GETTING STARTED

Growing an avocado tree from the seed or pit of an avocado is a great gardening activity that can be enjoyed by both young and old alike.  Generally, there are two ways to get started: 1) Sprouting the seed in water, or 2) planting the seed in soil.

SPROUTING THE SEED IN WATER

Sprouting the seed in water is not only fun, but doubles as a great science project for kids.  Unlike planting a seed underground, this method enables you to watch the seed germinate and the roots begin to develop.

Items you will need to get started: 1) an avocado pit from a fresh avocado, 2) 3 toothpicks, 3) a glass of water and 4) a warm and sunny location.

After eating an avocado, wash the pit in cool water to remove any of the green fruit that is on the pit.  Dry it well using either a soft cloth or some paper towels.

Carefully push three toothpicks into the thickest width of avocado.  Try to push the toothpicks into the pit about a 1/2″ deep. The toothpicks will help partially suspend the bottom part of the avocado pit in water and keep the top part of the pit dry. Be careful pushing in the toothpicks, they have pointy edges and could hurt if they poke your hands.

After inserting the toothpicks, suspend the avocado pit over a glass of fresh water so that the avocado seed is halfway immersed in water (the pointy half out of the water; the flat half submerged in the water). Make sure the water level in the glass is such that the water is covering the fat part of the pit by about an inch of water.  Add more water if necessary.

Put the glass on a sunny windowsill. In about three to six weeks the top of the avocado pit will begin to split open.  You will see a stem sprout begin emerge from the top and roots will begin to grow at the base.

Be sure to change the water every few weeks to keep it oxygen-rich and clean. Also, since water evaporates, be sure to add more water as necessary to ensure the bottom ¼ or ½ of the seed stays submerged in water

When the stem grows to about five or six inches tall, gently remove the uppermost leaves by pinching them.  In another two or three weeks new leaves will sprout and there will be more roots.

Congratulations!!!  It is now time to transfer your young avocado tree into a pot with soil.

TRANSFERING YOUR AVOCADO TREE INTO A POT

Begin by filling a large flowerpot (approximately 8″ to 10″ across) with enriched potting soil. Fill the soil to about an inch from the top of the pot. Make a small depression in the center of the soil and place the pit, root-side down into the depression. Don’t put it too deep…you want to have the upper half of the pit above the soil line.

Add some more soil around the pit to fill in any air holes by the roots and then firm it into the soil by gently pushing the soil around the base of the pit. The tree’s stem and leaves should be straight and pointing up (like a flagpole).

Now its time to give the soil a drink of water . Water it generously so that the soil is thoroughly moist. Water the soil slowly and gently so that when it’s poured in it doesn’t gouge out holes in the soil. Keep your tree watered but don’t let the soil be so moist that it ever looks like mud.

ADULT AVOCADO TREE

Full Grown Avocado Tree (Photo taken in Michoacan, Mexico)