Avocados are one of the wonderful fruits of summer. The next time you make guacamole or slice an avocado for a salad, consider saving the seeds and growing them into avocado trees. It's surprisingly easy to grow an avocado from the pit. Check out the handy guide below to learn how to grow a plant from seeds.
Follow these simple steps to grow your own core avocado tree. You need a bit of patience before you can enjoy the new plant.
Step 1 – Remove core and clean
First, carefully remove the core (without cutting it) and then wash it free of any fruit residue (often it helps to soak the core in water for a few minutes and then scrub off any fruit residue). Be careful not to remove the brown skin on the seed - this is the seed coat.
Step 2 – Locate the ends
Some avocado pits are slightly elongated, while others are shaped almost like perfect spheres - but all pits have a "bottom" (from which the roots grow) and a "top" (from which the seedling grows). The slightly pointed end is the top, the flat end is the bottom. Around the coreto germinate, you have to put the lower end of the root in water. So it is very important that you figure out which end is the “top” and which is the “bottom” before piercing it with toothpicks.
Step 3 – Pierce with four toothpicks
Take four toothpicks and insert them into the pit at a slight downward angle, spaced evenly around the circumference of the avocado. These toothpicks are the framework of the avocado that allows you to place the bottom half in water, so the toothpicks need to be wedged there tightly. It's a good idea to insert the toothpicks at a slight angle (pointing downwards) so that more of the avocado base is in the water when you place it over a glass.
Step 4 – Place in a glass of water
And place it on a quiet windowsill with sunlight. It's helpful to use a clear glass so you can easily see when the roots start to grow and when the water needs to be changed. Many guides recommend changing the water daily, but I've found through trial and error that it's better to change the water every five days to about a week. You should change the water regularly to avoid mold, bacterial and fungal growth that can spell doom for your little avocado bud.
Step 5 – Wait for the avocado pit to germinate
Germination can typically take between 2 and 4 weeks, but it can also take at least 8 weeks, so be patient. Here is the process you will observe:
- The top of the kernel will dry out and form a crack, and the outer brown seed skin will peel off.
- The crack will extend to the bottom of the core, and a tiny taproot will emerge through the crack at the bottom.
- The taproot will continue to grow in length (and may branch), and eventually a small sprout will poke out of the top of the core.
- Never allow your taproot to dry out without being submerged – that would be the death of your plant.
Step 6 – Planting in soil
When the trunk is 15-18cm long, cut it back to about 8cm to encourage new growth. When it is 6-7 cm long again, pot it in a pot in a rich humus soil, leaving the top half of the seed exposed. Place it on a sunny windowsill. Avocados love the sun - the more sun, the better.
Step 7 – Water and Grow
Water the avocados regularly and water them occasionally. The soil should always be moist, but not waterlogged. Yellowing leaves are a sign of overwatering; allow the plant to dry out for a few days.
Pulling an avocado from the pit: How to care for the new plant
- When the stem has reached a height of 30 cm, cut off the top two rows of leaves. This encourages the plant to produce side shoots and additional leaves, making it bushy. Each time the plant grows another 6 inches, cut off the 2 newest leaves at the top.
- Some avocado trees seem to collect aphids - and they can't get enough of the delicious avocado leaves. If you get them, here's how to get rid of them: Wash them allAphids from the plantby spraying it outside with a hose or rinsing it in the sink/shower. Once the little pests are gone, spray your plant with a mixture of water, a small squirt of dishwashing liquid and a teaspoon of neem oil. This will keep the aphids from returning. Check your plant every 4-5 days and clean and spray again if necessary.
- Baby avocado trees can grow outdoors in the summer, but if you live somewhere that gets colder than 7 degrees C, you will need to bring them back indoors in the fall/winter before the temperatures drop.
- Some plants bear fruit in just 3 or 4 years, others take 15 years or more to bear fruit, and others never bear fruit. It is helpful to have several avocado trees growing together to facilitate pollination. However, don't expect the fruit to look anything like the avocados that produced your seed. Commercial avocados are grown from grafted branches, and a naturally grown avocado can look very different than its parents!
Best growing conditions for plants
Licht
To make your plant comfortable indoors, place the tree in a south or west-facing window where it will receive at least six hours of indirect sunlight.
Temperature and humidity
Avocados grow best at temperatures between 16 and 30 degrees C. The plant thrives in an environment with high humidity. Place them on a tray of pebbles and water to increase the humidity or use a humidifier if the climate in your home is dry.
irrigation
Although avocados like high relative humidity, they do not like moist soil.Plantinto a fast-draining mix and allow the soil to dry between waterings. It is best to water the plants once a week. Make sure you use a container with a drainage hole so the water can drain out.
fertilizer
Avocados only need a general purpose fertilizer. Fertilize as directed every few months, but not too frequently or too heavily.
Pruning
Cutting back the leaves helps the plant's trunk stay strong and gives it an overall bushy habit. When the plant reaches 12 inches (30 cm.) in height, cut off the top and top leaves just above a growth node. As already mentioned, this promotes healthy side growth and this is important for the new plant. As the plant grows, you may need to support the trunk to prevent the trunk from snapping or breaking. It's so easy and simple to pull an avocado from the pit!
