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How to Grow an Avocado Tree From a Pit
Looking for creative ways to repurpose food waste? The next time you eat an avocado, save the pit and learn how to grow your own avocado tree at home! This easy gardening project is perfect for both beginner and expert gardeners alike – and kids will especially love watching their avocado pits grow into a new tree.
See more:Â 12 Vegetables You Can Regrow From Scraps
Supplies You’ll Need
- Avocado pit
- 3-4 toothpicks
- Jar or plastic cup
- 10-inch planter with holes in the bottom for drainage
- Potting soil
Instructions
- When you finish your avocado, wash and dry the pit.
- With the broad end of the pit facing down and the narrower end facing up, insert three to four toothpicks around the middle of the pit.
- Fill a jar or plastic cup with water almost to the top. Place the avocado pit on the top of the jar with the toothpicks resting on the rim and the broad end of the pit facing down. The bottom third of the pit should be submerged in the water.
- Place the jar or cup in a warm, sunny spot, but out of direct sunlight. Change the water regularly and make sure the jar always has enough water so the bottom third of the avocado pit is submerged.
- In about two to six weeks, the pit should begin to sprout roots and a stem. If not, start over with another pit.
- When the sprout gets about 6 inches tall, but it back by half. This will encourage more root growth. Once it grows out again, it’s time to plant your avocado tree in a pot.
- Fill a 10-inch planter with potting soil. Remove the avocado pit from the jar or cup and plant it in the soil, leaving about half the pit exposed above the soil. Place your plant in a warm, sunny spot. Water lightly but often and watch your avocado tree grow!
See more:Â How to Choose the Perfect Avocado
Tips for Avocado Tree Care
- You can place your Avocado tree outside in the summer as long as temperatures stay above 45 degrees.
- Water enough so the soil stays moist but not soaked. Make sure the pot has good drainage.
- Yellow leaves are a sign that you’re overwatering. Cut back on water for a while to prevent root rot.
- Prune your plant occasionally (every time it grows about 6 inches) to encourage fullness.
- It can take anywhere from five to 13 years before your tree will begin producing fruit – and indoor trees rarely do – but they can make excellent indoor plants to make your home a little greener.
Avocado Recipes
Can’t get enough avocados? Try some of our favorite avocado recipes:
I tried rooting avocado pits in water, intermittedly, for more than 20 years, During Covid, I attempted again by planting the pit, (with the point side cut off) directly into the soil. Sometimes wrapped in a plastic bag and sometimes not. Now I HAVE UP TO 10 AVOCADO PLANTS and they make me smile all the time.
Question; can I plant a mango pit in soil, as I did with the avocado?
Hi Pauline,
Glad to hear your avocado plants were successful! You can find a tutorial for planting mango pits here:
https://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-plant-mango-seed.htm
And planting dates here:
https://www.wikihow.com/Plant-Date-Seeds#:~:text=Simply%20collect%20and%20wash%20the,as%20much%20sunlight%20as%20possible.
Thanks for your comment!
Rachel Graf
Digital Editor
Farm Flavor Media
Can I plant the pits of fresh Medjool dates? I soaked them a bit, first
I cut open a butternut squash and found sprouting seeds inside. So, just for kicks, and a project for my 4yo grandson, we planted 2 seeds. One in a pot and one in yard dirt. He watered them and I did nothing, sure they would just wither. WOW! In a week, we had multiple leaves. In 2 weeks, they were crawling far, so I put tomato cages around them. In a month, they had flowers and were so long I had to zip tie another cage atop the botoom cage. At 6 weeks, I see squash growing on both vines. What an absolute thrill for me, but even better, my grandson is a very proud farmer, happy to show everybody his “busketti squash”!
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