My passion for the soil started a long time ago. I remember when I was young; I was always hiding to eat sand (don't worry, I don't do that anymore!). Even now, as an adult, I find solace and tranquility when I am in tune with nature. This unbreakable bond with the soil has also fostered a passion for growing things. It all started with corn at the tender age of 10. And now, over 10 years later, I've been trying to grow something else: avocado seeds.
How did it start?
As a Beninese proverb said:
“He who planted a tree before dying did not live in vain.”
So, about 3 years ago, coupled with my already existent passion, I decided to make my life more meaningful by planting a tree every 5 years. I randomly chose avocado as my first attempt. My uncle once showed me a method to grow the seed using water and toothpicks. I tried it, however, it didn't work out. I tried and tried and I finally succeed using a method Mom showed me (thanks Mom!). And now, I'm going to share it with you.
Which is the best method to grow the seeds?
There are a couple of methods, but I can't really say which one's the best. The one that worked for me was the 'paper towel method'. How does that one work?
So, start by splitting your avocado in half and gently removing the seed.
Enjoy that yummy avocado lol!
Carefully remove the brown coating on the seed,
Wrap your peeled pit in a slightly wet paper towel and stash it in a dry container or plastic bag.
Then, just find a dark spot to store it for a couple of weeks (2-8 weeks).
If you did everything right, you might see some tiny roots pop up around two weeks later. In the picture from Day 37, you can see that I've got 6 seeds at different stages. Some of them even have little stems. This happens when you leave your seed in the box longer, as I did. You can choose to take them out of the box once the roots start growing, or you can wait until you see a little stem. Personally, I like to go with the second option. That's what I've been doing since last year when I was growing my first botanical companions: Perseverance, Master, Hope, Respect, and Love. Pretty interesting names for trees, isn't it? Haha.
Dear reader, I hope this will inspire you to join us on the green side. So that we can make this Earth a better place for ourselves and also the future generation. If you are worried that it might be too late, remember this Chinese proverb which said:
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Thanks for reading. May God bless you, take care!
Sources:
On my way to plant my tree🌴🌲🌳🌳