Growing avocados at home. Here is a real step-by-step instruction on how to grow an avocado from a stone

Avocado is a type of tropical fruit tree that is very popular among hobbyists. exotic plants. Many of them have a plant in their collection, as growing avocados with your own hands is quite simple. But in order for it to grow and please its owner, careful care is necessary.

Features of homemade avocado tree

A home-grown avocado tree has a number of features:

  1. In its natural habitat, the plant grows to a height of 20 meters, and a tree growing at home reaches a maximum of 2.5–3 meters.
  2. Fruiting of this tree occurs very rarely. It is mainly used as a decorative element.
  3. If you are lucky, the fruiting of the tree begins at 3-6 years of growth. Its fruits are quite edible, although they are slightly inferior in taste to those brought.
  4. The plant purifies the air, and thanks to the original and lush crown, a warm and cozy atmosphere prevails in the room.

Conditions for growing avocados

To grow avocados from the seed at home, you must follow some rules. Planting a bone is best done in the spring, it is during this period that active growth plants. For the preparation of planting material, it is necessary to choose a ripe fruit that does not have deformations.

The indicators of a ripe product are a dark-colored peel of the fruit, dense and elastic pulp, after pressing on the fruit, it restores its shape, the bone is easily separated from the pulp, a quality bone is the size of a quail egg.

If the product is slightly unripe, you need to put it in paper bag with products that contain a large portion of ethylene - this is a gas that accelerates the ripening of fruits. These include bananas, apples or tomatoes. When storing the fruit in a temperature range of 18 to 23 degrees, after 2 days, the avocado will reach the required condition.

Steps to germinate an avocado seed

Growing avocados at home from the seed is done in the following sequence.

Retrieved sowing seed. To do this, a small incision is made in the center of the fetus, 1 cm deep, and its bone is carefully cut out with rotating movements. Next, it is washed under running water without damaging the brown shell.

Before germinating an avocado, a place is prepared for its growth:


Seeds are germinated using different methods.

How to sprout an avocado seed

The closed method provides for the germination of planting material directly in the ground. To do this, the bone is placed in the ground 25 mm deep, with a sharp end up and well watered, soaking the entire soil. The container is placed in a warm place with good lighting and watered throughout the entire germination period. After 20-30 days, a sprout will appear.

The open method of growing avocados is to lay the seeds in a container of water, suspended. For this you need:

  • prepare a glass or other container;
  • in the middle part of the seed, from different sides, make 3–4 holes into which toothpicks are inserted, 2–3 mm deep (they act as a support so that the seed cannot be completely immersed in water, but only its lower part);
  • the seed is placed in a prepared container with cold water, blunt end, and the immersion of the planting material should be 1/3 of its part;
  • instead of water, you can use a hydrogel, which is able to retain moisture for a long time;
  • throughout the entire period of germination, it is necessary to ensure that the water level does not decrease;
  • after the first root appears, the plant can be transplanted into the ground, but in order for the plant to take root, its roots must be at least 30 mm.

It takes 2 to 6 weeks for the first roots to appear.

Avocado seed contains a substance such as persin - disruptive digestive system and causing various allergic reactions. Therefore, it is recommended to work with rubber gloves.

Conditions for growing an avocado tree

After planting an avocado seed at home, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures to equip its place.

For the normal growth of avocados, you need to follow some requirements:

  1. Regular moistening of the soil, which is produced as it dries. On average, watering is performed 1 time in 10 days. AT winter time year, the tree is watered less often, allowing the soil to stand dry for a couple of days, this is necessary to preserve optimal level soil moisture.
  2. Maintaining humid air is achieved different ways- this is the installation of a pot with a tree next to crops that produce a lot of moisture, spraying the leaves of plants, in summer season or heating, the pot is installed on a pallet with wet sand.
  3. Ensuring a favorable temperature regime in the room, which should be in the range of 16–20 degrees. In winter, a favorable temperature is 10–12 degrees, as the plant falls into a dormant state and sheds leaves.
  4. Timely feeding of the plant. On average, it is performed 1-2 times a month. For top dressing, mixtures for growing ornamental crops are used.

When the leaves turn yellow, you need to pay attention to the frequency and amount of watering. This is usually a sign of overwatering.

Avocado tree decoration

Before you grow an avocado from a stone at home, you need to think through all the nuances of it. decorative design:

  1. Some options involve planting several sprouts in a pot, with further interweaving of their stems, thereby obtaining a lush and original tree.
  2. To receive tall tree, it is recommended to transplant it at least once a year. The favorable period for this procedure is the end of February, this is the time when the plants are actively starting to grow. The first transplant should be carried out when the tree reaches a height of 15 cm.
  3. To reduce the growth rate of an avocado, pinching its top is carried out. This procedure accelerates the growth of side shoots, which make the crown lush and attractive.

Forming pruning is carried out in the spring, when there is an active growth of all plants. The first pruning of the top is done after 8–10 leaves, if there are side shoots, they are shortened after 5 leaves.

From seed germination to a formed tree - video

Avocado is a well-known fruit that came to us from tropical countries. Many lovers of exotic flora dream of getting this capricious guest on their windowsill. Growing an avocado from the seed at home is not difficult at all. But in order for the tree to grow in the future and become a real decoration of your interior, you will have to learn a few rules for caring for it.

What are the chances of growing an avocado at home

Avocados are easy to propagate, so growing them in room conditions from a fruit purchased in a store is not difficult. Most fast growth avocado is celebrated in spring period . But this culture, most likely, will perform only a decorative function. Avocado growing in the natural environment reaches a height of 18-20 meters. The size of a tree obtained at home will not exceed 2.5 m. In addition, the fruiting of such a plant does not always occur. But thanks to the lush crown, the avocado looks attractive even without flowers and fruits. Also, this tree is useful in that it effectively purifies the air.

Avocado grows well indoors, but rarely bears fruit

Important! Choose only ripe fruit in the store, without visible damage and signs of wilting.

How to germinate a bone: two ways

Work must begin with the preparation of planting material. The stone should be easily removed from the pulp, have a relief surface and be like a large one in size. quail egg. Get suitable option can only be from a ripe fruit. You can determine the maturity of a fruit by dark color peel and firm flesh.

Before planting, the bone must be removed and germinated.

Important! Press lightly on the fruit: if it restores its shape, the bone is suitable for planting.

You can also buy unripe avocados if there are no others available. But it will first need to be put in a paper bag along with ripe apples, tomatoes or bananas and stored at a temperature of 18–23 ̊С for 1–2 days, avoiding direct sunlight. Ripe fruits contain a high concentration of ethylene, a gas that speeds up the ripening of fruits, and it will help your avocado reach the desired condition.

The next step is to remove the planting material. Cut the avocado in half, turn the flesh inside out and remove the pit.

You can grow it in two ways:

  • closed;
  • open.

Important! The avocado pit contains persin, a toxic substance that can cause disruption of the digestive system and severe allergic reactions. Therefore, it is better to carry out work in protective gloves.

The closed method involves planting the seed directly into the soil. To do this, we need to do the following:


The open method involves sprouting the seed in water.. To do this, you need a glass or other suitable container. Your actions will be as follows:


Home conditions for active tree growth

At home, it is difficult to achieve fruiting avocados. The plant yields only 5% of the time. If you are lucky, your tree will begin to bear fruit at 3-7 years of age, and these fruits will be quite suitable for eating, although they are usually inferior in taste to purchased ones. Also, with this method of growing avocados will not reach their natural size, its growth will stop within 2–2.5 m.

For avocados, it is necessary to provide a number necessary conditions, then your tree can grow up to 2.5 meters

For the successful growth of this culture, the following series of conditions must be observed.

  1. Regular watering. The plant needs watering as the soil dries. As a rule, 1-2 times a week is enough. For supporting optimal humidity soils in the cold season water the crop to a limited extent - only 2–3 days after the soil has completely dried.

    Important! If the leaves of the tree turn yellow, this indicates over-watering.

  2. scattered light. Avocado is a light-loving plant, but it must be protected from direct sunlight so that there are no burns on the leaves. Culture is placed on the south, east or west window.
  3. Wet air. This plant does not tolerate dry air. There are several ways to maintain humidity at the required level:
    • the simplest, but troublesome way is to hang towels soaked in water around the room;
    • it is advisable to install plants with large leaves that evaporate a lot of moisture next to the avocado;
    • it is necessary to spray avocado leaves up to 5 times a day from a small spray bottle;
    • in summer and during the heating season, you need to place a pot with a tree on a pallet with wet sand or expanded clay.
  4. long daylight hours. In autumn and winter, the plant is illuminated with fluorescent lamps or phytolamps for 12 hours a day, and during the flowering period they provide it with 15 hours of daylight.
  5. Compliance with the temperature regime during the period of growth and rest. The temperature indicators in the room are set within 16–20 ̊С. In winter, avocados often go dormant and shed their leaves. The temperature in this case is lowered to 10–12 ̊С. With more high rates the leaves of the plant dry and fall off, but the avocado usually does not die.
  6. Fertilizer. You also need to take care of feeding. The frequency of fertilization depends on the time of year. In spring and summer, avocados are fed 2-3 times a month, in autumn and winter 1 time. As fertilizers, mixtures are used for ornamental flowering plants. For example, Biochelate (10 ml per 2 liters of water) is suitable.
  7. Timely transplant. As the plant grows, it is transplanted into a larger pot. The first time this procedure is carried out when the avocado reaches 15 cm in height. AT further transplant produced annually. In this case, the same composition of the soil is used, which was used during planting. Most the right time for transplanting is spring.

    Each time a pot with a diameter of 5 cm larger than the previous one is selected.

  8. Formative pruning. For increase decorative properties avocado is pruned. Otherwise, the tree will develop only in height. Pruning is done in March. In the first year, the top is shortened after 7–8 leaves, side shoots- after 5-6 sheets. In the future, maintain the height at the desired level. The formation of the crown should be carried out annually in the spring.

Table: Possible Growing Problems and How to Eliminate Them

Video: how to care for an avocado tree

Reviews

I grow avocados in my room. It grew from my bone. It grows very well, you just need to be patient. I immediately plant the bone in the ground so that a third of the sharp end sticks out of the ground. At first it grows in one trunk, then gradually begins to branch. Can be shaped, not afraid of trimming.

My avocado died after 2 years. They watered and changed the soil. Nothing saved him. This is not a home plant.

Of course, it is possible to grow avocados from the seed, but it is very long. You will have to fiddle with avocados for a couple of years so that the central trunk simply becomes woody. And there is a high probability that in another three years this tree will wither away.

In room conditions, avocados do not live long (no more than 6 months), if they are not dealt with and the conditions suitable for it are not created.

Anyone can grow an avocado from a seed. To do this, culture must be provided timely watering, top dressing, maintain a certain level of humidity and temperature. But getting exotic fruits is unlikely to succeed. In the vast majority of cases, the avocado is used as an attractive ornamental tree.

Hello! Let's get acquainted, my name is Yana Dmitrieva, a manager of foreign economic activity by education.

Nothing is impossible for a real gardener who is passionate about his work - almost all tropical fruits can be grown from a seed: lemons, tangerines, pomegranates, date palm.

It is important to follow a series simple rules in care and choose a suitable place for the plant.

In this article, we figure out how to grow an avocado from a seed at home so that there are fruits.

Content:

  1. How to grow an avocado from a stone in a pot - method number 1
  2. How to grow an avocado from a stone at home - method number 2
  3. Conditions for growing avocados at home + photos of plants
  4. How to grow an avocado from a seed so that there are fruits

Avocado - evergreen fruit tree from the laurel family.

In the usual growing conditions - in the Caribbean or in Mexico - its height reaches two tens of meters.

A bush grown at home in a tub will not exceed 2.5-3.

At the same time, it will be more of a decorative value, since no one can guarantee that the tree will begin to bear fruit.

This can take from three to six years, and you will have to work hard.

At the same time, such an exotic plant not only decorates the apartment, but also perfectly cleans the air.

It is possible to grow an exotic avocado at home

How to grow an avocado from a stone at home in a pot - method number 1

Buy a ripe fruit in the store without visible dents and darkening on the peel.

If you can’t buy a ripe fruit in a supermarket, you need to wrap an unripe avocado in paper and give it a few days to ripen.

Then take out the bone, make delicious guacamole out of the pulp and start sprouting the tree.

plant a bone better in spring when the most active growth of all plants is observed.

Avocados, in principle, are unpretentious, so you can simply stick the seed into the ground and water it periodically, but in this way it will take up to three months to germinate.

You will need a bone of a ripe fruit

Here's how to do itThisfaster:

Rinse the bone removed from the fruit thoroughly with running water at room temperature, being careful not to damage the brown peel.

Then prepare a pot for germinating the fruit:

  1. Lay a drainage system consisting of expanded clay or gravel on the bottom. You can purchase ready-made drainage at a gardening store.
  2. Prepare the soil from equal parts earth, sand and humus - it should turn out loose in consistency.
  3. Transfer the soil to the pot, not getting enough sleep to the edge by 1-2 cm.

Place the bone inside with a blunt end to a depth of about 25 mm.

Water well and place the pot in a warm, bright spot. Water regularly as the soil dries out.

The first sprout, subject to all conditions, should appear in about a month.

Sprouts will sprout in about a month

How to grow an avocado from a stone at home in a pot - method number 2

Walkthrough:

  1. Prepare a jar or glass.
  2. In the middle of the bone on four sides, make holes 2-3 mm deep, as shown in the photo below, and insert toothpicks - they act as a support.
  3. Place a third of the bone in a container of cold water with the blunt end down.
  4. Until the first root appears, make sure that the water level in the glass does not decrease.
  5. The plant can be transplanted into the ground when the roots that have appeared reach about 3 cm in length - this will take up to 2 months.
  6. Make sure the pot has good drainage before planting.
  7. Plant the seed itself about halfway into the ground.

Make holes in the bone

Tip: You can use hydrogel instead of water to germinate avocados.

Place the blank in a glass of water You need to transplant a plant with a strong root system

Soon after planting, the sprouts of the future tree will appear. Their hue should be reddish.

The first three months of life, the plant develops rapidly and can gain up to 50 cm in height without acquiring side shoots.

At the same time, you need to pinch the crown.

When the avocado grows past the 15 cm mark, transplant it into a new pot.

The composition of the soil is similar to that which you used during planting. The pot should be 5 cm wider and higher than before.

The plant needs regular repotting.

How to grow an avocado from a stone at home - growing conditions

In order for the bush to take root and grow well in an apartment, it needs regular care and maintenance of the “right” conditions:

Watering

The plant needs a sufficient amount of moisture, so you need to water the avocado 1-2 times a week.

In the cold season, it is advisable to reduce the frequency of watering and water the tree on about the third day after the soil has dried.

Tip: If your avocado leaves are turning yellow and falling off, you are probably overwatering the tree.

Avocados need regular watering and enough light.

Light

The birthplace of avocados is hot sunny countries. That is why a home-grown tree cannot survive without a lot of light.

Place the tub at a south or southeast window and protect the plant from direct sunlight - they can cause leaf burns.

In winter, use additional sources of lighting - fluorescent or phytolamps.

The distance between them and the plant should be about 40 cm. It is necessary to turn on such a lamp for 3-4 hours a day.

Humidity

The plant can hardly tolerate excessively dry air, so spray the leaves regularly with a spray bottle.

Install open containers with plain water nearby and keep away from open heat sources - radiators, stoves, electric heaters.

The pot itself is best placed among other flowers with large leaves, as they evaporate a large number of moisture.

Avocados need lots of light and moist air.

Temperature regime

The most comfortable temperature for the life of a tree ranges from 16 to 20 degrees, while in winter it drops to 10-12.

Therefore, if conditions permit, it can be taken out to a glazed balcony.

AT cold period avocados can shed their leaves - do not worry ahead of time.

With the onset of warm weather, active growth will resume.

top dressing

Like any indoor plant, avocados need regular fertilizer - in spring and summer, 2 times a month. In winter, one is enough.

As a special food, any fertilizer for decorative flowers is suitable.

In order for a tree to take shape, it needs to be pruned regularly.

Regular pruning

If the tree is not pruned, it will grow exclusively in height and look unattractive.

In the first year of life, the top is shortened after 7-8 leaves, side shoots - after 5-6.

In the future, when the avocado is actively growing, the height is maintained at the required level.

To create extraordinary decorative tree, you can plant several avocado seeds at once in one pot and, as they grow, weave a “pigtail” out of them.

It should not be very dense - it is imperative to leave gaps between the segments so that the trunks have room to develop.

Fruiting avocado tree

How to grow an avocado from a stone at home so that there are fruits + photos of fruit-bearing trees

Of course, every gardener would like the bush to not only please aesthetically, but also bear fruit.

It is quite difficult to achieve this at home: firstly, the tree must grow to at least 1.5 meters in height; secondly, the plant will have to be pollinated manually.

Yellow-green flowers will begin to appear on avocados from about the third year of life.

Each of them opens twice and is bisexual. On the first day, only pestles function.

Choose some flowers and label them. The next day, the flowers will open again, but will already function as male.

avocado flowers

Of course, it will be impossible to distinguish them outwardly from those that opened for the first time, but marked flower stalks will come to your aid.

Transfer pollen from one plant to another by hand.

Tip: if you take avocados to the dacha in the summer and place them under the crowns of trees so that a lot of light, but not direct sunlight, falls on it, artificial conditions it can begin to bear fruit as early as the third year of life.

The fruits of a home grown plant are much smaller and have a less intense, but quite edible taste.

Several Yet useful tips how to grow an avocado from a stone at home, you will learn from this video:

Avocado unusual fruit, which is increasingly found on the Russian table. It is called alligator and butter pear, perseus and agate. And yes! This is tropical fruit! Someone loves avocados, and someone, on the contrary, does not favor him at all. If you are a fan of this oily fruit and have been wondering how to grow an avocado from a stone at home, this article will be useful to you. And even if this fruit is not to your liking, you will learn how to ennoble your home beautiful plant with a lush crown.

How to plant an avocado seed

Regardless of the method of germination chosen, it is an easy and fun activity. In order to plant an avocado at home, you first need to purchase a ripe, good fruit in the store. Give preference to representatives with a dark green skin. With light pressure, the fruit should easily recover its shape.

If you purchased an unripe fruit, put it in a paper bag along with ripe apple, tomato or banana and leave for a couple of days at room temperature. The ethylene released will speed up the ripening of the avocado. The fruit must be ripe in order for the cultivation of an avocado from the stone to be successful.

Carefully cut the alligator pear so as not to damage the seed from which a new tree will grow. If there are signs of decay inside, it is better to choose another, unspoiled fruit.

  1. The first method is closed, more familiar to gardeners and flower beds - planting a seed in the ground. Land for avocados should be loose with good drainage system. Place expanded clay, pebbles or other small stones in a clay pot with a layer of a couple of centimeters. Mix for soil garden soil, sand and humus in the same parts, additionally add peat or charcoal. Plant the bone with a blunt tip in a pot of earth to a depth of 2-3 cm. good conditions, 30 days after planting, the seed will germinate, and the first roots will appear on its surface.
  2. The second way to get a sprout is more unusual, one might say exotic - sprouting avocados in a container of water. Peeled avocado pit is prepared in the following way. 3-4 toothpicks gently pierce the seed so as not to damage it much. Toothpicks will act as a support when fixing the avocado with the bottom side in a small container. It is important to monitor the water level. The blunt part of the seed should always be in the water, and the sharp tip should be on the surface. After 20-30 days, the first root will appear. When it grows to 3-4 cm, you can transplant the seed into the ground, and soon admire the young avocado sprouts.

Both methods require accuracy and careful attention in the process of germination. temperature control, proper fit and fixation of the stone, a sufficient amount of heat and light are the main conditions for obtaining a beautiful ornamental home plant.

How to grow an avocado

In nature, this plant reaches 20 meters in height, but avocado at home grows no more than 2.5-3 meters. It is possible that the tree will begin to bear fruit in 3-6 years, but this happens very rarely. This happens more often if you germinate several seeds in one pot. In the flowering phase, the plants will be pollinated, and it is possible that fruits will appear in the future. They are pleasant in taste, but differ from the usual taste of tropical counterparts. But the lush crown perfectly cleans the air and adds comfort to the homely atmosphere.

If you decide to plant an avocado at home, be prepared to take care of it. First of all, you need to plant a bone so that its sharp part always remains on the surface. It is necessary that soil moisture and air temperature be as close as possible to tropical conditions.

Avocado pot should be placed in the brightest place in the house. Once a month, you need to use top dressing and fertilizer to ensure rapid growth of the plant. Water the avocado as needed, but don't over-water. To determine if watering is required, deepen your fingers 2-3 cm into the soil. If it's dry, then it's time to add water.

If the butter pear is pulled up due to a lack of sunshine, lightly pinch the top. You can also plant not one, but several seeds to intertwine the trunks as the plants grow, creating beautiful compositions from young trees.

Features of caring for an avocado tree

Avocado care includes the correct temperature regime, timely fertilizer mineral substances, watering, transplanting and observing the light regime.

You need to water the tree as needed, and do not allow an excess of water in the pot. In winter cold time, the plant is watered for 2-3 days after the soil has completely dried. In the summer, for home care, avocados are watered no more than 1-2 times a week.

Tropical fruit is not compatible with dry room air. To create favorable conditions and suitable air humidity, plant plants with massive leaves that evaporate a large amount of moisture next to a young tree. You can also spray the leaves with a spray bottle 3-5 times a day. During heating season it is optimal to hang wet towels on a battery or put a plant pot on a pallet with wet sand.

Location and lighting

As already mentioned, the soil for avocados should be loose so that excess moisture does not linger in the pot. Its excess, as well as its deficiency, can destroy the plant. The alligator pear is a tropical fruit, but direct sunlight is contraindicated for it. An adult tree, like a planted seed, is best placed on a windowsill on the south, east or west side. In autumn and winter, daylight hours for avocados are extended to 12 hours with the help of fluorescent lamps, and during the flowering period up to 15.

How to pinch an avocado

Pinching or forming pruning of a tree for decorative growth is carried out in March. In the first year, the plant is cut at the level of 7-8 leaves, and 5-6 at the side shoots. Then maintain the height at the desired level. This is necessary so that the young tree forms a crown, develops evenly, and not just in height.

Diseases and pests

There are a number of avocado diseases that affect the condition of the leaves. With poor watering, the leaves dry. With a lack of light, the leaves turn pale. And when the temperature is too low or too high, the leaves fall off the plant.

Like all houseplants, avocados are afraid of scale insects and spider mites. The spider mite is able to destroy all the leaves on the plant, and the scale insect completely deprives it of juice. Also, this tropical tree prone to disease powdery mildew, which covers the leaves with a white bloom and gradually kills the entire plant. You can cope with pests with the help of special preparations and folk methods.

It turns out that growing a tropical tree at home is not difficult at all. The main thing is to be patient and thoroughly approach the process. If you choose a healthy ripe fruit, extract and germinate the seed correctly, provide the sprout with due attention and favorable climatic conditions, you will soon become the proud owner of a chic ornamental home plant.

In apartments and houses, you can often see decorative leafy and flowering plants, but there are also fruit crops. One of them is the avocado. At home, the plant rarely bears fruit, but the process of growing an exotic fruit is very exciting. It is difficult to find a seedling for sale, so it is better to purchase a ripe fruit and grow an avocado from a stone yourself.

What is an avocado

It is the fruit of evergreen crops of the genus Perseus of the Lavrov family. The pulp of the fruit is rich in trace elements and vitamins. Avocado belongs to fast growing trees and reaches a height of 10-20 m. The trunk of the culture is usually straight, strongly branching. The leaves are long (up to 20 cm), elliptical in shape, throughout the year. The flowers of the plant are small, inconspicuous, bisexual, greenish in color, located in the axils of the leaves.

The fruit itself is oval, pear-shaped, its average length- from 5 to 10 cm, and the weight is 0.05-1.8 kg, depending on the variety. The skin of an avocado is tough, dark green in unripe fruits, and blackens some time after ripening. Ripe fruit has a greenish or yellow-green flesh with an oily texture. In the center of the fruit is a large bone.

About 400 varieties of avocados grow in the world: from very small ones (the size of a plum) to large ones, the weight of which reaches 1-1.8 kg. Fruits are brought to Russia from Latin America, Israel or Africa. The fruit contains about 45% fatty oil, 30% unsaturated fatty acids and two to three times more protein than pears, grapes and bananas. Avocados are rich in vitamins E, A, B, D and many minerals. The calorie content of a ripe fruit is much higher than any other fresh fruit.

How it grows

Tree varieties are divided according to their place of growth into Mexican, West Indian (Antillean) and Guatemalan. The first type is the most hardy: small fluctuations in temperature do not harm them, but the fruits of the Mexican avocado are the smallest among other varieties. The West Indian species of the plant requires a tropical or close to it climate and can grow only with high atmospheric humidity (without this, the tree will not bloom and bear fruit). Guatemalan varieties are a little more hardy, since their homeland is the American subtropics.

avocado, like lemon Tree, versatile in terms of its ability to adapt to the soil. You can grow crops on different soils- red clay, volcanic loam, limestone, sand. The main requirement of the tree is to have good drainage. The plant does not survive excessive moisture of the earth, especially periodic flooding. Horizon ground water for normal crop growth must be at least 9 meters below the surface.

Since many varieties of avocados tend to grow too tall, commercial growers prune the tree to 4.8-5.4 m and then allow the tree to grow back to 9 m. However, this pruning is not The best decision, because the plant tends to expel the new top very quickly, resulting in a lack of branching. Recently, a special chemist (TIBA) has been used to curb crop growth, which slows down the development of upper branches and encourages the development of side shoots.

Avocado fruits ripen 6-17 months, depending on the locality and variety. Final fruit ripening does not occur while the fruit is attached to the tree (due to an inhibitor in the stalk). After harvesting, the fruit will ripen for 1-2 weeks at room temperature. Avocados are transported at a temperature of about 4 degrees. It is possible to grow avocados at home. This requires:

  • regularly spray the tree;
  • observe the temperature regime (do not allow the temperature to drop below 12 degrees);
  • place the pot in a bright place, but without direct sunlight on the plant.

Avocados are easy to propagate, so the plant can be easily grown at room temperature from a fruit pit purchased from a store. The most active growth of culture is observed in the spring. At the same time, the ascended tree, presumably, will perform only a decorative function. The size of a plant grown at home will not exceed 2.5 m, and you most likely will not wait for fruiting at all. Nevertheless, such a tree will decorate the home and will perfectly purify the air.

How to sprout a bone

Work should begin with the preparation of planting materials. A suitable seed has a relief surface and the size of a large quail egg, easily removed from the pulp. A suitable option can be obtained exclusively from ripe fruit. The degree of maturity is determined by the color of the peel (it should be dark) and elastic pulp. If, when pressed on the fetus, it restores its shape, the bone will be suitable for planting at home.

To plant a plant, you need to remove the seed, to do this, cut the avocado into 2 halves, turn the flesh out and easily remove the seed. It is grown in two ways:

  • open;
  • closed.

Closed way

Considered over simple method growing a plant. The closed method involves planting the seed directly into the substrate. How to plant an avocado:

  1. Prepare the pot right size, lay a layer of expanded clay on the bottom (1.5-2 cm).
  2. Mix equal amounts of humus, sand, garden soil. You can use a ready-made substrate, but at the same time choose loose and well-drained. Fill the pot with soil, leaving 1.5 cm of free space on top.
  3. Plant the stone with a blunt end in the ground to a depth of 3 cm. Pour the seed with clean, settled water. Place the pot in a warm place with good lighting. After 20-30 days, the bone will sprout. Make sure the ground is constantly moist.

open way

You can grow an avocado from a seed at home in another, more reliable way. If you plant a plant open way, the probability of germinating a seed is much higher. To do this, you will need a glass or other suitable container. The procedure for landing will be as follows:

  1. Make 3 small holes in the center of the bone, into which insert toothpicks (3-5 mm deep).
  2. In this form, place the seed with a blunt end to the bottom in a container filled with cold water. The liquid level must be correctly selected: it is optimal that the bone is 1/3 immersed in it.
  3. It is important to maintain this water level constantly to obtain roots. You can plant avocados in the ground after the appearance of 3-4 cm shoots. Root formation takes 1-6 weeks, depending on the season.

How to plant an avocado seed

Before planting a plant at home, it is important to think through all the nuances of its decorative design. Consider these aspects:

  1. You can plant several sprouts in one container at once, in the process of growth their stems will intertwine, thanks to which you will get a lush, beautiful tree.
  2. To grow tall plant, it is recommended to transplant at least once a year. The optimal time for this is the end of February, when the plants begin to grow actively. The first time to transplant should be after the culture reaches a height of 15 cm.
  3. To reduce the growth rate of an avocado, you need to pinch its top. The procedure accelerates the growth of side shoots, making the crown attractive and lush.
  4. Formative pruning is done in the spring, with the active growth of plants. The first pruning of the top is carried out after 8-10 leaves, in the presence of side branches they are shortened after 5 leaves.

The soil

Before planting avocados, you need to prepare a nutritious, loose substrate. In composition, it should be neutral (acidic soil is categorically not suitable). The soil mixture is prepared from the following components:

  • medium-grained sand - 2 parts;
  • garden soil - 2 parts;
  • small expanded clay, sphagnum moss or pieces of foam plastic - ½ part;
  • fresh humus - 2 parts;
  • lime - 1 tbsp. l;
  • expanded clay or other drainage (layed out on the bottom when transplanting young plant into a larger container).

How to plant

After the roots have reached a size of 3 cm and have grown stronger, the avocado can be planted in the ground. To do this, the bone is carefully removed from the water / substrate, if necessary, toothpicks are removed, then moved into the soil with the blunt end down. When rooting, the sharp part of the seed and the sprout remains on the surface. Since this is a tropical plant, the culture needs a humid and warm microclimate. It is important to water the soil regularly, spray it, not allowing it to dry out.

Optimum temperature for culture - above 16 degrees Celsius, but avocados can sprout even at 12 degrees. Lighting for the plant is suitable for intense, bright, but slightly diffused (you can place the pot on the window so that sunlight passes through the tulle). At favorable conditions the sprout quickly stretches, adding 1 cm per day. After reaching 35 cm, the active growth of foliage begins at the tree.

Avocado care at home

After the beginning of the growth of the seedling, there are no special problems with growing the plant. When forming optimal conditions for a tree, it will grow and develop rapidly, decorating the home. You need to take care of avocados in a complex way:

  1. Lighting. mature plant does not require a lot of light, so the pot can be kept on windows facing north, west or east. During the maximum solar activity(from 12 to 16 hours) the tree must be shaded from direct sunlight. In winter, avocados require additional lighting.
  2. Soil moisture, air humidity. Watering is recommended to be carried out often, while it is important to prevent dampness in the pot. The topsoil should always be slightly moist. The optimum air humidity for the plant is 65%. Such conditions can be maintained by frequent spraying or by placing water containers next to the pot.
  3. Air temperature. Since the plant is thermophilic, the temperature range from 12 to 21 degrees is suitable for it.
  4. The use of fertilizers. After planting the seed in the substrate, the seedling does not need additional top dressing. Fertilizers begin to be applied after 4-6 months, repeating the procedure every month. Suitable for this mineral compositions designed for indoor flowers.
  5. Crown formation. In order for the tree to have a lush crown, pinching is mandatory. After the appearance of 8 leaves, it is recommended to carry out the first pinching. Further, the crown is formed from the side branches. When the 5th and 7th leaves appear on the young shoot, you need to pinch it. Optimal height indoor tree is 1.5 m.
  6. Transfer. Young plants should be repotted every spring, choosing larger pots. After reaching the age of 3-4 years, the avocado should be planted in a tub and not disturbed for 3 years.

Video

According to my conditional classification of flower growers (in which there are such unique ones - “florist - light hand”,“ a walking encyclopedia ”,“ The little Prince”, etc.), I rather belong to the type of “flower grower - experimenter”. Don’t feed me bread, let me grow a “green giant” from some seed. If you, dear readers, like this kind of crop production, then I bring to your attention my experience in growing avocados from a stone at home.

Choose me, choose me...

Want to know what it takes to grow an avocado at home? To get started, go to the store and get yourself the most ripe and juicy avocado. How to understand that you have chosen just such a fruit? Well, first of all, it will be a large fruit.


Secondly, it is elastic to the touch. Is the avocado soft? It's probably overripe. And if it's too hard, it's not ripe. You can still press your finger on the fruit, the dent will gradually disappear in the ripe fruit, but it will remain in the overripe one. Therefore, press without fanaticism.


Thirdly, the peel should be even, without dark spots, cracks. Color is uniform. But its color does not matter, because in one variety it can be light green, in another - almost brown. By the way, today there are over 400 varieties of avocados.

Plan b

However, if you still missed and bought an unripe fruit - it's okay, you can bring it to the standard at home. Wrap the avocado in a paper bag or paper towel and put it in a cool, dark place for a couple of days. And they say that apples and bananas contribute to the ripening of the fetus. Experts recommend putting something from this list in a paper bag and putting it in a dark place. It is advisable to make holes in the bag so that the fruit can breathe.

Grandfather planted ... "alligator pear"

An avocado seed can be germinated in two ways: either plant it in the ground, or first wait for the roots in the water.


We tried both methods with avocados. The first one did not impress us: we had to wait a very long time for the appearance of a sprout.


And I liked the second one more, everything happens faster. Moreover, this method allows you to observe an extremely interesting process - the awakening of life.


In the first case, the bone is cleaned of the brown "uniform", planted in the ground with a sharp end up, buried in the ground by about a third. If planted too deep, the seed may rot.


For the second option, the peel is not required to be peeled off, it will gradually peel off by itself. It will be enough to wash and wipe the bone.

Now take four toothpicks and pierce the bone from four sides at the same level and at a height slightly above the middle (the sharp end is the top, the wide end is the bottom). I warn you, the bone is dense, you will not be able to pierce deeply, but this is not required. Toothpicks will provide support. Now take some container: a small jar, a glass, disposable cup. Pour warm boiled water and put your “construction” (bone with toothpicks) on the “pedestal” (cup). It is important that the water is always at the same level, so be sure to add as it evaporates. Then put the glass in a bright corner.

It's time, beauty, wake up

The fact that the bone “woke up” is announced by the first signs - the appearance of a small crack, which will gradually grow more and more. Some bones wake up quite quickly - after two or three weeks, and for others, even a month is not enough. The flower grower-experimenter can only wait. Well, at least growing avocados is not the only thing that you can devote your free time to at home. In principle, after the bone has been divided in two, it can be rooted. But I prefer to wait for the roots. I planted avocados in the ground when the roots reached 5-6 cm.


Sometimes it happens that first a sprout breaks through, and then the roots hatch. I don't see anything wrong with that.


Now we take a deep plastic pot, since the roots of avocados grow more in length than in width. In addition, there should be many holes at the bottom of the pot for the outflow of water. At the bottom we pour expanded clay.

The soil must be fertile. acidic soil don't like avocado. Experts recommend such a mixture in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: garden soil, humus (or raw peat), sand, lime can be added. The earth should not cake, so regularly loosen the earth. Water generously.


When planting, we do not remove the bone, this is a feature of the plant. True, for some reason in the winter it wrinkled at first, and then both halves turned black and fell off.

"Avocashik" is small, but daring

It so happened that I accidentally pinched the hatched shoot. But my "avokashik" was not offended, but launched two branches a little later.


When the sprout reaches 10-15 cm, it should be transplanted into a deeper pot. I noticed that if the growth of the tree has stopped, it means that the roots have become crowded - it's time to change the container.


In nature, avocados can reach 18 meters, at home, this, of course, does not threaten the grower, but if you do not pinch, then the “avocado” quickly stretches and takes up a lot of space in the house, and under the weight of its leaves the trunk is bent.


In my plant, two branches began to lean in different directions, so I intertwined them, like a ficus.


Feed your avocados regularly, for example with a tropical plant fertilizer.



In the cold season, watering is reduced; in winter, avocados prefer coolness. But if it is very cold, then the avocado can shed its leaves, however, when it is hot, it also does. Because of this, some flower growers in a fit of panic throw out their "plants", thinking that the tree cannot be saved. But this is not so, continue to care for the exotic, it will soon grow new foliage.


If you follow these simple rules, then for several years the "avocado" will delight with its bizarre appearance. Fruits, however, do not wait. After all, we are not in the tropics.


Avocado is another fruit

I must warn you that the leaves, the peel of the fruit and the pit of the avocado contain a fungicidal toxin - persin. It is dangerous for both animals and humans. It can provoke an allergic reaction and worsen the functioning of the digestive system.


But the midges bypass it))


Now you know how to grow an avocado from a seed at home. Write to us about your results.

A guide to growing avocados


Fans of exotic houseplants have probably thought about how to plant an avocado and grow it at home. Perhaps someone even tried to do this by burying a bone from this exotic fruit in the ground, but did not get the result. And no wonder, in this way it is unlikely that you will be able to get what you want. However, growing avocados is quite possible if you follow some simple rules.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the choice of the fruit from which it is supposed to extract the bone for planting. It should be absolutely ripe, but not spoiled. This is checked as follows: you need to slightly squeeze the avocado with your palms on both sides, and then loosen your grip and look at the result. The fruit of the desired degree of maturity will quickly restore its shape.

If the avocado is not ripe enough, then it simply will not shrink, it will be more firm to the touch. In principle, you can take this one, and put it at home to ripen in a warm place. The speed of this process can be positively affected by yellow bananas lying nearby.

Planting an avocado

After the fetus has reached the desired state, it is necessary to land as soon as possible. To do this, you first need to peel the fruit and carefully remove the bone from it. Then there are three options for action.

  1. The unpeeled bone is placed in the ground. In this case, its blunt end must be at the bottom. About a third of the bone must be left unburied. Further care consists in regular watering once a week. It is also recommended to cover the bone with polyethylene until the sprout appears.
  2. The cleaned bone is placed in water. The sharp end should remain in the air. After the appearance of sprouts, which will happen in about a month or two, you can plant in a pot.
  3. This method is almost the same as the previous one, only here the bone must be taken unpeeled. To fix it on a vessel with water, you can make special props. To do this, the peel is pierced with toothpicks, just above the place to which the bone should go into the water, and is strung on them. You can make three or four such mounts, equidistant from each other.

For growing avocados at home, it is better to take a large seed. It has more nutrients, which will significantly increase the chances of success.

conditions for avocado

Avocado is a tropical plant, and therefore thermophilic and very sensitive to humidity levels. It is necessary to plant and grow it at a temperature of about twenty-two to twenty-five degrees Celsius. If the air in the room is too dry, then the leaves must be sprayed. In addition, in this case it makes sense to put the pot on a pallet in which moistened moss is laid.

Illumination is also a very important factor for the full growth and development of avocados. It is worth putting the pot with the plant in a bright place, but in no case under direct sunlight.

The accumulation of liquid in the ground and the pot tray is unacceptable. Water for planting and irrigation should be separated, at room temperature. Under normal conditions, there is no need to spray the leaves. It is advisable to add a little charcoal or activated charcoal to it as a fertilizer.

The soil for growing avocados at home should be loose and always moist. A mixture of humus, sand and ordinary garden soil in equal proportions is best suited. You can add to this moss, peat or expanded clay, as well as lime. This tree is very sensitive to soil acidity, it should not be high. Be sure to use drainage.

Features of care

Growing avocados from seed at home is not too difficult. The main difficulty lies at the very beginning of the process - before the roots and sprouts appeared. It is important to choose the right fruit, carefully remove the bone from it and plant it very carefully without damaging it.

Further, everything will be quite simple, but there are a number of nuances. Water the plant abundantly, but not excessively. On average, it is recommended to do this once a week. But in order to accurately determine that the time has come for watering, you need to lower your finger into the ground to the second fold. If the soil is dry, then it is time to moisten it.

It is necessary to feed avocados with complex mineral fertilizers at least once every two weeks. In order for the plant to be not only tall, but also lush, it is worth pinching it from time to time. Annual transplants are also needed, usually carried out in the spring.

Home grown avocados can be attacked by pests such as scale insects and spider mite. In such cases, it is necessary to carefully treat it with special preparations, clearly following the instructions. In addition, the tree may shed its leaves. Usually this natural process, which occurs from time to time, but can also be an indicator that the room temperature is too cold.

Conclusion

Growing an avocado from a seed is a fairly simple process. Although, of course, it requires some effort and has some features. The most difficult thing will be to germinate a tree and pick up for it correct soil. It is also very important to monitor the humidity regime.

It must also be said that the avocado is quite large tree sometimes reaching twenty meters in length. To avoid such growth of the house, and at the same time give the plant splendor, it is worth trimming the upper shoots. Unfortunately, this exotic will not bloom and bear fruit in a city apartment. But it can act as an unusual decorative element.

Planting and transplanting avocados is best in the spring. In winter, the tree is quite vulnerable, and therefore needs more careful monitoring and care. It is at this time that it is especially important not to forget about fertilizers and maintenance high temperature air. If you follow all the rules described above, then this amazing tropical plant will perfectly exist at home.

Many gardeners collect collections of citrus and other exotic plants. Some species are available for purchase. Seedlings are hard to find, almost impossible. They are not available in specialized stores, and it is unreliable to buy a germinated specimen from hand. Another way to get an interesting pet is to grow it yourself at home on the windowsill.

At first glance, growing a full-fledged plant is difficult. But if you know certain moments the choice of planting material, as well as the necessary actions for rooting, then it will not be difficult to cope with the process.

The first step is to purchase a ripe avocado. Most often, unripe fruits are sold in stores. They are placed next to bananas and apples, which tend to release ethylene (a gas that speeds up ripening).

The degree of maturity is easy to determine: when squeezing the sides, the fruit restores the dents that have appeared to their original position.

Only in a fully ripe fruit, the bone is able to germinate. To grow a full-fledged tree, take a large bone. Such an avocado kernel contains a sufficient amount of strength for germination and good development both roots and stems.

Preparatory work:

  • Before planting, the bone is carefully removed from the fruit. The flesh is carefully cut in a circle until it comes into contact with the hard inside. Manipulations are carried out carefully and carefully so as not to damage. If everything is done correctly, then the core will easily move away from the edible pulp. After the kernel is washed, cleaned of the outer brown peel, left to dry.
  • For planting, it is necessary to prepare a medium-sized container - no more than 10 cm in diameter. The earth is taken light, loose, rich nutrients. The substrate should contain humus, garden soil, peat and sand. Each of constituent parts taken in equal proportions. Lime is added to this mixture in the amount of 2 parts of the total soil volume.
  • The flowerpot is prepared with big holes at the bottom. The plant does not like stagnant water, so it is necessary that the water does not stagnate in a pot. Drainage (expanded clay or polystyrene) is necessarily placed at the bottom of the tank.

Thus, properly prepared planting materials will contribute to the rapid germination of the young sprout.

Landing: terms and rules

Planting the kernel is required immediately after it dries. It is not recommended to postpone planting for several days after preparing the knuckle. The percentage of germination is significantly reduced.

There are 2 ways to plant a bone:

  1. Closed - light, without special efforts. Guided by this path, the core is placed in the ground. First of all, a container is prepared, at the bottom of which drainage is placed. After the soil is filled up. Inside it, it is necessary to leave a recess 2-3 cm deep, so that the placed bone is deepened by 1/3 of the entire volume. After planting, it is necessary to water the seedling. Water should be taken settled, at room temperature, such that it has a low salt content. Most the best way- filtered liquid. It is important to pay close attention to soil moisture. It is not recommended to strongly moisten or overdry the soil.
  2. Open - original and interesting method. The stone is cleared of the upper dense peel. Neat small holes should be made in the core structure, maximum 5 mm deep. Insert toothpicks or matches into them. Holes are needed to install the structure on the neck of a glass or jar, so that sharp end looked up. Water is poured into the container just enough so that the upper cavity of the core looks out of the water by 2/3 of its entire size. You can do without matches inside the body of the nucleus. But then the knuckle is placed at the bottom of the container, filling it with water by 1/3.

After any of the planting methods, you need to monitor the water level and add it as needed. The temperature of the liquid should be no more than + 23- + 25 C. You can add Activated carbon or wood ash. They will saturate the liquid with nutrients. When the seedling germinates, the favorable temperature should not drop to +12 C. Otherwise, all efforts will be in vain.

When the first roots appear, do not rush to transplant into the ground. You have to wait until it grows. When the roots reach 3 cm in length, you can take it for. At this point, a green sprout may appear from the cracked core. Now you need to carefully remove the knuckle from the water, remove the props and place it deep into the ground with a blunt base. Be careful not to damage the fragile roots.

How to properly care for indoor avocados:

  • Avocado loves the light, but grows well in the shade. You should not leave it in the midday sun - the leaves will first acquire a red tint, and then “burn out”. It is advisable to place a flowerpot with avocados on the west window. In winter, they are additionally illuminated with artificial lighting, since the seedling needs 15 hours of daylight for normal growth.
  • The exotic bush is thermophilic, at a temperature of +18 C it grows rapidly. For 3 months, under favorable conditions, it is able to stretch 50 cm in height. If the degrees in the room drop to +12 C, then the plant will begin to throw off the leaves and go into the dormant stage. In dry air, greenery takes Brown color and then falls off.
  • need frequent but moderate. The soil 2 cm deep should remain slightly moist. Likes frequent spraying and watering through the pan.
  • In the first months after planting young tree, feeding is not required. Only after 8-10 months can supplements be made. Over the next year, it is recommended to fertilize no more than 4 times: 2 times each in spring (March, May) and autumn (September, November). Fertilizers are applied or any suitable for citrus or indoor flowers.
  • The plant likes to grow up. It does not form side branches on its own. If you do not follow its growth, then the bush is able to grow up to 17 m. confined space rooms of this height is not acceptable. It is important to do regular pinching of the upper kidneys. Due to this process, the tree will begin to branch and grow in breadth.

Thus, keeping small rules care for avocados, you can easily grow a beautiful exotic specimen at home.

Avocado grows fast and is the first small pot after a few months it will become tight. When the bush stretches 15 cm in height, it is time to transplant. Up to 3-4 years, the plant is transplanted every year. After that, you can limit yourself to changing the flowerpot 1 time in 3 years. Regular transplantation has a positive effect on the growth and development of a young tree.

It is best to carry out the transshipment process immediately after winter.

At this time, the plant, rested after winter period peace, ready for a new round of life. For transshipment, the pot is purchased a little larger in diameter. When the bush is taken out from its familiar place, then it is not worth shaking the earth from the roots. This method of transplantation contributes to rapid acclimatization in a new place. An empty place is covered with fresh prepared soil.

If it is not possible to transplant a tree, it is recommended to remove upper layer ground a few inches deep. Spill the remaining soil abundantly with boiled, settled water. From above, instead of the harvested soil, pour fresh substrate.

Every owner of a self-grown avocado dreams of fruits. In order for fruits to appear, you need:

  1. grow not 1 tree, but several
  2. plant seedlings close together to allow cross-pollination
  3. let the plant grow up to 2 meters in height
  4. pinch the top
  5. graft or purchase a grafted seedling

If you follow the rules, then there is a chance that the tree in the 5th year will be able to please with a few fruits. Thus, it is not difficult to grow an avocado from a stone at home, it is more difficult to wait for fruits from it. The main thing for growing is to choose the right planting material.

More information can be found in the video:

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