How to grow Avacado?

[mbronco27_03]

Just made some Mexican dip out of Avacado, Guacamole, and after getting the stone, or seed, thought I would try growing it!! I took out the "Big" seed, and left it to dry!

Can anyone help as to what I need to do with it, do I need to wait till a certain month before planting it. Or can I plant it now? Also do i need to take the skin off or other?

Anyone help at all?

Stu

[vicky]

Well they seem to grow on my compost heap when I chuck them, so can't imagine it's any more difficult than just putting it in a pot in soil! They are trees though so don't expect to get a harvest unless you have a Kew sized greenhouse!

[FoxHillGardener]

Like Vicky I find they grow pretty well in the compost bin or wormery, then fish it out and plant it up. No fruit but an interesting house plant for a while before after a couple of years they go a bit crispy round the edges, drop their leaves and turn into a stick. There's usually another one on it's way to take the place,though. I think they're not keen on dry centrally heated houses, but if you could give it more humidity perhaps they's last longer. Maybe I should try the next one in the bathroom instead of the living room. doh

[Two_Sheds]

Avocados are a tropical fruit more suited to the humid regions of Mexico and Central America ... the trees can grow to up to 20m and can take up to 10 years to fruit.

You are unlikely to get fruit where you live, sorry.

If you want to grow an avocado tree, it’s best to raise it as an indoor plant. The trees don’t tolerate freezing temperatures.

They can grow outside in the far south of England, and have even grown fruit in some years, but you’ll get better results if they’re grown in large pots indoors. Growing Avocados - Fruit Expert (UK)

[where2start]

I had two very large Chilean Avocado seeds which i was interested to see sprout. I know i wont ever had a successful tree, and i certainly don't have the room in my garden for one to survive, but i thought i would try it out of interest!

I searched how to germinate them, and tried the window sill idea and that didn't work, so i found another method.

Soak the seeds for a couple of days in warm ish water, then slice the top of (like a boiled egg) then put a slit into the top of the seed. Plant in compost, bit like an onion with the top showing above the soil level.

The theory is that the new shoot will appear from the slit.

Now i don't have any evidence to suggest this is going to work, but i though i would just see out of interest. Its an experiment for the children really

[wiccanlou]

I have one growing in a pot on my kitchen window sill, i spiked it with three skewers then balanced it on a glass with the bottom in water with baby bio once the roots were well established I planted it in a pot, the seed then split and then the little tree emerged. It is currently about 15" tall and looking healthy although I'm not sure I want it to be 20' tall!

[Paulottie]

Exactly the same method as that wiccanlou...then I had to bring the damn thing in every year till i got fed up and let it die!...they get tall quickly but you need to live in a frost free spot to get fruit as they are trees!

[chengjing]

Same here, I geminated mines in similar way as wiccanlou 1 and half years ago. I have 2 of them. They grow very fast , new shoot can be 20 cm in a month. I have to continusely cut branches out to keep them small. This winter I actually leave one outside (in snow for the moment) because I dont have room for them. Will let you guys know if it survives.

[windowsillqueen]

We had one as a child - grown like wiccanlou. It was a beautiful and very large plant but it did die when my Grandmother looked after it. Perhaps this was because they do in pots and not due to her toxic fingers!

Can anyone tell me - if I was to grow two in a consevatory, would I have a chance of fruit? I don't really understand how fruit trees work.

[Gardenwitch]

I took a dried pit and just popped it into a pot of compost, it took off beautifully and has lovely leaves and sturdy stem/trunk. I keep it in my greenhouse or indoors in its pot, my leaves did fall off after I let it get to cold but it now has new buds and leaves coming again, so seems to be fine. I agree I wouldnt expect it to grow any fruit through.

[finefencer]

I grew one years ago and when it reached about 18" I cut it back to two buds and let it go....I pruned it to a nice shape but forgot to bring it in and the frost had it....R I P

[windowsillqueen]

Hmm - sounds like I'm not going to be successful for fruit. A shame as I was brought up in the Middle East and my Dad used to live in Spain. They used to send me off to the beach or wherever for the day with a baguette of bread and a very ripe avocado which you used as butter. Supermarket avocados are rubbish - far to underipe and never ripen to satisfaction.

Oh well x

[Kayt]

"a baguette of bread and a very ripe avocado which you used as butter"
That sounds a lovely way to eat them. I love avacados and use them as most people do I should think. Would never have thought of eating them like this! Thanks Windowsillqueen Don't think I'll bother trying to grow them after reading this though, will have to stick to the greengrocers.