Avocado ( 'Ave several, in fact!)

Hi, All. :cnfs: Is it possible to grow an avocado plant / tree(?) from the stone inside? At the beginning of July, I planted six (separately) in pots in a compost / sharp sand mix, and have them in a heated propagator. I have also tried soaking a couple first to see if that helps germination. I expect they will be slow to start, but nothing is showing yet. Might it take months? Am I completely wasting my time?

 

It's definitely possible as I remember when I was little in primary school, us doing a mini science experiment looking at how plants grow and we used avocardos pieced at each side with cocktail sticks over a jam jar full of water and watched as the roots grew over a few weeks:thumb:

 

I am always planting avocados everywhere. I just can't resist, auomatic reflex, cut, cook, and zaaaack, sow. May be it's because the seed is so large and it looks like an egg, but I find it is very satisfactory to see them sprouting. They will germinate either in water or compost and they don't need much heat. They may easily take weeks. Some do not germinate at all,perhaps it has to do with the supermarket "treatments". You may have been unlucky there. Keep trying. Perhaps the organic product may have some more chances, but not sure it really makes much difference.
I have a four or five ys old avocado that looks like a very pretty little tree now.

 

Another 15 years Ivory and you might get fruit :D (although you'd have to get a another one first...)

 

I may or not, doesn't matter. It's a verypretty house plant,better than a schefflera or such. ANd I saw it born,very endearing :D

 

Hi Lindyco
I have 4 avocado trees growing in my lounge i will soon be looking for a lumberjack,:lollol:
my O.H. grew these in an egg cup suspended on cocktail sticks kept moist by yours truly about 3 years ago
They took several weeks and not all formed a root, they are now about 6ft tall and a bally nuisance
We are going away for 3 months in the winter and hes talking of leaving the heating on for them :grn:
i considered leaving them a little food (round up)

 

This is the LEAGUE FOR PROTECTION OF UNWATED AVOCADO PLANTS.....

:D

No I mean I keep sprouting them all the time for sheer fun. But I keep only one "for life". Mostly I have them as "pets" for summer, and compost in the fall, or give away.

If they are very tall and unsightly it may be because they were left to grow "unbranched", that is, one straight stem. They look very boring like that. But if you pinch off the tip they shoot sideways, and become a lot more attractive.

At the moment I have a pot of four seedlings, I put them all together on purpose, I wonder if a can "braid" them as some ficus or pachisandras you see in the GC. Good thing with gratis plants, you can experiment. Cruel, but true.

 

Thanks, all, for replies. How big are these avocado plants, then? Presumably from the size of the fruit they're not small. I imagine them about the size of a good-sized cheese plant? Do they grow into trees, and must they be kept indoors in UK? Does anyone have one out in the garden? Do I gather that you need 2 for pollination?
Oh, Ivory - do you mean that you actually breed plants for experimentation?!!! Watch out! - there'll be some activist group after you!! :lollol: Ciao, Bella (Bello)! Lindy.

 

Nope what I mean is that I would like to try growing them like this:

(this one is a ficus of course)
Just curious.

I don't think you can grow them outside in the UK even in Italy they are grown only by the sea. I suppose if you had a large heated greenhouse and much much patience you could in a couple of decades have your own fruit, though. :D

 

Have a look at the link below. It's a pic of my wifes method of growing one from a seed.



http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o5/stonycoral/Avacadobaby.jpg

stony

 

I have some glasss just like that! I'll give it a try on the windowsill - still nothing happening with any of mine; may have to take one out of its cosy pot. How long did yours take to put out a shoot that size?

 

She says about two weeks.

 

I had one grown from an avocado stone. We grew it using the cocktail stick method as described earlier. They are lovely looking plants but need warmth so keep them indoors, even in summer - I'd say.