Background
Avocado has become an extremely popular and nutritious fruit in the last few decades.Its growing popularity is partly due to an increasing awareness about its medicinal benefits. Avocado trees are mostly propagated from existing trees.However, it is also possible to grow healthy trees from a single seed.This process is called seed propagation and has been utilized in many places around the world to spread the goodness of Avocado.
What is Needed?
To grow an avocado tree from a seed, one needs access to fresh and ripe avocados,a few materials such as toothpicks, a pot, soil, and patience. Other basic requirements such as access to bright and adequate light and ample water are essential requirements as well.
Process
Once the preparation for propagation is complete, the actual process is surprisingly straightforward. Firstly, an avocado should be cut in half, taken out of the peel and the pit should be extracted. Make sure to preserve the pit as little as possible and make sure the surface is intact. After washing the seed and drying it well, the avocado seed should be pierced at 3-4 places with the help of toothpicks. This will be used as a base for securing the seed with the help of the toothpicks and suspending it over a bowl of water. Make sure to allow the seed to hang half outside and half inside the bowl so that the water is able to cover the part inside the bowl. Keep the seed this way in a warm and sunny place.
In a few days, roots will start to show out of the avocado pit. As the roots grow, the pit needs to be lowered a little inside the water bowl so as to provide some continued hydration to the lower part of the pit as well. The pit should be fed with a mixture of water and fertilizer every 1-2 weeks.
Pruning
Once the pit has taken root and a stem starts to appear above it, the pit needs to be rewarded with some pruning. Prune the stem, so that it branches off into 3-4 stems, for the tree to have a fuller or bushier look. This will also help prevent the stem from becoming too top heavy with the growing avocado fruit.
Additionally, the branches should be trimmed back periodically so that the growth of the avocados is contained.It is important to note that the pruning process may result in certain branches bearing little or no fruit and these branches should be completely removed.
Transplanting
Once the tree has established itself sufficiently,(1-2 years after the process has started)it should be transplanted into a bigger pot with some soil. The soil should be carefully chosen to suit the needs of the avocado tree. Additionally, it is important to transplant at a time where the tree is not in the season of bearing fruit.
Once the tree is transplanted and taken care of, it should start bearing some fruit in the coming season. Of course, before harvesting the fruits, the tree should be taken care of with proper nutrients, pest control and optimum water and sunlight exposure. As this process requires patience, proper care and a good deal of luck as well, each tree will produce fruits in its own unique time and sequence.
Foliage Health
Keeping the avocado tree’s foliage healthy is of utmost importance. To do this, it is essential to trim any dying branches and leaves promptly to allow the tree to produce strong, healthy growth. This will also ensure that the newly germinated seedlings are not overtaken by any dead foliage. Additionally, it is important to ensure adequate drainage for the soil for the overall health of the tree.
Opportunities
Growing healthy avocado trees from a single seed can be a rewarding long-term project. Not only can one enjoy seeing the tree grow and bear fruits, but also one can experience the joy of knowing that their efforts resulted in the propagation of their very own tree. Additionally, friends and family can enjoy the fruits that the tree bears!
Conclusion
Growing an avocado tree from a single seed was previously considered a lengthy process, but thanks to modern technology and advancements in the field, it can be made a much simpler process. Following the right steps and with a fair bit of luck, it is possible to make a successful avocado tree that will provide amazing health benefits to its harvests!
