How to Germinate Avocado Seeds

Osanie Simpson
Sep 4, 2018 · 3 min read

Good day everyone, today I will explain the steps I’ve used to germinate or as we say colloquially in Jamaica “catch” an avocado seed.

It is now September and most avocado trees, (at least where I live in Manchester) have already begun their fruiting cycle. All over the parish their are varying strains of avocados. Different shapes, sizes, flavors , textures, smells(terpene profile) are among the many distinctive variables/characteristics.

It is truly a wondrous time to be alive and procure these pleasant pears. I’ve decided to set aside the seed of every avocado I’ve eaten that is; delicious, remarkable and down right phenomenal. However, not all avocados I’ve come across have these desired traits. So far I’ve had a few dozen mostly from my community and only tried catching two.


METHODS TO CATCHING AVOCADO SEEDS

1. Compost method.

That plant at the top of the image is an ackee seedling. The ackee seed itself was buried underneath all that organic matter a few days/weeks ago and sprouted on its own. It is now ready to be plucked out and transferred to a pot then back in the earth. In a few years we may have the “fruits”. The very same can be done with avocados. If you don’t already have a compost pile check out my previous post on how you can get started here: https://medium.com/p/4ad09c58db2?source=linkShare-c4759844d36-1536086866

At the bottom of this image is an avocado that had sprouted out of the compost months ago, seems happy. I’ve trained it to grow horizontal instead of vertical.

2. Container + Water method

Items need

  1. Avocado seed
  2. Container (plastic cup etc)
  3. Toothpicks
  4. Water

Poke 2 toothpicks at opposite ends of the seeds leaving the flatter side of the seed down and place it in a cup with water. Water should not pass 50% of the avocado seed. In a few weeks the seed will shoot out a tap root which will then have its own mini roots.

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