[dropcap]Have[/dropcap] you tried to grow an avocado plant/tree from an avocado seed before? It’s so easy to do, not to mention rewarding.
If you’ve had an avocado before, there’s a good chance that you enjoy them as much as we do. I love their wonderful/creamy flavour and soft texture – mmm, so yum! We enjoy them simply sliced/chopped up and added to salads or sandwiches. Not only are they tasty, they’re also highly nutritious – full of vitamins and beneficial fats; great for your nerves, blood and heart. 1 Australia produces some amazing avocados that are available all year round with the highest volume of fruit (and possibly the best price) available between March and November. 2 Avocados are pretty moreish to resist.
Their sculptural bulbous/pear-shaped form, fabulous dark green/reptilian textured skin, light yellow/green (perhaps chartreuse?) creamy flesh, and smooth round hard core/seed all add to their awesomeness too.
Growing an avocado plant/tree from seed is a great/fun exercise for the young ones or those young at heart. All that you need to do is save your avocado seed, give it a rinse (if you prefer) to remove any remaining flesh, and then bury it in some good soil with about half of the top/pointy end sticking up above ground. Water it regularly and give it sunshine and love (but don’t mollycoddle it) and before you know it, the seed will crack/split and a new avocado seedling/sapling will appear and shoot for the sky. Transplant it when it gets too big, perhaps into the back/front yard. Simple!
You can try the ‘dangling/balancing with toothpicks over a glass/jar of water method’ which has more visual appeal and works too. But I find the ‘simply half-bury it in the soil method’ works much better. Besides, it’s more natural and you need to bury/plant it in the soil anyway.
[dropcap]It[/dropcap] will take many years for your small avocado plant to grow into a big tree, and that’s part of the fun in doing it. There’s also a chance that your home-grown avocado tree won’t bear any edible fruits for you to enjoy. But that’s ok, and it shouldn’t stop you because there’s more to the avocado tree than just its fruits.
Your tree will grow tall and strong/beautiful with amazing textured skin/bark on its trunk that you can rub and hug or tie a hammock to. It will have a healthy/wonderful root system and canopy/tapestry of weaving branches and glossy/glowing/green leaves that provide lovely shade/solace and shelter/protection for you to enjoy for many years to come. I’m pretty certain the birds and wildlife will love it too.
After saying this, I have read that some homegrown avocado trees (grown from seeds) can/do bear some fruits. I don’t know how or why, but there’s a chance that your one will too. There’s only really one way to find out.
Growing an avocado plant from seed is fun and can be addictive, as you can see in my example in the photo below where I have 5 seedlings/plants in the one pot. But there couldn’t be a better thing to do. We all know the benefits/virtues of plants/trees and if you have too many avocado seedlings/plants to look after, you can always give some away to family and friends as gifts.
If you can’t get your hands on an avocado, or avocados aren’t really your thing, well that’s ok too. Because the rewards/joys of planting/growing a plant/tree (from seed or other methods) applies to all flora, whether they bear edible fruits or pretty flowers, or not. And you don’t need that much space either to start. So what are you waiting for? Eat more avocados, save the seeds and give it a go at growing them. It’s marvellous to see something green grow year after year.
Tell me, have you tried to grow an avocado plant/tree from an avocado seed before? How do you enjoy your avocados?
Notes:
- For more info on the health benefits of eating avocados, go to Australian Avocados and LIVESTRONG.COM. ↩
- Reference: Australian Avocados. ↩
Star
How very inspiring Ngeun! As always, beautifully written and a joy to share in your knowledge.
Such a beautiful post. I am off to buy some avocados 🥑 tomorrow and will be growing a plant by the end of the week! Many thanks Ngeun!!
Ngeun
Thanks Star. Enjoy those avocados and happy growing. :)
David
I remember growing them from the pits when I was young. Our climate was not conducive to their survival, so we never got any fruit.
Ngeun
Thanks for your comment David. Glad to know you gave it a go at growing them.