Avocados

[PrettyCandles]

Any tips on sprouting the stones? I've just stuck them in eggcups with some water and put them on the windowsill. Will this work? What should I do?

they need to be on top of the water not sumerged (use cocktail sticks?) and need room underneath for the roots to grow, I did this last year with hte kids and only one plant left but its about 2 foot high.
Watch out for the water going green too, I just changed it when that happened.

Right (I though cocktail sticks came into somweher). Ta. Do you remember how long they take to sprout?

Growing your own avocado sounds good...any sign of fruit on your 2 foot high plants Mrswho?

NO idea how long , think it was a ocuple of weeks ish though.

No sig off fruit think hey have to be quite big and mine is only in a small pot atm

I grew a couple of years ago. Once the root appears and reaches the water, I potted mine. It only ever had 2 leaves though. I think you are meant to pinch it or something to make it split into more. I might try it again sometime now I have a garden. (I don't eat avocados though!)

I don't eat them either they were ffrom somthing we did at school!

Thanks!

I love avocados, but I think the plant is actually a substantial tree, so doubt that a pot-plant avocado would fruit, sespecially not in the UK.

this is a great idea - i'm going to try this myself!!

Takes years for them to produce fruit - and not in the UK.

Right, my avocados have grown some nice long roots - on the third attempt.

What do I do now? Do I leave them in jars of water on the windowsill, or do they need different treatment in order to sprout leaves?

Anybody?

Errm, At some point you need to pot them into a pot with compost. I think we waited until the main shoot had sprouted as well as the roots first, but it was 7 years ago so I can't be totally sure. I do remember it sent up a very tall sturdy main shoot quite quickly. Someone told me once they might bear fruit after 7 years, so fingers crossed!