The beginning - Mick is taking a bath

To start off my new adventures in horticulture, I am returning to the avocado, which I have never successfully managed to cultivate.

Meet Mick...

Mick is an avocado stone. According to the book, I first need to soak Mick for 48 hours, hence the bath. He's about 12 hours into the bath at this stage. It's warm water, kept warm on the radiator. Apparently this helps with germination as he is a stone from the tropics.

I am hoping he will soon be joined by Keith, who will also be taking his bath, just as soon as I've eaten the avocado he's trapped in.