From the hot tub... well, hot jam jar

I ended up putting about six apricot stones in the jam jar, and a particularly pointed avocado stone. I meant to leave them in for a few days, but it ended up being a couple of weeks. It has been very, very hot here, so I haven't had the will power for a lot, and they have been gently simmering on a hot kitchen windowsill.

The apricots I took outside and broke open the stones with a hammar. Apparently for stoned fruit you need to get into the kernel inside. This was mixed sucess, as in having to wack the stones hard to crack them, I ended up breaking or mashing most of the kernels inside. I managed to get two out in one piece. I don't know what would have happened if I had tried this without a soak first. I have planted the whole and slightly broken kernals in a pot which I'm leaving outside because it's hot everywhere so I don't think they're going to freeze at the moment.

The avocado stone I have pinned up for the jam jar and water method. I am calling this one Mick II because it seems a tragedy that I should be growing the stones, and have Keith and Charlie (leaved up and away) and Ronnie (still doing nothing) but no Mick!

Let's face it, we'd all be disappointed if this website had uploaded the photograph the right way up.

Apricots

Keith Mossman has nothing to say about apricots. I was eating one this morning, and left with the kernel, I got to wondering.... well, as this will be a bit more of an experimentation, and the apricot nut does come in a hard shell, I am starting out with the same advice he gives for avocados and peachs. Soak the nut for 48 hours.

So here is an apricot stone in a jam jar of water. Exciting days.

Although I have it standing up straight in the kitchen... nevermind...

Avocados are enjoying the heat

Both Keith and Charlie are growing away, clearly this crazy heat isn't a problem. Keith's leaves are growing, and whilst Charlie doesn't seem to be growing as vigourously tall as Keith did, he is already sprouting leaves in advance of me needing to prune the first stalk....

This is Keith. Obviously I am not growing him on the ceiling, it's just that the photo upload on this website continues to take the mick. Take the mick... maybe this is Mick's revenge for me having to throw him out???

And this is Charlie....

For some reason Charlie is allowed to stand up correctly.

The latest news

On the avocado front, Charlie has sprouted his first stalk out of the top. It's only an inch an a half tall at the moment, so I will still have to wait a while before the first pruning. His roots were starting to coil around in the jam jar, so I have planted him into soil today.

Keith is growing leaves of a few centimetres in length (I love mixing up measuring systems).

As for Ronnie... well, he was the avocado nut I stuck straight into soil. No sign of anything at all as of yet. Might be a dud?!

Keith's side line

Keith is starting to grow a side shoot - so the trimmings didn't finish him off. According to Keith Mossman, I should let this one grow until it reaches the height I want for my avocado plant. Then I should nip out the top.

Keith... and this website is determined to put in all my photos on their sides! Aghhh....

Charlie is taking root - textbook style

And on more exciting news on the avocado, Charlie is growing just as Keith Mossman said they would grow in the water jar method - two roots!!!

Cutting Keith Down to Size

Keith Mossman recommends that when your avocado sprouts, let the lead shoot grow to six inches, and then cut it back to four inches - otherwise you're going to get a monster of a plant which isn't going to be suitable for a house plant. I never thought I'd even get this far, but yes, Keith was trimmed today...

 This is Keith before the trimmings... and then...