I have to warn you. Growing avocado trees can lead to heartbreak and addiction. A fierce need to want to keep growing them arises so if you aren't ready, keep reading. If you are ready the time and effort you'll put into nurturing this beautiful plant will shock you but I bet you spend more time on social media so don't ever call it a waste. Let my failures lead you to a bountiful harvest of strong and beautiful avocado trees.

Save your seeds. You can immediately wash off any left-over green and peel off the dark outer casing of the seed to begin germination.

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Options for Seed Growth

The Cupboard

You can fold your freshly washed seed in a damp paper towel and then store it inside a plastic sandwich bag with a seal in a cupboard or dark place for a few weeks or even a month or longer. Make sure the paper towel stays damp but after a bit, the seed will have cracked and you begin to see your root.

Set It Inside a Vase

Make sure the root touches the water but doesn't allow the seed to be completely submerged. Try and change your water at least once a week. The vase will begin to get transparent yet slightly slimy on the inside so it's a great idea to clean the inside every once in a while.

How to Care for Your Growing Avocado Tree

Getting your root seems to take ages and then bam! The seed has cracked and the root will grow and shoot off in all sorts of directions and these little nubs will show up. It's a good sign. At some point, your tree will begin to pop up and this is when the real fun begins.

When it hits 12 inches, you'll want to trim it back to six inches. This will probably take place around five to eight months. Long, I know but the time will pass regardless so why not?

Your first snip will feel scary but I believe this is a big part of growing beautiful things. Talking to your plants, caring for them, and being able to cut them in half to make it even better will help you level up.

For an avocado tree, cutting it back from 12 inches to six will help promote growth and this is how you create limbs. For the first two years of growing, you'll continue to cut it back from 12 inches to six to continue adding limbs. If not, your tree could grow up to 80 feet, potentially making it super hard to pick the fruit, if it ever happens.

Be So Careful With Your Tree.

She is sensitive and once cut it's in shock. I accidentally knocked a baby limb off my tree and that's how I learned just how heartbreaking it is to grow avocado trees.

They don't like weather below 60 degrees and can die from it, that's how I killed my first one. Apparently, after I bumped the limb off it was just too much and within a month the beautiful limb that was left shriveled! I have another seed already growing a root so I can start again but dang! This was my best attempt yet, a year and a half of growth and just like that. She's gone.

Supposedly, a bit of a dip in temperature (not below 60 degrees) is needed to help the avocado tree produce fruit. I have no idea if I can get it to happen while it's in a house and at some point, I will be getting myself a greenhouse and continue to try. Who knows what the weather in the Pacific Northwest holds but it's an incredible adventure to continue to attempt to grow and kill and grow again. You can't really say you're a true gardener until you have successfully killed a few things, good and dead, and started again.

Until next time, happy growing! ~ Sarah J

Avocado Trees

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