If you were lucky enough to have your avocado seed sprout, then you will now need to plant it. Choose a pot that is big enough that you won't have to repot it right away. Use a potting soil that is somewhat sandy, to allow for good drainage.
Add some soil to the pot and then test fit your seed, making sure that the top half of the seed will remain above the soil. Be very careful not to break the roots.
You can just cut or break off the toothpicks. Then gently work soil in and around the root, making sure that the seed is well support underneath. Then finish filling up the pot, leaving the top half of the seed sticking out. You may need to stake your plant up.
Your plant will do best if you mist it regularly. When watering your avocado plant, allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Place your plant in a warm location, out of direct sun light. Pinch back growth as necessary. Wait a few months before fertilizing.
By lalala...
By GG Vi from Moorpark, CA
Hardiness Zone: 9b
Tam from Safford, AZ
Starting them in soil: Soak the pit in water for 24 hours prior to planting. Place the pit (broad end down) into a pot filled with a moist, soil-less mix. Bury the pit so it's about 1/2 inch below the surface of the soil and set the pot in a warm place. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. To keep the pot humid and to conserve moisture, you may want to cover it with plastic wrap. This isn't necessary, and if you do it, make sure you keep your eye out for signs of mold or rotting.
Starting them in water: Insert three toothpicks into the bottom 1/3 of the pit to create a tripod that will support the pit when suspended over a jar filled with water. Rest the pit over the mouth of the jar so that the base of the pit is submerged in 1/2 inch of water. Add fresh water daily to maintain the level of the water. Eventually, the pit will crack and roots will appear, followed by one or more stems. If multiple stems emerge, leave them all intact.
Transplanting seedlings: After the stem(s) grows to 6 inches, cut it back to 3 inches to encourage bushy growth. At this point, you'll need to transplant the seedling into soil within a few weeks of cutting it back. If you germinated the pit in water, don't worry about removing the toothpicks-just cut them off with a scissors before planting. When transplanting, be very careful to avoid injuring the new roots. Use a large pot filled with a light, sandy soil.
Once transplanted, place your avocado seedling in a warm, bright location, out of direct sunlight. Keep the air around it humid by misting it frequently (especially in the winter), but let it dry out slightly between each watering. Let your new transplant settle in for several months before giving it any fertilizer. It will be getting plenty of nutrients in the new soil. As your avocado grows, you may find it needs some staking or support. You can keep growth in check by pinching and pruning back as necessary.
Good Luck!
Ellen
By Ellen Brown
Growing an avocado plant from the pit is a great project for kids to do. It is so easy. Our kids love to eat avocados and really wanted to try sprouting one. We have tried to sprout one before and it didn't work. This time it grew and the kids were so excited! Now we need to transfer it into a pot. :)
By lalala...
I am growing an avocado tree from seed. I did as directed and now have a great root system, but nothing coming from the top of the seed yet. Is this normal? Do I just need patience or should there already have been greens sprouting?
Hardiness Zone: 6a
By JayJay from Hopewell Junction, NY
Can I grow an avocado tree from a seed?
By dbl red
By banjo.federspiel
12/22/2012
Yes you can. The base is the part of the avocado that has a dimple in it.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2205595_grow-avocado-pit.html
I would like to know about growing avocado pits.
Hardiness Zone: 7a
By Barbara from Richmond, VA
By Pache
11/04/2010
My mom lives in San Jose Ca and started an avocado tree (years ago) from seed by putting it in a jar of water (with the seed held up by toothpicks) on her kitchen window sill. It's now a full size, fruit bearing tree in her back yard. Me, I'm in Co and I can't even get the seed to grow roots. I've tried several different ways and still no luck! The green thumb gene obviously past me by!
I plan on growing an avocado tree or bush indoors due to the cold winters we have. Can it ever bear fruit?
Hardiness Zone: 6a
Terry from Rochester, NY
By chris t. (Guest Post)
02/27/2009
I don't know if you can get it to bloom & produce fruit, but a long time ago. I heard this story about this man who couldn't get his avocado tree to produce. He heard that if you beat the tree with a baseball bat. The tree thinks it's it danger & it causes it to bloom & give fruit. My sister tried this, I think & it worked. I do know that you have to have another avocado tree in the neighborhood for cross pollination. Without this, there's no chance.
I have an avocado pit in water that has rooted, but not sprouted. Can I plant the pit now or should I wait for leaves to sprout?
By Amber
I have an avocado pit that grew many, many roots and what looks like multiple stems trying to form, but so far nothing after 4 months. Can I plant this and will a stem eventually shoot up?
By Shelly F.
My avocado plant although looking healthy, and about one foot tall, only gets two leaves growing at one time. These die and fall off and two more leaves will grow. I have it in a pot, indoors with plenty of light and water as instructed. Would pruning help?
By Mick C.
How do I care for an avocado plant grown from the seed, after it has germinated?
By H McC
My avocado seeds are growing moulds in my potting mixture. Please what do I do about it?
By Tinu
How do you grow an avocado from seed?
By Cathy
By sitzler
09/06/2011
Poke 4 toothpicks into the avocado pit, about halfway from the biggest part of the pit. Find a jar with a mouth big enough for the avocado pit. The toothpicks should balance the pit over the mouth of the jar. Now fill the jar with water so the bottom of the pit is soaking in the water. Keep the bottom of the avocado pit soaking in the water until a sprout emerges from the top of the seed. I warn you, this can take months to happen. Just keep putting more water in the jar as it evaporates, making sure to always keep the bottom of the pit in water. Once the pit sprouts, keep it in the jar and water until the sprout is about 6 inches tall, then you can plant it in dirt. This makes a nice plant/small tree, but it won't produce more avocados. Have fun.
I have two trees on the go, one that I have already put in soil and one that was still in its water container. Tonight I was repotting the water one into dirt, and as I was removing the tooth picks, I accidentally broke a half off of the seed. The tree has a large tap root, and a huge root network already, and these appear undamaged so far. Have I killed my tree? Its now in soil, but I am afraid I killed it.
By Allie B.
By Lewissan
03/21/2013
I think if it has, roots it should be ok. At some point, the seed is unnecessary for the plant to grow. Good luck!
When I try to grow an avocado plant, it starts to split and grow roots, but when the plant grows above the seed, it starts to turn brown. What is wrong? I make sure there is plenty of water in the glass.
By Judiann0909 from Bremen, OH
Are you aware that the seed will not come true? That means it won't taste anything like the avocado it came from. It takes about 5 years before you get your first fruit, if you get any at all. And there's no telling what it will taste like, it could be absolutely horrible or the most delicious thing you've ever tasted.
Good Luck. (05/20/2009)
By BABBIE
By kffrmw88
By DiJones
I would like information on how to grow an avocado from a pit and after care.
By Carolyn from Bedfordshire, UK
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Avocado Seed Has Roots But No Stem