The avocado comes from tropical countries and its cultivation began around 10,000 years ago. Most fruits come to Europe from Spain, Israel, Mexico or South Africa, although the largest producers are North and Central America. In nature, the fruits fall to the ground and only ripen there, but in the process they are damaged and attacked by insects. For these reasons, avocados are picked from the tree when they are still unripe, stored and reach our markets and shops after around 5-10 days. Like many trees, it reproduces from its seeds, or from the kernels that we throw away when we eat them. You can grow avocado from it, care for it as a houseplant and, to a limited extent, grow it in the garden.
Growing avocados – enjoying the healthy, precious fruit
In the last few years, these pear-shaped butter fruits have become very popular due to healthy eating. The pulp is very reminiscent of butter, but is one of the healthiest fats, which is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and regulates cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that you could harvest fruit from a home-grown tree, as the plant grows very slowly and thrives at an average temperature of around 20 degrees. On the other hand, it delights with lush, juicy green foliage that is somewhat reminiscent of walnut trees and is wonderful as a decorative houseplant. All you need is a seed from the fruit that you used to prepare a delicious and healthy salad or smoothie.
Easy and uncomplicated with a few tips
You can have oneAvocadoGrow if you germinate the leftover kernel after consumption. Clean it of the pulp and leave it like this for a few hours or a day so that the outer peel dries out and can therefore be easily removed. Depending on the situation, you can also try not removing them and leaving the core as is.
Germinate the core
There are basically two ways to get the avocadogerminate the kernelcan be placed in a glass of water or directly in the ground. In the first variant, the core is secured with three toothpicks and placed with the thick end over a glass full of water. The water should cover the lower third of the core and you have to ensure this constant water level over the next 4-8 weeks. It is advisable to wrap the clear water glass with paper and opaque material such as aluminum foil or cloth (leave the top open). Place it in a dark, warm place with an average temperature of 20 degrees. After root formation and the first shoots, you can move the core to a brighter place, but protect the root from direct sunlight. When the roots fill the jar it is time to transplant your avocado.
From the core – short video instructions
If you want to grow the avocado in a flower pot, you have to clean the pit from the dark skin. Then it is stuck into the moist soil with its thick end facing down, but the tip remains above the surface. This method may take a little longer than the other and also moisten the soil regularly. We recommend a nutrient-poor, not too acidic substrate that is partly sandy - a sand-peat mixture would be optimal. In the upper area you can mix with unfertilized orchid soil.
In the water – stages of growth and development
Below you can get an overview of how the young avocado plant develops from a seed. It takes up to 6 weeks for the first root formation to become visible. It can happen that nothing happens. However, it largely depends on how the fruit was stored and for how long. It's worth germinating every avocado seed instead of throwing it in the trash. Unfortunately, you can't tell from the outside which one will become a plant, so it's always worth a try.
Grow an avocado in a glass of water – this is how it works!
After the first or second month, the core opens and a sprout forms. Don't lose patience, as an avocado takes weeks to months, depending on the variety and size of the pit, before it produces the first, tender shoots.
Stages of root formation in water
A third unusual option for growing avocados is if you do not throw away the tip of the plant when cutting it, but let it root in a water bath. This method takes longer and is sometimes more complex than the others using the avocado pit. You can add a few drops of auxin mixture (vegetable wax hormones and vitamins) to the water from time to time.
Growing an avocado from an early age
One habit is typical for avocados - they form a single shoot. Depending on what shape you want for a plant, it can be cut 10-20 cm above the core tip. This creates a bushy plant with beautiful branches. When it gets a little stronger, its water requirement decreases. If the avocado forms brown leaves, it indicates too much water. Remove them immediately and when the soil becomes dry again, water carefully.
As a houseplant
In summer, feel free to place your avocado outside. Blazing, direct sun is not recommended. In autumn the plant is brought back into the room. For young plants up to 3 years old, they cannot tolerate frost. Gardeners recommend repotting the sprout once a year. A major disadvantage of houseplants is that they produce little to no flowers and therefore no fruit. These usually only form after 10 years and then the tree could gradually become accustomed to the climate while still being properly protected in winter.
Choose and store avocado fruits correctly
When choosing an avocado to eat, do not choose a soft fruit. These are usually items that have been in the storage room for a long time and have been handled several times. After shopping, you often notice that the flesh has black, inedible areas on the inside. It's better to use firm, unripe ones that you can ripen yourself at home using a trick.
Maintain and trim regularly
Together with an apple, wrap the avocado in newspaper or paper bag and leave it at normal room temperature. Depending on the original level of ripeness, it takes between two and ten days until the fruit becomes edible. The avocado will not ripen in the refrigerator. When consumed, it is rubbery and usually bitter even after a long period of storage at normal room temperature. By the way, you canFreeze avocado too.
The first flowers and perhaps also fruits form after 10 years
The avocado is well known for its high content of vital vitamins and vegetable fats. Among all of them, it contains vitamin A, alpha and beta carotene, biotin and vitamin E. Prepared together with other 'green' fruits and vegetables, the valuable ingredients are 50 to 100% better absorbed by the body.
The fruits of some varieties can reach the size of a child's head
Due to the Central European climate conditions, it is unlikely that ripe avocado fruits will grow, but breeding the tropical plant can be worthwhile. With its dark green, ellipse-shaped leaves, up to 15 centimeters long, it looks very distinctive and is a real gem in the room, why not on the terrace or balcony.
