How to Grow Avocado From a Pit
Every time I cut open an avocado, I take a look at that giant pit and think how awesome it would be if I could actually germinate one. I’ve tried time and time again to no avail, which can be very discouraging. But I recently tried a new method for avocado seed germination and it finally worked! So today I’m going to show you this cool germination technique and you’ll learn how to grow avocado from a pit in no time.
A Few Interesting Avocado Facts
*The avocado plant is indigenous to tropical and Mediterranean climates, with Mexico producing about a third of the world’s supply of avocados.
*Many people think the avocado is a vegetable but it’s actually a fruit. And by the botanical definition, it’s technically a berry!
*Avocado leaves and pits contain a substance called persin, which is toxic to many animals including most house pets and farm animals.
*An allergy to avocados, as well as many other tropical fruits, may indicate a latex allergy.
*A mature avocado tree can grow over 65 feet tall, with leaves up to 10 inches long.
*Avocado trees are commonly grown indoors in containers as decorative house plants. They typically won’t produce fruit, but they look nice!
My Failed Germination Attempts…
I’ve tried several methods for germinating an avocado pit including the popular method of inserting toothpicks into the sides and partially submerging it in water. I was unsuccessful with this endeavor though, and the only thing that happened was the pit got moldy and rotten.
I also tried planting an avocado pit directly into potting soil but this also failed. I’m sure if I tried enough times it would eventually work, but the problem is, you have to keep watering it consistently. If you let the pit dry out, it won’t germinate.
The beauty of the method I’m about to show you though is it takes all the guess work out of it and you can literally forget about your avocado pit until it germinates!
How to Grow Avocado From a Pit
Step 1- Remove & Clean Your Avocado Pit
The first thing you will do is carefully cut open your avocado and use a spoon or your fingers to dig out the pit. Be careful not to damage the outer shell of the pit, as this may cause the pit to rot.
It’s also very important to thoroughly clean off all of the soft flesh from the pit, because leaving it on will lead to mold and eventually rot.
Step 2- Wrap Avocado Pit in a Damp Paper Towel
The key to germinating any seed is to keep it consistently moist. This can be accomplished by wrapping your avocado pit in a damp paper towel. Now you just have to keep the paper towel moist.
Step 3- Place Your Pit in a Ziploc Bag
Once your avocado pit is wrapped in a paper towel, place it in a Ziploc bag and seal it. This will trap the moisture in and prevent the paper towel from drying out. This is why I think this method is the easiest. It provides consistent moisture for the pit to germinate and you don’t have to check it or water it regularly.
Just set it on a shelf somewhere at room temperature for 4-6 weeks and check occasionally to make sure the paper towel remains moist. I put mine on my grow rack for convenience purposes, but it doesn’t require any light to germinate.
Step 4- Plant Your Avocado Pit
After 4-6 weeks, the outer shell of the avocado pit will split, revealing a root and potentially a shoot. I actually forgot about my avocado pits for about two months and when I checked on them, there was a 2-inch shoot with a set of leaves, and the start of a full root system protruding from the pit!
Once your pit begins to germinate, it’s time to plant it in soil. I used 6-inch pots for my avocado pits, and a mixture of vermicompost and organic potting soil. But any gardening soil you prefer should work just fine.
Just dig a small hole in the center of the soil with enough room for the root to rest, and place the pit in, roots down. Now bury the avocado pit, leaving the shoot exposed (if you have a shoot growing) and gently firm the soil with your hand.
Finally, give your new avocado plant a good watering and place it somewhere warm with plenty of light!
Avocado Plant Maintenance
Avocado plants like warm temperatures with plenty of sunlight. Since I live in Upstate New York, an avocado plant won’t survive the winter outdoors. So my plants will remain indoors and be for decorative use only. If you live in the Southern U.S. though like Florida or Southern California, you can plant your avocado tree directly outside and grow it to maturity if you have the space!
Avocado trees require plenty of water so make sure to check it regularly and water it to prevent the soil from drying out. If you are trying to grow it to maturity, it usually takes about 4 to 6 years to start producing fruit, so be patient!
Conclusion
There you have it, a foolproof method for how to grow avocado from a pit. As I said, I tried several methods and I had the most success with this one by far, not to mention it was also the easiest. So give it a try, and let me know how it goes!
For any questions or comments about how to grow an avocado from a pit, make sure to shout them out in the comments section below.
Happy Gardening!
Cody
Thistle Downs Farm
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