The tropical avocado is easy to grow at home with just a few resources. All you need is the seed core of a ripe fruit - the pulp of which you have of course eaten with relish - and a little patience.

Prepare the seed kernel optimally

Experience has shown that seeds from very ripe avocados germinate best. To get to the seed, carefully cut open the fruit with a sharp knife. However, be careful not to damage the core. Carefully remove the stone from the flesh, the easiest way to do this is with a large spoon. Then remove the brown skin that encloses the core. This measure ensures that the seed can germinate more easily.

What you need for a successful avocado cultivation

  • avocado core
  • a small pot / glass of water (depending on the method chosen)
  • potting soil / water
  • a lot of patience

Germinate in potting soil

Many hobby gardeners first let their avocado seeds germinate in a water bath. However, this method is neither faster nor more promising than planting the seed directly in a pot with soil. For the direct method, you should choose either special potting soil or a peat mixture that is filled into a small plant pot. The avocado seed is placed in this soil with its flattened side down, with the upper part of the seed looking out. Water the soil well and cover the pot with foil. A warm, draft-protected location is best. However, direct sunlight should be avoided. The core will germinate within at least four weeks.

Germination in a water bath

The water method, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated. To do this, place the core, flat side down, in a glass filled with water, with the top end sticking out. You can fix the core with toothpicks - but be careful, otherwise you will damage the seed and germination is no longer possible. To be on the safe side, you can also take a shot glass instead of a water glass, then there is no need to fix it. Now place the glass with the core in a warm but dark place and make sure the water level is always even. The core germinates within a few weeks. Once a sprout has formed, the container is placed in a light but not sunny location. The avocado can be planted once a root ball has developed.

tips and tricks

Just don't lose patience: an avocado seed needs at least four weeks until it germinates - under certain circumstances it can take several months before the first visible successes can be seen. However, the attempt is to be interpreted as unsuccessful as soon as the core becomes moldy or rot begins.

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