Put in a damp paper towel in an open zip-lock, leave in a drawer, or in the kitchen, not in direct light. Check it every few days to make sure that the paper towel has a little moisture (not wet!). As soon as the seed begins to split, pot it into a well-draining potting mix, half buried. Josh

With tomato flowers, it's the style length and anther cone aperture size that are important in potential crossing. Being a naturally inbreeding and self-pollinating flower, the anthers shed pollen on the inside of the cone, that falls directly onto the stigma, if the aperture is large (think Brandywines and large Beefsteaks) then a solitary bee or other insect will be able to access the pollen. If however the anther cone aperture is tiny (Think Cherry Toms) then chances of a natural (insect) crossing is minimized or almost zero. That's why cherry tomatoes come up every year in the same location without any hybridization. The next issues is style length. If the stigma protrudes from the anther cone then there is a high probability of crossing and vice versa. Bagging a spray would be the easiest way to ensure purity, organza bags are exceptionally cheap and the easiest way bag blossoms. Hope this helps.

I did not have time to read all the posts but can contribute. I have successfully raised and given away several avocado trees using the toothpick method but have found a better way. Seal the cleaned seed in a ziplock bag with a wet paper towel. Lay it in a place where you can see it daily. It takes some time to sprout. When the root emerges, put it in a pot with the root end down. Water it once per week. That is all. It will flourish. I do have a question though. When can the seed be removed? I had a tree about two feet tall that I put outside. A squirrel ate the seed that was still attached and severed the trunk of the tree which suddenly died. Since I now have three seedlings in my office, I need help before I put them outside.

Many thanks for your help on my problem; hopefully I can assist yours. To grow an avacado plant, insert 3 matchsticks to half their length into the soft stone. The object of bruising the stone is to stimulate rooting. Germination from stones is quickest in late summer. Suspend the stone over the mouth of a jar of water. The water should reach to about 3/4 inch below the base of the stone. After 6 to 8 weeks, thick white roots will appear from the base of the stone. Pot the stone, 2-3 inches deep in a large pot of John Innes No 1 compost (I don't know if you can get that in US?) and keep it in a well lit, warm and humid place. Eventually, a single shoot will come up and develop long slender leaves. Avocado plants grow rapidally and need repotting annually; pinch out the growing shoot when the required heighr is reached.