Unless you’ve been stranded on a deserted island for the past couple of years, you’ll have noticed that avocados are everywhere! This little green fruit has been added to meals in almost every restaurant and home recipe possible. The ‘avocado trend’ is no bad thing for your body, as the fruit contains potassium, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E. As well as possessing heart-healthy fats and a high fiber content.
The one downside of the trend is that over the past year the average price of avocados has gone up by over 25% as grocery stores look to maximize their profits. To save yourself some money and be able to eat fresh, organic avocados growing your own avocado tree is a must. The word tree may insinuate that you need an enormous amount of space. However, an avocado is a small and easy to grow tree.
Sprout
Carefully clean the avocado seed and ensure you know which end is top and which is the bottom. Stick four toothpicks into the seed at equal distances apart about halfway down. From there get a glass of water and set your seed in it, the toothpicks should keep it soaking in an inch of water.
The seed should be placed out of direct sunlight but in a warm place until the stem has grown to six inches and the roots are visible. This growth should take between two to six weeks, at which point the stem should be cut back to three inches. Wait for more leaves to grow and for the stem to reach six inches again before planting.
Plant
Get yourself a large plant pot approximately ten inches in diameter, with a small hole in the bottom for drainage. Fill the pot with nutrient rich soil, leaving a small hole in the top of the compost for your seed to go in. Place the seed in the hole ensuring that it isn’t too deep and that half of the seed is exposed above the soil.
