What's happened
Guidance on growing avocados indoors, including steps for seed propagation, care tips, and outdoor planting advice for zones 9-11. The process is mainly for decorative purposes, as fruit production is unlikely indoors.
What's behind the headline?
Growing avocados indoors is primarily a decorative activity rather than a fruit-producing venture. The Hass variety is best suited for indoor growth due to its size and tolerance. While the process is straightforward, success in fruiting is unlikely without grafting or cloning. Outdoor planting is feasible in zones 9-11, but most home growers will find the plant more suitable as a houseplant. The key to successful indoor cultivation is providing bright, indirect light and careful watering, avoiding overwatering and ensuring good drainage. The story underscores the appeal of creating free plants from kitchen scraps, but also highlights the limitations of seed-grown avocados for fruit production, which depends on grafted trees.
What the papers say
AP News emphasizes the simplicity of growing avocados from seed and notes that Hass is the best indoor variety. The Independent provides detailed step-by-step instructions, including care tips and outdoor planting advice, highlighting the genetic variability of seed-grown trees and the importance of grafting for fruit production. Both sources agree that indoor avocado plants are mainly for aesthetic purposes, with limited chances of fruiting, and stress the importance of proper watering, light, and soil conditions. The AP article also mentions that avocados are heterozygous, meaning seed-grown trees may not resemble the parent or produce fruit, which is a key consideration for growers seeking edible yields.
How we got here
Avocado plants are tropical and typically cannot survive outdoor winters in colder climates. Growing from seed is a popular method, especially with the Hass variety, which is more tolerant of indoor conditions. The process involves suspending the seed in water with toothpicks until roots and shoots develop, then planting in soil.
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The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. Its members are U.S. newspapers and broadcasters.