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Avocados are prized for their nutritious qualities and immense health benefits. But even though you have your recipe book filled with ‘easy dishes to make with avocados’, the green fruit isn’t very pocket-friendly. So, to get to the cusp of the problem while moving a step towards a sustainable lifestyle, why don’t you add an avocado plant right in your home garden?
Just imagine stepping into your backyard, plucking a mature avocado, and transforming it into guacamole, a smoothie, or simply a bowl of salad. Even though having a successful harvest might take you five to six years, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh, organic, and home-grown produce of avocados. Just follow these tips and grow the creamy fruit in your kitchen garden.
Choose The Right Seed
The first step to grow an avocado is selecting a healthy seed from a ripe fruit. Next, carefully remove the seed with a knife. Do it slowly without damaging the seed, or else you’ll have to start the process again. Once the seed is out, rinse it to remove any flesh that might be stuck to the outer surface. Pat the seed dry with paper towels before you follow the next steps.
Sprouting
After you have the avocado seed, identify the bottom of the seed, which should be flatter and wider. Then, take a few toothpicks and insert them into the seed, angling them downwards. Next, take a jar that is wide enough to hold the seed but narrow enough to rest the toothpicks on the rim. Fill the jar with warm water, suspend the seed in the container, and place it in a warm and well-lit spot.
Prep The Soil
In a couple of days, your seedling should have a healthy root and sprout. The next step is to plant it in a well-fertilised soil. You can either prepare a pot or garden bed by adding well-draining pot mix before sowing. Remember to add a little sand to create an airy environment for avocados. Also, since the roots of avocados can rot easily, ensure that the pot has drainage holes to avoid waterlogging.
Proper Sunlight And Watering
Avocados thrive in sunlight. So, remember to place the pot in sunlight so that the plant gets at least four hours of direct sunlight. Since the perfect temperature to grow avocados is above 15°C, the summer season in India would be an ideal time to start the process. That being said, make sure you water the plant regularly and also mist the plant in extremely hot weather.
Prune Regularly
Apart from regular watering and fertilising, another step you should add to your plant-care routine is pruning. To help avocados grow better and yield healthy fruits, prune the lower leaves for better air circulation. You can also pinch the top leaves, which results in bushier growth and keeps your avocado plant healthy.
