Avocado - Sprouting

Avocados are plentiful in the grocery now. It is fun to sprout the seed for a bit of kitchen greenery. Since the seed is so large, the inevitable question is "Which end is planted facing up?" The correct answer is "The pointed end faces up!" Whether suspended with toothpicks in a glass of water or planted in a small pot, the pointed end will split and allow a stem and leaves to emerge. Once the plant is 12 inches tall, plant in an 8 inch pot and cut 1/2 inch off the growing tip to encourage side branching.

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Permalink Reply by Green Briar on February 28, 2008 at 4:03pm: Tammy I've never taken mine outside in the winter just keep it in a planter.
Here is a clip I took off of a gardening site. Another Floridian.
There are dwarf forms of avocados suitable for growing in containers. In containers use a planting mix combined with topsoil. Plastic containers should be avoided. It is also useful to plant the tub with annual flowers to reduce excess soil moisture and temperature. Container plants should be moved outdoors with care Whitewashing the trunk or branches will prevent sunburn and plants should be leached often to reduce salts.

Avocado flowers appear in January - March before the first seasonal growth. Indoor trees need low night temperatures to induce bloom. Fruit ripens in 6 - 12 - 18 months depending on the cultivar.

One other note avocado fruit is poisonous to birds and other household pets. Please keep the magical cat out of it.; ▶ Reply to This