Selfsufficientish.com

'Tis easy.

1 .. Remove stone and eat your Avocado
2 .. Throw stone and skins into your compost bin
3 .. Leave for 6 to 9 months
4 .. Next winter empty compost bin and spread on polytunnel beds
5 .. Wait 2 years and then notice a strange growth in corner of polytunnel
6 .. Dig up strange growth and pot up, realising it's an Avocado bush
7 .. Wonder what on earth to do with it and keep asking yourself why you potted it up
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We've found several, over the years, tried once or twice to grow them on with mixed success - they seem to get to a certain size then give up. However, we read, in various places, that either a) the plants don't produce fruit or b) they need to be about 7' tall before they do. Either way it isn't particularly hopeful so we now leave them in the compost.

You're just the fellow to prove them wrong.

Avocados are strange folk - like sunshine and water, hate wet feet - grow to about10 feet but have a poor root system - will grow well indoors but rarely fruit and are poorly self fertile. Generally take about 5 years to reach fruiting stage in commercial orhards. I know of a number of healty trees growing well around my area (border line semi-arid and mediterranean) in sunny, sheltered situations.

Gluck

I've had a few on the compost heap, too! But then, lacking a poly tunnel (or sufficient sunshine), it never came to much.

But why do you want to grow an avocado? There's self sufficient and being completely ....

Flo wrote: ↑Mon Sep 10, 2018 8:08 am But why do you want to grow an avocado? There's self sufficient and being completely ....

See point 7 of my instructions, Flo.
Probably because I'm soft hearted when it comes to plants, frinstance I sow more tomato seeds than I want, they all germinate and so I HAVE to grow them all regardless.
Such is life at chez Odsox.

Also of note, I finally have a pineapple with roots.
That's something I did on purpose, and have tried before and failed.

Mr Tony Odsox you have too much time on your hands.

I know, I should get a "proper job", Flo.
Never mind, winter is coming and I can play with my radios instead and leave all those poor defenceless plants alone.

Ah yes - the dreaded radio ham aren't you if I remember. Suppose it explains a lot - having lived with one I know that you are different from other members of society.

Odsox wrote: ↑Mon Sep 10, 2018 10:02 am Also of note, I finally have a pineapple with roots.
That's something I did on purpose, and have tried before and failed.

Congratulations! I've tried that a couple of times, without success.

I'm with you all the way Odsox - I will try anything just for the thrill of growing something different. I would advise against getting a "proper job"; I have one and it provides no real positives other than to keep the bank manager happy(ish). I got far more physical and psycological benefit from spending 10 days building fences to keep animals out of new tree lines that I have from my job in the last 5 years.

Weedo wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 6:23 am I would advise against getting a "proper job"

I wasn't really serious Weedo, I haven't had a job, proper or otherwise, for 25 years and I aint gonna start now.
Not that I had many proper jobs before that, as I was mostly self employed.
So yes, that allows me to play and try growing new things, just because I can.