UK households urged to keep hold of avocado stones for crucial reason
Avocados have become a breakfast staple, especially among health-conscious foodies and Instagram aficionados, earning the title ' Millennial favourite'. Many people frequently enjoy them slathered on toast or included in Buddha bowls.
But there's a catch – avocados don't come cheap, largely due to their import costs. Originating from Central America, these rough-skinned green fruits thrive in tropical climates, a far cry from Britain's comparatively cooler weather and damp conditions.
However, avocado enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief because you can actually grow these fruits right in your own home. Plus, they double up as stylish houseplants with their shiny leaves and slender stems, adding a dash of elegance to any space.
Next time you're scooping out an avocado, think twice before binning the pit. Green-fingered experts suggest that this seed could sprout into your very own avocado tree.
But it's not all plain sailing; it requires a bit of TLC. As Gardener's World notes: "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," reports the Mirror.
However, they caution against using just any avocado variety; for instance, the Haas might not be the best candidate for propagation.
To successfully germinate avocado seeds, they need the perfect environment – warm, damp, and humid conditions are key. The gardening gurus at Gardeners' World have a nifty trick: pierce the stone with four toothpicks. Dangle it over a cup of water, ensuring the base is submerged.
Stick it in a toasty corner and within six weeks, you might spot roots sprouting. They suggest shifting your budding seed to a peat-free compost blend after germination. Bear in mind, the soil shouldn't contain much peat, since avocados thrive in sandy, mineral-rich earth.
Alternatively, let your seed soak up sun and warmth on a windowsill until it begins to split, then pot it. Or, bury it pre-sprout in moist soil and leave it to germinate somewhere warm and dim.
Gardeners' World recommend: "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."
After your avocado baby starts to shoot up, upgrade it to a spacious pot. Remember, avocados don't do well in frost, so indoors or a greenhouse is their happy place.
To look after your avocado plant, you should water it diligently and provide it with liquid feed every two weeks.
However, bear in mind that you might be waiting a decade for homemade guacamole, as they're slow to fruit even under the best care.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Sticky grease in extractor fans 'lifts easily' after simple 10-second method
A cleaning guru has shared a simple way to remove thick grease from kitchen extractor fans just using only one natural item One of most arduous kitchen cleaning tasks is tackling the built-up grease and grime in extractor fan filters. The filters are crucial yet often overlooked when it comes to regular cleaning to-do lists. These grease filters play a vital role in preventing grease stains and fumes from reaching the extraction vents, which can cause issues if they become clogged. To rejuvenate your cooker hood filters and get them sparkling again, sustainability influencer Kate, known as @my_plastic_free_home on Instagram, suggests using natural bleach, also called sodium percarbonate. This eco-friendly cleaner remains active for several hours and then decomposes into oxygen, water, and sodium carbonate once mixed with water. She explains: "Natural bleach (aka sodium percarbonate) has so many uses and I can't wait to show you how easy it is to remove that disgusting, greasy buildup on your extractor fan filters. "Just add one tablespoon to hot water, leave for a few hours whilst it's active and watch it work its magic." In her video, Kate begins by showing her followers the extractor fan filters laden with brown grease marks, reports the Express. She then places them into the sink filled with hot water and scatters one tablespoon of the natural bleach over them. Sodium percarbonate becomes active when it encounters warm or hot water. Upon contact with water, it releases oxygen that was trapped within the peroxide. This produces a fizzing action that removes stains, dirt, grime, and bacteria. Following a period of soaking, the water in the sink had become murky and contained floating particles of grease that had been drawn out from the filters. She explained: "The dirt lifts so easily. You don't even need to scrub them. Just rinse them off and they'll be perfectly clean again." Sodium percarbonate is an alkaline compound that assists in breaking down and dissolving grease and oil-based marks, making it ideal for use on oily extractor fan filters. Beyond its grease-removing capabilities, this eco-friendly cleaning agent is perfect for maintaining naturally white laundry by helping to stop fabric from turning grey due to limescale accumulation.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Zoo asks for unwanted pets to be used as meat to feed captive predators so ‘nothing goes to waste'
The controversy follows similar a incident in Germany where 12 healthy baboons were killed ZOO WHAT? Zoo asks for unwanted pets to be used as meat to feed captive predators so 'nothing goes to waste' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A ZOO has ruffled more than a few feathers after asking the public to hand over their unwanted pets to feed its captive predators. Aalborg Zoo, in Denmark, asked for healthy small animals such as rabbits, chickens and guinea pigs to be used as meat for feeding time. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Aalborg Zoo has asked the public to hand over their unwanted pets to be used as meat for its predators Credit: Alamy 4 Keepers said the healthy animals such as rabbits, chickens and guinea pigs will be used to feed its carnivore beasts Credit: Getty 4 The Danish zoo said the move was as a way to ensure 'nothing goes to waste' Credit: Alamy Keepers said each donor could donate up to four animals which could then be euthanised before being fed to the carnivore creatures. In a social media appeal, the northern Jutland zoo said: "Chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs form an important part of the diet of our predators. "Especially the European lynx, which needs whole prey that resembles what it would naturally hunt in the wild." The zoo also announced it is open to taking horses, provided the proper paperwork is in order – with Danish law even allowing for tax deductions under certain circumstances for horse donations. Read more on zoos LEOPARD ATTACK Zoo worker critical after being mauled in neck by a leopard in horror attack The move was defended by the zoo as a way to ensure "nothing goes to waste". But the internet wasn't having it. One user fumed on Instagram: "Shame on you." Another said: "Asking people to send healthy animals that they don't want any more to you, so they can be slaughtered and fed to the zoo animals is one of the weirdest things I ever read." Punctuating their comment with a green vomit emoji, a third wrote: "Go vegan and stop supporting zoos." The controversy comes hot on the heels of a gruesome incident in Germany, where Nuremberg Zoo killed 12 healthy baboons due to overcrowding. Keepers then fed their carcasses to lions, tigers, and wolves. Another Chinese zoo scandal as hugely obese PANTHER leaves fans shocked The baboons reportedly had their hands and feet removed before being served up in front of horrified visitors. German zoo officials defended the culling as a last resort, but the backlash was swift. This isn't Denmark's first incident with zoo-related fury. In 2014, Copenhagen Zoo sparked massive outrage after it killed a healthy young giraffe named Marius over genetic concerns. His body was publicly dissected as part of an "educational demonstration". Meanwhile, in China, distressing footage of a shockingly obese panther sparked fury among animal lovers. The video captured the moment a large black panther waddled around its enclosure, struggling to walk as its huge belly visibly hung out. The big cat seemingly tried to hide behind a tree, but its bloated stomach made the usually svelte and streamlined animal easy to spot. The shocking footage was filmed at the Chengdu Zoo in Chengdu, Sichuan Province in China and images were shared online on March 9. The next day, the zoo told local media that the black panther was very old and a female aged 16-years-old. The zoo also said the panther's body functions and metabolism were not in a good condition. However, the panther's condition sparked backlash with comments saying many of the zoo's animals are too fat due to being overfed.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
'I'm a professional cleaner and I always do this kitchen task first'
Cleaning the kitchen can feel like a mountain to climb but a cleaning expert has shared her order to get on top of dirt and grime. Cleaning the house is an ongoing task which needs to be tackled regularly but cleaning the kitchen, for many, is an essential but dreaded part of it. There's work tops, appliances, cupboards and cooking equipment and utensils to scrub. And the kitchen is the one spot in the home which can become quickly grubby thanks to cooking smells, build up of grease and grime and constant food preparation. Keeping it clean and hygienic is essential for the health of the household. If you struggle with where to start, one pro cleaner has shared the order in which she takes on jobs to ensure a sparkling result. Charlotte showed the step by step routine that she sticks too when cleaning one client's kitchen on TikTok, reports the Mirror. The professional home cleaner said: "So the same with every room that I clean I always start off with high dusting." Her logic seems to be that removing any dust and dirt from high up in the room makes sense as it will prevent dust falling on surfaces you've already cleaned. Charlotte showed how she starts by dusting high up on walls and ceilings using an extendable magnetic duster. Next she will move onto the cupboard doors. Using a microfibre cloth, she ensures she sprays any cleaning products onto the cloth rather than directly onto the cupboards to prevent staining and dripping. The same cloth is then used to clean the dining table along with everything on the table, like placemats. She then cleans the chairs, wiping them down before moving on to the counters. Charlotte sanitises all the switches as she navigates the kitchen, including any appliances. She then tackles the cooker's backsplash, followed by the gas hob. The cleaning expert uses Bar Keepers Power Clean to banish grime from the hob's base. She buffs it dry with a clean cloth and ensures that the product is fully removed, cautioning that Bar Keepers Power Clean contains acid which could cause damage if left on surfaces. For cleaning the hob, Charlotte uses a soap-filled scouring sponge to clean the upper parts, such as the burner caps and plates. She finds this sponge effective at scrubbing away tough brown stains that often appear on hobs. Next, Charlotte scrubs the pan supports using either washing up liquid or the same cleaner she applied to the countertops. The professional cleaner added: "I then went ahead and cleaned the island all around the sink before I moved onto the sink." The bin area is next on her list. Charlotte sprays it with disinfectant, allows it to work its magic, then wipes it down. She continues by disinfecting all door handles, light switches and sockets, then dusts the skirting boards and door frames. This is followed by "general dusting", which includes cabinets, mirrors and lamps. Charlotte concludes her routine by vacuuming and mopping the entire floor.
