How to germinate an avocado seed?

Question

I wanna know how to germinate one and from which side? The pointy side or the other side? Can they produce baby avocados in Canada?

Answer 1

I always put my avocado seeds in potting soil. A 6 inch pot is sufficient. I bury the seed with the pointed side up halfway in potting soil. Saturate the soil with water and the hardest thing is: patience. It takes awhile for it to root (probably a month or a two).

After that, it grows rapidly. After it gets to 12 inches tall, I would repot it in a taller pot. Avocados have very long and thick taproots so it needs space to spread.

It takes two trees to grow fruit successfully. A male and a female. My guess is it will take 10+ years to become a tree. The plant itself gets really tall and spindly so don't plant it in a place with high winds. Hope this helps.

Here's a link to the avocado plant I have:
1 day:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p288/hmle2002/AvocadoPit1day02-20-07.jpg

53 days:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p288/hmle2002/Avocado04-15-07.jpg

83 days:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p288/hmle2002/CopyofAvocado05-15-07.jpg

Answer 2

The most common way of germinating an avocado seed is to stick 4 toothpicks into the side (90 degrees apart) about in the middle of the seed. Then fill a glass with water and set the seed - pointy side up - on the glass such that it's suspended by the toothpicks about 1 inch into the water. Eventually, it should grow roots and start a new tree.

But, keep in mind that an avocado tree grown from seed probably won't produce fruit for 5 to 7 years.

Also, I doubt an avocado tree would survive a winter in any part of Canada. If they get below 32 F, the avocados and the foliage die.

Answer 3

Germinate Avocado

Answer 4

Stick 3 or 4 toothpicks in it around the middle to help it in a small field of water. The seed I mean. that's the only way i comprehend it is going to germinate and it will take a on an identical time as previously it sprouts so wait and see. uncertain if it is going to develop the place you reside yet i'd nevertheless try it.

Answer 5

Find a small bowl or cup and insert three strong toothpicks in the sides of the seed, about 1/2-way up. Place the seed over the cup or bowl, flat end down, and fill the cup or bowl until the water just contacts the bottom 1/3rd of the seed - and prepare to wait.
OR you can put it 2/3rds of the way down into some soil (again, flat side down) and keep it moist.
OR you can do what we do - put is 2/3rds of the way down into the edge of an existing plant's pot, which helps us remember to water it and leaves us unfazed if it does not sprout - it just breaks down. If it does sprout, just remove it from the "host" pot into its own once it starts to develop leaves. Pinch it every few leaf sets apart to develop a more bushy form. Use a weak fertilizer (orchid fertizer works well).

Answer 6

Place the avocado seed in a jar of water and put the jar in the sun. In a few days, the seed will split as it begins to sprout. Remove the seed and plant in soil with the direction of the sprout pointing up.

Answer 7

Paul left out one other fact. You need 2 Avacado trees to produce fruit, they are not self pollinating.
Edit: I forgot to mention. Several years ago I read about a nursery in Ca. that offered a dwarf avacado tree that could be grown indoors. I did not find it though with a quick search. You might have better luck. This site has some and claims they are self fertile but seem too large for indoors.
www.louiesnursery.com/avacado

Answer 8

Paul is right on