Grow a plant from the seed core
The avocado is, on the other hand, according to popular belief, actually no vegetablesbut a berry fruit. The pear-shaped, mostly green fruits grow on a tree that can grow up to 40 meters high in nature. However, commercial avocados mostly come from plantations, where the trees are pruned to a height of 15 meters for practical reasons.
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The avocado comes from the tropics
the Avocado is a tropical plant, d. H. it needs a lot of sun and warmth. For these reasons, in our latitudes it can only be used in the home or in the greenhouse, but not outdoors. However, it is possible to put the avocado in a sheltered, sunny spot in the garden, at least in summer. The tropical avocado can be very easily from the seed core a commercially available fruit can be pulled by yourself. There are two methods for doing this.
The water glass method
To grow a plant from the seed, many hobby growers use the water glass method. To do this, the core is removed from the fruit and the brown membrane is removed. Now three toothpicks are carefully pricked into the seed, this should be done on the upper, more pointed side of the core. Now a water glass is filled with fresh water and the core and toothpicks are placed in it so that only the flattened part of the core is in the water. The toothpicks lie on the edge of the glass. Now the glass and its core are placed in a warm and dark location. The root shoots appear within about four weeks.
The disadvantages of the water glass method
However, the water glass method has some disadvantages. For example, the seed core can be damaged by toothpicks in such a way that it is no longer capable of germination. You can get around this problem by simply using a small shot glass that does not require a holder instead of a water glass. In addition, the moisture can lead to an infestation with mold, so that the core simply rots.
The flower pot method
This, in turn, can be avoided by putting the core in a plant pot with soil instead of a water glass. Loose, sandy soil is best suited for this. The flattened part of the seed kernel is in the ground, while the upper part peeps out. The soil must be kept moist at all times, and a foil over the plant pot should protect the sensitive seedling from cold and drafts.
Bring patience
Once you have decided on the water method, you can repot your seedling as soon as a root ball has formed. Before that happens, however, you need to be patient: the avocado is very slow to germinate. The first delicate tips can be seen after four weeks at the earliest. However, it can take several months before success is achieved. Just before the seedling breaks through, the core splits into two parts. So don't be alarmed if the seed core is supposed to have "broken" one day.
Pot an avocado
For your Now pot the seedling, mix loose sand as well as commercially available Flower or palm soil in a ratio of 1: 1. Fill a small planter with this mixture and carefully place the seedling in it. Gently press the soil all around and water the seedling with stale, room-warm water. Make sure that the top of the core is sticking out of the soil. Your avocado now needs a bright and warm location, but should not yet be exposed to the blazing sun.
Proper care of the avocado tree
How your seedling continues to thrive depends from proper care but it is not particularly complicated. Basically, there are only three things you need to be aware of.
This is what your young avocado needs:
- a bright location without direct sunlight
- a warm location without drafts
- water regularly, but not excessively (the soil should be moist, but not wet)
You can let the soil dry out in between, your avocado can tolerate a lack of water quite well. As a rule of thumb, it is better to water too little than too much.
Basically, young plants do not have to be fertilized. However, the monthly output of a little hurts Citrus fertilizer neither, on the contrary.
Avocado plants always grow upwards and usually only develop side shoots after a few years. As the trees can get very tall, they should be pruned in good time. As soon as the fourth leaf shoot appears, you can snap it off (e.g. with a pair of rose shears). As a result, your avocado will develop more side shoots and therefore become bushier.
Tips & Tricks
Give your avocado some fresh air: as soon as night frosts are no longer expected in spring, the plant can stand in a protected spot in the garden. However, it should be brought back in before the first cold autumn days are to be expected.