Articles On Information: How To Grow An Avocado Tree From An Avocado Seed

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<span style="color: #96a411;">Avocados</span> are one of the wonderful <span style="color: #96a411;">fruits of summer</span>. High in nutrition and flavor, nothing signals the start of summer like a <span style="color: #96a411;">zesty lime guacamole dip</span> with <span style="color: #96a411;">tortilla chips</span>. The next time you’re making guacamole or slicing an avocado for a salad, try saving your pits to grow into <span style="color: #96a411;">avocado trees</span>. It’s surprisingly easy to <span style="color: #96a411;">grow your own avocado tree from seed</span>, and it makes a great <span style="color: #96a411;">educational project</span> for home and classrooms. Check out our <span style="color: #96a411;">handy-dandy guide</span> below, complete with photos, to learn <span style="color: #96a411;">how to grow an avocado tree from seed</span>.</div>
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<dt class="gallery-icon"><span style="color: #96a411;"><img alt="" class="lzy" data-original="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/How-To-Grow-Avocado-From-Seed-75x75.jpg" height="75" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/How-To-Grow-Avocado-From-Seed-75x75.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: inline;" title="How To Grow Avocado Trees From Seed" width="75" /></span></dt>
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<dt class="gallery-icon"><span style="color: #96a411;"><img alt="" class="lzy" data-original="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pits-75x75.jpg" height="75" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pits-75x75.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: inline;" title="Avocado Pits" width="75" /></span></dt>
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<dt class="gallery-icon"><span style="color: #96a411;"><img alt="" class="lzy" data-original="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-Orientation-75x75.jpg" height="75" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-Orientation-75x75.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: inline;" title="Avocado Pit Orientation" width="75" /></span></dt>
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<dt class="gallery-icon"><span style="color: #96a411;"><img alt="" class="lzy" data-original="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-Top-End-75x75.jpg" height="75" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-Top-End-75x75.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: inline;" title="Avocado Pit Top End" width="75" /></span></dt>
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<dt class="gallery-icon"><span style="color: #96a411;"><img alt="" class="lzy" data-original="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-In-Water-75x75.jpg" height="75" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-In-Water-75x75.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: inline;" title="Avocado Pit In Water" width="75" /></span></dt>
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<dt class="gallery-icon"><span style="color: #96a411;"><img alt="" class="lzy" data-original="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-Lots-of-Roots-75x75.jpg" height="75" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-Lots-of-Roots-75x75.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: inline;" title="Avocado Pit With Lots of Roots" width="75" /></span></dt>
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<dt class="gallery-icon"><span style="color: #96a411;"><img alt="" class="lzy" data-original="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-With-Taproot-75x75.jpg" height="75" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-With-Taproot-75x75.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: inline;" title="Avocado Pit With Taproot" width="75" /></span></dt>
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<dt class="gallery-icon"><span style="color: #96a411;"><img alt="" class="lzy" data-original="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Sprouted-Avocado-Pits-75x75.jpg" height="75" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Sprouted-Avocado-Pits-75x75.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: inline;" title="Sprouted Avocado Pits" width="75" /></span></dt>
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<dt class="gallery-icon"><span style="color: #96a411;"><img alt="" class="lzy" data-original="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Baby-Avocado-Tree-75x75.jpg" height="75" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Baby-Avocado-Tree-75x75.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: inline;" title="Baby AvocadoTree" width="75" /></span></dt>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 26px; font-weight: bold;">STEP 1 – REMOVE & CLEAN PIT</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="how to grow a tree from a seed, grow an avocado tree, how to grow an avocado tree, grow an avocado tree from a pit, what to do with avocado pits, Avocado Pits" class="alignright size-large wp-image-403501" height="357" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pits-537x357.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="537" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’ll need to start by removing the pit from the avocado carefully (without cutting it), and then <span style="color: #96a411;">washing it clean</span> of all the avocado fruit (often it helps to soak the pit in some water for a few minutes and then scrub all the remaining fruit off). Be careful not to remove the brown skin on the pit – that is the seed cover.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="how to grow a tree from a seed, grow an avocado tree, how to grow an avocado tree, grow an avocado tree from a pit, what to do with avocado pits, Avocado Pit Orientation" class="alignright size-large wp-image-403498" height="357" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-Orientation-537x357.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="537" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><big><big>STEP 2 – LOCATE WHICH END IS ‘UP’ AND WHICH IS ‘DOWN’</big></big></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some avocado pits are slightly oblong, whereas others are shaped almost like perfect spheres – but all avocado pits have a ‘bottom’ (from where the roots will grow), and a ‘top’ (from which the sprout will grow). The slightly pointier end is the top, and the flat end is the bottom. In order to get your pit to sprout, you will need to place the bottom root end in <span style="color: #96a411;">water</span>, so it’s very important to figure out which end is the ‘top’ and which is the ‘bottom’ before you go piercing it with <span style="color: #96a411;">toothpicks</span>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="how to grow a tree from a seed, grow an avocado tree, how to grow an avocado tree, grow an avocado tree from a pit, what to do with avocado pits, Avocado Pit Top End" class="alignright size-large wp-image-403499" height="357" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-Top-End-537x357.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="537" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><big><big>STEP 3 – PIERCE WITH FOUR TOOTHPICKS</big></big></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take four <span style="color: #96a411;">toothpicks</span> and stick them at a slight downward angle into the avocado seed, spaced evenly around the circumference of the avocado. These <span style="color: #96a411;">toothpicks</span> are your avocado scaffolding, which will allow you to rest the bottom half of the avocado in water, so therefore the toothpicks need to be wedged in there firmly. I recommend sticking them in at a slight angle (pointing down), so that more of your avocado base rests in the water when you set this over a glass.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="how to grow a tree from a seed, grow an avocado tree, how to grow an avocado tree, grow an avocado tree from a pit, what to do with avocado pits, Avocado Pit In Water" class="alignright size-large wp-image-403496" height="357" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-In-Water-537x357.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="537" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><big><big>STEP 4 – PLACE AVOCADO SEED HALF SUBMERGED IN A GLASS OF WATER</big></big></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And set on a quiet windowsill with<span style="color: #96a411;">sunlight</span>. It’s helpful to use a clear glass so you can easily see when roots start to grow, and also when the water needs to be changed. Many guides recommend to change the water every day, but I found, through trial and error, that it is better to change the water every five days to a week or so. You do want to make sure you change the water regularly, to prevent <span style="color: #96a411;">mold, bacteria and fungus growth</span>, which can doom your little avocado sprout.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="how to grow a tree from a seed, grow an avocado tree, how to grow an avocado tree, grow an avocado tree from a pit, what to do with avocado pits, Avocado Pit With Taproot" class="alignright size-large wp-image-403500" height="357" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-With-Taproot-537x357.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="537" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><big><big>STEP 5 – WAIT FOR YOUR AVOCADO SEED TO SPROUT!</big></big></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many online guides I have read say that sprouting can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks, but in my experience, it usually takes at least 8 weeks to get a <span style="color: #96a411;">sprout</span>, so be patient. Here is the process you will witness:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>1.</strong> The top of the avocado pit will dry out and form a crack, and the outer brown seed skin will slough off.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>2.</strong> The crack will extend all the way to the bottom of the avocado pit, and through the crack at the bottom, a <span style="color: #96a411;">tiny taproot</span> will begin to emerge.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="how to grow a tree from a seed, grow an avocado tree, how to grow an avocado tree, grow an avocado tree from a pit, what to do with avocado pits, Avocado Pit With Lots of Roots" class="alignright size-large wp-image-403497" height="357" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Avocado-Pit-Lots-of-Roots-537x357.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="537" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>3.</strong> The taproot will grow longer and longer (and may branch), and eventually a small sprout will peek through the top of the avocado pit.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>4.</strong> Do not allow your taproot to dry out unsubmerged EVER – doing so will be the death of your plant.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="how to grow a tree from a seed, grow an avocado tree, how to grow an avocado tree, grow an avocado tree from a pit, what to do with avocado pits, Sprouted Avocado Pits" class="alignright size-large wp-image-403503" height="357" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Sprouted-Avocado-Pits-537x357.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="537" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><big><big>STEP 6 – POT IN SOIL WHEN TREE IS ABOUT 6” TALL</big></big></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the stem is 6-7 inches long, cut it back to about 3 inches, this will encourage new growth. When it hits 6-7 inches again, pot it up in a rich <span style="color: #96a411;">humus soil</span> in an 8-10″ diameter pot, leaving the top half of the seed exposed. Place on a sunny windowsill. Avocados love sun – the more sun the better.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="how to grow a tree from a seed, grow an avocado tree, how to grow an avocado tree, grow an avocado tree from a pit, what to do with avocado pits, Baby AvocadoTree" class="alignright size-large wp-image-403502" height="357" src="http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Baby-Avocado-Tree-537x357.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="537" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><big><big>STEP 7 – WATER & WATCH IT GROW</big></big></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give it frequent waterings with an occasional deep soak. The soil should always be moist, but not saturated. Yellowing leaves are a sign of<span style="color: #96a411;"> over-watering</span>; let the plant dry out for a few days.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><big><big>STEP 8 – PINCH OUT TOP LEAVES TO ENCOURAGE BUSHINESS</big></big></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the stem reaches 12 inches tall, pinch out the top two sets of leaves. This will encourage the plant to grow side shoots and more leaves, making it bushy. Each time the plant grows another 6 inches pinch out the 2 newest sets of leaves on top.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><big><big>STEP 9 – TROUBLESHOOTING BUGS</big></big></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My avocado trees seem to collect <span style="color: #96a411;">aphids</span> – the nasty critters can’t get enough of the delicious avocado leaves. If you get them, here’s how to get rid of them: Wash all of the aphids off the plant by spraying your plant down with a hose outside or in the sink/shower. Once the little pests are off, spray your plant with a mixture of water with a small squirt of dishwashing liquid and a teaspoon of <span style="color: #96a411;">neem oil</span>. This will keep aphids from returning. Check your plant every 4-5 days and re-clean and spray when necessary.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><big><big>STEP 10 – WINTERING</big></big></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #96a411;">Baby avocado trees</span> can kick it outdoors in <span style="color: #96a411;">summer</span>, but if you live anywhere where it gets cooler than 45 degrees F, you’ll need to bring them back indoors in the fall/winter, before the temperatures fall.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><big><big>WILL MY AVOCADO TREES EVER GROW FRUIT?</big></big></span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hard to say! Sometimes avocado plants will begin growing fruit after they’re 3 or 4 years old, others take 15+ years to grow fruit, and some never do. It helps to have several avocado trees growing together to aid with <span style="color: #96a411;">pollination</span>. However, don’t expect the fruit to be anything like the avocado that yielded your seed. Commercial avocados are grown from grafted branches to control the outcome of the fruit – a naturally grown avocado may be very different than its parent!</span></div>
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