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From: sjc@mordor.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.garden
Subject: How to germinate an avocado
Message-ID: <1310@mordor.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 24-Feb-84 14:24:47 EST
Article-I.D.: mordor.1310
Posted: Fri Feb 24 14:24:47 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 26-Feb-84 01:23:04 EST
Organization: S-1 Project, LLNL
Lines: 25

In reply to the question about germinating avocados, the following approach
works well for me:

Hold the pit so that the narrower end (the one which was originally nearer
the stem) points upward. Stick three toothpicks into the pit, equal distances
apart, along the equator. Place the pit in a small cup of water so that the
toothpicks suspend it half-immersed. Wait a long, long time (it often takes
a couple of months, so don't give up too soon).

Once you get a stem and a few leaves, transplant it to a pot. Soon
thereafter, two problems usually occur. First, the plant refuses to
branch. Sometimes you can convince it to branch by pinching it back;
sometimes you can't.  Second, the leaves start turning brown and
shriveling. This supposedly results from accumulation of salts in the
soil. Sometimes you can deal with this by putting the pot atop a couple
of blocks so that whenever you water it, you can pour an enormous
quantity of water in and let it run out the bottom into a pan or onto
the ground (the blocks keep the bottom of the pot above the water level
so that the salt-rich water doesn't get reabsorbed).

Good luck.--Steve Correll

	(S-1 Project, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)
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