best way to sprout an avocado seed?

skip the toothpicks-in-a-glass thing, it works but it's slow and the seed often rots. what's worked better for me: wash the seed, peel off the thin brown skin, wrap it in a damp paper towel and put it in a zip bag in a warm dark cupboard. check it every week or so and re-dampen the towel if it's drying out. it splits and puts out a root anywhere from two to six weeks later, so most people give up too early. once the root is a few inches long, pot it with the pointy end up and the top third out of the soil. and keep it indoors somewhere warm and bright. they're tropical trees, a shady spot outside won't do it any favours.