How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree from Seed!

This Mexico and Central Africa native tree shares the same plant family (Lauraceae) with cinnamon, bay laurel and camphor. It is most popular because of its delicious green skinned fruit which has fleshy body and a single seed in the center. Avocados are rich in several B vitamins and vitamin K, with good content of vitamin C, vitamin E and potassium. They also contain phytosterols and carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin. Many studies has shown that Avocados are beneficial for lowering cholesterol. So it is obvious that this fruit should be frequently present on your table.

 

You won’t believe how easy and fun it is to grow your own avocado tree from the pit of a fruit. All you need is to learn the technique to make that hard stone at the center at the fruit sprout. However, this doesn’t mean you will soon have your own avocado fruits to harvest – your tree might start producing fruits after 7-15 years. But you will still get a pretty nice houseplant or a new tree for your garden. Who knows, with proper care you might be making guacamole with avocados from your own tree. Now lets learn how to grow an avocado tree from a pit…

The Method

What you need to do is to remove the pit from an avocado fruit. Now rinse it well and dry it as you don’t want it to be slippery. Have in mind that the broad part of the pit is considered to be the bottom while the pointed part the top. Get 3-4 toothpicks and insert them into the widest part of the pit, about halfway to it. Suspend the pit over a glass/jar of water with the pointed part up. Make sure the water covers about an inch of the seed. Place the glass/jar in a spot with good light, but not in direct light. The water should be warm and the level should be maintained. In 2-3 weeks the seed will crack and after 1-2 weeks a single root will appear. In the next 1-3 weeks a stem will start growing. Your avocado tree is ready to plant when the root is around 2-3 inches long and the stem is at least 1-2 inches. Once it is planted, the stem will continue to grow. You will notice different sets of leaves developing. As the tree grows, prune the top branches so it becomes bushier.

Avocado as House Plant

If you want to keep your avocado as a house plant cut it back to about 3 inches when the stem is 6-7 inches long, this will encourage new growth. When it hits 6-7 inches again, pot it up in a rich humus soil in an 8-10″ diameter pot, leaving the top half of the seed exposed. Place on a sunny windowsill. Avocados love sun – the more sun the better.

Frequent watering and occasional soaking is a must in order to have a healthy plant.

Avocado Tree in Your Garden

If you like to plant it in your garden do it in summer, but have in mind that if you live anywhere where it gets cooler than 45 degrees F, you’ll need to bring them back indoors in the fall/winter, before the temperatures fall.

If you are lucky enough, your tree might produce fruits after 3-4 years, although it will more likely take 15 years for the  first fruits.

How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree from Seed!

Growing a Japanese Maple Tree in Your Garden

 

This stunning small deciduous tree from the family Aceraceae that origins from Japan is a beautiful ornamental tree that grows a height of 1.5 up to 3 m in height. The Japanese maples brings color and texture to every garden with it’s  its beautiful leaves that have deep notches, and are noted for their bright orange-red, red, red wine and red autumn colors, which are located on a beautiful wide canopy. If you are enchanted by this beautiful tree and desperately want to have it on your garden there are some basic things you should know first. Our short guide on planting and caring for your Japanese maple will surely help you have a beautiful and healthy plant in your garden, Just browse through our useful tips to learn everything you need to know. And don’t worry – growing Japanese maples is quite easy!

Planting, Watering and Fertilizing

Plant your young Japanese maple plant in a semi shaded location. Older plans can tolerate sun without a problem. However, have in mind that you should avoid planting your maple in full sun. Japanese maples don’t like wet, soggy soil. Don’t over water your plant. Sometimes even rainfall is enough. During summer water your maple on weekly basis. Water the roots – do not sprinkle the leaves as sunshine will cause scorched marks on them. Fertilize only in spring using a low nitrogen fertilizer.

Growing a Japanese Maple in Container

If you want to plant and grow your Japanese maple in a container – just choose a smaller variety and you are good to go. Try varieties like Butterfly, Hoshi kuzu, Red Dragon, Pixie or Waterfall. Choosing a good container is also important. The rootball to fit comfortably inside and the pot should also provide good drainage. Allow soil to dry between watering. Water only when soil feels dry or just slightly moist and cool. You should also pay attention to the soil type – it should be a well draining soil. A container Japanese maple should be fertilized weekly through spring and mid summer with a half strength liquid fertilizer. Stop fertilizing after July.

Winter Care

Japanese maples are deciduous trees and they go dormant during winter. This allows the plant to rest. In colder climates you should protect your plant, especially if it is grown in a pot. Bury larger pots in the ground over winter if possible, or keep them in an area that is protected from cold. If your plant is grown in the ground cover with mulch over the roots, just keep the mulch no closer than four inches from the trunk.

Pruning

If you want to prune your Japanese maple then do it selectively. This way you can prune anytime of the year. However, winter and summer are the seasons when pruning a Japanese maple is the easiest. Why winter? When the leaves are gone you can easily see the branch structure and make the right cuts. Summer pruning on the other hand stimulates less growth so you can get away with a little more and the tree will stay thinned out longer. Never remove more than one-fifth of a Japanese maple’s crown to avoid stress and unsightly growth.

Japanese Garden

Maples are a must have plant if you want to design a Japanese garden. If you seek inspiration for a Japanese garden design or just want to admire some beautiful old Japanese maple specimens explore the Portland Japanese Garden  located within Washington Park in the west hills of Portland, Oregon, USA. Experience  peace, harmony, and tranquility and witness the beauty of extraordinary Japanese maples…

Portland Japanese Garden

 

 

 

Growing a Japanese Maple Tree in Your Garden