Hey there, fellow garden enthusiasts! 🌱

Today, I’m excited to share my first-ever experience with rising avocados from scratch. It all started with a simple trip to the fruit store here in China, where I spotted some beautiful, ripe avocados. I couldn’t resist picking a couple up, not just for my salty avocado slice cravings but for a little experiment in my gardening journey.

Step 1: Choosing the Right Avocado
The first step was selecting the perfect avocado. I opted for a nice, ripe Hass avocado—it had a beautiful dark green skin and felt slightly soft when squeezed. This is key; you want one that’s ripe enough to eat but not overripe, so the seed inside is still viable. After enjoying the creamy flesh (yum!), I carefully scooped out the seed, rinsing it gently to remove any leftover fruit residue.

Step 2: Preparing the Seed
Now comes the fun part—getting the seed ready for rooting! I decided to go the classic route by suspending the seed in water. I grabbed three toothpicks and carefully inserted them into the seed, about halfway down. This would allow me to place it in a glass of water, with the bottom half submerged while the top half remained exposed to the air. Later on I found a special kind of container for growing avocados and I changed them to rest there. I also made sure to place this babies in our (no direct sun light) balcony and let them sit there, changing the water every few days to keep it fresh.

Step 3: Waiting for Roots
Patience is a virtue, right? After three weeks, I noticed tiny roots sprouting from the bottom! It was like watching magic happen. The seed also developed a sprout, which was thrilling to see. I snapped some photos during this process to document the progression—it’s amazing to see how life begins with just a simple seed!

Step 4: Potting the Seedling
Once the roots were a few centimeters long, (around 2 months after I put the seeds in water) and the sprout had grown a few leaves, it was time to pot the seedling. I chose a small pot with drainage holes and filled it with a mix of potting soil and compost. Gently, I placed the seedling in the pot, making sure to keep the top half of the seed above the soil. I watered it lightly and placed it back in the balcony. It felt so rewarding to see my little plant nestled in its new home!

Step 5: Pruning for Growth
As the avocado plants started to grow, I realized that pruning would be essential for its development. It had been 4 months of growth after potting and they were 32cm long. I read up on how to prune young avocado trees and decided to snip off the top couple of inches of the stem once it reached about a foot tall. This encourages bushier growth and helps the plant become stronger. I took before-and-after photos to capture the transformation!

Step 6: Transplanting to the Garden
After six months, the little avocado trees were ready for the big leagues—our MoLaHo garden! We chose a sunny spot with well-draining soil. We carefully dug the holes making sure they were big enough for the roots, and gently placed the plants in them. We filled in the soil around it and gave it a good watering. I was both nervous and excited—would it thrive in the garden?

Final Thoughts
As I write this, I’m filled with hope for my avocado journey. I’ve learned so much about patience, care, and the joy of nurturing a plant from seed to sprout to garden. I can’t wait to see how our avocado trees will grow and thrive alongside our other plants, contributing to the diverse ecosystem we’re cultivating and hopefully, bearing fruit in the years to come!

Watching the avocado seed transform into a thriving plant has been a joyful reminder of the wonders of gardening, much like the happiness I felt during planting day.

Now, I’d love to hear about your own gardening adventures! What have you planted recently, or do you have any tips for growing avocados? If you’re thinking about starting your own avocado adventure, I highly encourage you to give it a try. It’s been an incredible experience, and I’m thrilled to share it with you all. Stay tuned for future updates on our garden, and feel free to drop any tips or questions in the comments!