Brits are being urged to plant a certain seed this summer to help . As well as growing the to save cash, the seed can also grow into a glossy plant which will be perfect to decorate your .
Avocados have surged in popularity over recent years but they are quite expensive. They have been dubbed the 'Millenial favourite' but are not typically suited to Britain's cool and wet weather. The rough-edged fruit is native to Central America and grow best in a tropical climate.
However, as reported by the , many people don't realise that you can actually grow your very own avocado plant at home. Experts are advising people not to throw away seeds from their avocados ahead of the summer.
Gardener's World writes: "If you like a challenge and have plenty of patience, you can grow an avocado from seed using supermarket-bought avocado - simply pot the stone in a pot of moist compost and wait for the shoot to appear."
However, they warn that you need to be careful what kind of avocado you're using. For example, the Haas avocado is unlikely to produce a new plant as easily.
Avocado stones also need heat, moisture and a humid atmosphere to grow. Gardener's World suggest piercing the stone with four toothpicks before suspending it above a cup of water, making sure the base of the stone touches the water.
If you keep it in a warm place, after about six weeks you should see roots appearing. They then recommend potting your germinated seed into a peat-free compost mix.
It's also important that the soil does not have much peat in it. This is because avocados grow best in sandy, mineral-based soils.
Alternatively, you can leave the seed on a sunny windowsill to make sure it gets anough warmth and light. You can then pot it once it has started to split.
Another method is to pot the stone before it germinates and give it plenty of water. You can then leave it to germinate in a warm, dark place.
Gardener's World explains: "Check it regularly and make sure it doesn't dry out. When shoots have appeared on your plant, place it in a sunny spot and keep it well watered."
Once your avocado seedling has begun to grow substantially, you should then pot it on into a large pot where it will have room to grow. Note that the fruit can't withstand very cold temperatures, so they're best grown as houseplants or in a greenhouse.
You should water your avocado frequently and feed it every two weeks with a liquid plant food. Although, it's important to note that avocado trees can take up to ten years to bear fruit, even in optimal conditions.