Have you ever tried to grow an avocado tree from the pit? I was describing the error of my ways last night at a dinner event held at Ella Dining Room and Bar in Sacramento. A farmer was at our table. She brings in Hass avocados from southern Cal to ripen naturally on her farm in Sacramento. I had no idea that avocados are picked and then sprayed with a chemical to make them ripen faster, nor that the more natural way to ripen avocados is to leave them out in the sun. They don't ripen on the vine in any case.
I mentioned that as a kid growing up in Minnesota, I was fascinated by avocados. I tried to grow them by inserting a toothpick in each end and sticking the pit in a glass of water placed on a window ledge. Half the time the water evaporated, but even when I would remember to put water in the glass, the darned things never sprouted.
Well, that's because I was sticking the toothpicks into the north and south poles. Imagine my shock when I finally figured out after moving to California that you needed 3 toothpicks (I always wondered what that extra toothpick was for), because the sprouts occur on the soft ends. Duh. Fortunately, I wasn't the only clueless person at my table.
Here is a home where you could try to grow avocados. However, let me say that I think our winters are too cold and wet for them, but I have had luck in sprouting them and putting them into the garden, where they eventually die when the rains set in. Hey, it was fun while it lasted. Avocados still make a nice houseplant, though.
This is a 2005 one-story, built by D.R. Horton in the Bilby Meadows subdivision of Elk Grove. It has 4 bedrooms and 2 baths and approximately 2,078 square feet. It's on the market as a short sale because the sellers are moving to North Carolina for a job transfer. Why are so many people from Sacramento moving to North Carolina? I have a lot of clients who either choose North Carolina or Texas. Those seem to be the two most popular destinations.
One of the unique features and upgrades in this home is its distressed 5" plank hardwood floors. It really makes a difference in the overall appearance and is simply beautiful. The floors extend from the entry, into the kitchen, dining area and family room.
You'll find plenty of upgrades throughout such as stone on the front of the home, plantation shutters on the windows and a better grade of carpeting. In the kitchen, the counters are quartz, and the cabinets are cherry. The darker wood blends nicely with the hardwood flooring. There is even an island with a sink in the kitchen, which does double duty as a breakfast bar.
Two of the bedrooms are located at one end of the hall and two are at the other end. This is especially nice if you have a baby and want the nursery right next to the master suite.
Although you can't tell it from the photo of the front, this home has a 3-car garage. The single-car garage faces the 2-car at a 90-degree angle. You can access the single-car entrance door from the sidewalk entrance.
10328 Marlaw Way, Elk Grove, Ca 95757, is offered exclusively as a short sale by Lyon Real Estate at $245,000. For more information, please contact your Sacramento short sale agent, Elizabeth Weintraub, at 916 233 6759.
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
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The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of Lyon Real Estate.
Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice. It could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.
Very interesting information about avocados, Elizabeth. I met a friend of a relative who has a two acre home around Santa Barbara and they have many, many mature avocado trees. It was very interesting talking to him as I knew nothing about raising avocados. Good luck with the sale of the home!
Elizabeth,
Another fascinating blog. Avocados grow in South Florida. I know that they grow even here, but not in big numbers. And Florida avocados are huge and soooooo tasty
And you brilliantly connected that to a house.
Well done
Elizabeth - You probably already know but down here in the Conejo Valley, we have gads and gads of avocado groves. I even have several neighbors who have a tree or two in their own yards. For the past few months, hubby and I have had more than our share of guacamole. But I don't care - LOVE the stuff.
On another note, LOVE the wide, distressed hardwood floors too. They're so great with families that have kids and pets. JMHO
I like DR Horton's neighborhoods in San Antonio. They do a good job with their floorplans. This one looks like a nice listing--I hope it sells quickly!
Cheers,
Robin
It's good to know someone else is trying to have a green thumb. We planted tomato plants months ago following instructions to a T. We have beatiful plants but no fruit. (My mom just throws stuff in the yard and two weeks later, we eating it.) I don't get it. But this morning I looked from the window and saw a small green ball about the size of a small plum. Miracles do happen.
I LOVE the 5" hardwood ... and avacodo trees are very messy, I had one in my back yard in Santa Ana.
I know tomatos are ripened when they are sprayed with ethylene. Farmers have machines that pick them green and then they are sprayed with ethylene to ripen when they arrive in their destination. Less bruising I guess. Seems gross since we do eat the skin of the tomato and it's so thin.
Great way to segue into a bang-up description of that listing. Shouldn't stay on the market long, I would guess.
Elizabeth,
My husband loves avocados....how fun to have such wonderful weather where at least you could try to put them in the garden!
Elizabeth.....Thanks for the lesson on how to start an avacado plant. It sounds like you did alot of experimenting at first. Good luck with the sale of this lovely home.