Sustainability made simple

How to Grow Your Own Avocado Tree

How to grow avocado
Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay - Ruth Salvadinho

Did you know that you can plant the avocado pit? We’ll show you how to grow an avocado tree and what you need to know to grow your own avocados. 

Have you ever made guacamole and then wished you could do something with the avocado pit? Because the pit is a seed, you can use it to grow an avocado tree in your own home. Unfortunately however, you won’t be able to harvest any avocados because the male and female flowers will not open at the same time, inhibiting pollination and fruit development. To grow fruit, you would need two different varieties of avocado trees to enable cross-pollination.

Still, avocado trees are beautiful evergreen plants and will look great in your sunroom, living room, or greenhouse. Here is how to grow your own avocado tree.

Read more: Avocado Benefits: How Healthy is this Superfood?

How to Grow an Avocado Tree – Step by Step

how to grow avocado
How to grow avocado – Step 1 (Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay - martinjurekcz )
  • Remove the pit from the avocado, wash it thoroughly, and let it dry.
  • Insert three toothpicks into opposite sides of the pit, about halfway between the top and bottom.
  • Use the toothpicks to suspend the pit over a glass filled with water, such that the bottom of the pit is in the water.
  • The toothpicks are solely there to prevent the pit from falling into the water. They should rest on the rim of the glass.

Planting your avocado pit

After three to ten weeks, the avocado pit will start to grow roots and can be planted into potting soil. It is important that the upper part of the pit is not covered with soil. The flower pot should be covered with a glass lid to maintain enough humidity for the developing plant.

The seedling needs to be watered regularly, and placed in a well-lit and warm spot (over 20ºC/68ºF) in order to germinate. Once the plant has developed several green leaves, the cover can be removed and the pot can be moved to its desired location.

How to grow avocado
How to grow avocado: Be patient. (Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay -Monika Baechler)

To grow your own avocado tree, you can also try and skip the waterglass method and place the avocado pit straight into a flower pot filled with soil. The pit will take a lot longer to grow roots, however.

Have fun trying to grow your own avocado tree!

How to Grow an Avocado Tree – Step by Step
Pin it! (Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay - martinjurekcz)

Read More:

This text was translated from German into English by Timm Yamnitz. You can view the original here: Avocadokern einpflanzen und Avocado züchten.

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