation to be successful.

Carefully cut the alligator pear so as not to damage the seed from which the new tree will grow. If there are signs of rotting inside, it is better to choose another, unspoiled fruit.

1. The first method is closed, more familiar to gardeners and flower gardens - planting seeds in the ground. The ground for the avocado should be loose and well-drained. Put expanded clay, pebbles or other small stones in a clay pot in a layer of a couple of centimeters. For soil, mix garden soil, sand and humus in equal parts, additionally add peat or charcoal. Plant the seed with a blunt tip in a pot of soil to a depth of 2-3 cm. Under good conditions, 30 days after planting, the seed will germinate and the first roots will appear on its surface.
2. The second way to get a sprout, more unusual, one might say exotic, is to sprout an avocado in a container of water. A peeled avocado seed is prepared as follows. 3-4 toothpicks gently pierce the seed so as not to damage it badly. The toothpicks will act as a support when fixing the avocado with the bottom side in a small container. It is important to monitor the water level. The blunt part of the seed must be constantly in the water, and the sharp tip must be on the surface. After 20-30 days, the first root will appear. When it grows up to 3-4 cm, you can transplant the seed into the ground, and soon admire the young sprouts of avocado.

Both methods require neatness and careful attention during the germination process. Compliance with the temperature regime, correct planting and fixation of the seed, sufficient heat and light are the main conditions for obtaining a beautiful ornamental home plant.

How to grow an avocado

In nature, this plant reaches 20 meters in height, but an avocado at home grows no more than 2.5-3 meters. It is possible that the tree will begin to bear fruit in 3-6 years, but this happens very rarely. This happens more often if several seeds are germinated in one pot. In the flowering phase, the plants will be pollinated, and it is possible that fruits will appear in the future. They taste good, but differ from the usual taste of their tropical counterparts. But the lush crown perfectly cleans the air and adds comfort to the home atmosphere.

If you decide to plant an avocado at home, be prepared to care for it. First of all, you need to plant a bone so that its sharp part always remains on the surface. It is necessary that soil moisture and air temperature are as close as possible to tropical conditions.

The pot of avocado should be placed in the brightest place in the house. Once a month, you need to use top dressing and fertilization to ensure rapid growth of the plant. Water the avocado as needed, but do not add too much water. To determine if watering is required, deepen your fingers 2-3 cm into the soil. If it's dry, it's time to add water.

If the buttery pear is pulling upward due to lack of sunshine, pinch the top slightly. You can also plant not one, but several seeds to intertwine the trunks as the plants grow, creating beautiful compositions of young trees.

Features of caring for an avocado tree

Avocado care includes the correct temperature regime, timely fertilization with minerals, watering, transplanting and observing the light regime.

Water the tree as needed, and do not allow an excess of water in the pot. In the cold winter season, the plant is watered for 2-3 days after the soil has completely dried.In the summer, for home care, avocados are watered no more than 1-2 times a week.

The tropical fruit is not compatible with dry room air. To create favorable conditions and adequate air humidity, plant plants with massive leaves that evaporate a large amount of moisture next to the young tree. You can also spray the leaves with a spray bottle 3-5 times a day. During the heating season, it is optimal to hang wet towels on the radiator or place the plant pot on a pallet of wet sand.

Location and lighting

As already mentioned, the soil for the avocado should be loose so that excess moisture does not linger in the pot. An excess of it, like a deficiency, can ruin the plant. Alligator pear is a tropical fruit, but direct sunlight is contraindicated for it. An adult tree, like a planted seed, is best placed on a windowsill on the south, east or west side. In autumn and winter, the daylight hours for avocados are extended to 12 hours using fluorescent lamps, and during the flowering period up to 15.

How to pinch an avocado

Pinching or formative pruning of a tree for decorative growth is carried out in March. In the first year, the plant is pruned at the level of 7-8 leaves, and 5-6 at the side shoots. After that, the height is maintained at the desired level. This is necessary for the young tree to form a crown, develop evenly, and not only in height.

Diseases and pests

There are a number of avocado diseases that affect the condition of the leaves. With little watering, the leaves dry out. With a lack of light, the leaves turn pale. And when the temperature is too low or high, the leaves fall off the plant.

Like all houseplants, avocados are afraid of scale insects and spider mites. The spider mite is able to destroy all the leaves on the plant, and the scale insect completely deprives it of juice. Also, this tropical tree is susceptible to powdery mildew, which covers the leaves with a white bloom and gradually kills the entire plant. You can cope with pests with the help of special preparations and folk methods.

It turns out that growing a tropical tree at home is not difficult at all. The main thing is to be patient and thoroughly approach the process. If you choose a healthy ripe fruit, correctly extract and germinate the seed, provide the sprout with proper attention and favorable climatic conditions, and soon you will become the proud owner of a gorgeous ornamental home plant.