How to Grow an Avocado Tree

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Avocados are a delicious fruit and an ingredient in many dishes, including guacamole. Avocados are unique and come with a variety of health benefits, like lowering your cholesterol and improving your triglyceride levels. [1] Amazingly, you can grow this fantastic food with the seed that you would usually just discard. Avocados thrive in warm and humid climates and grow in zones 8 through 10. While a typical avocado tree can take a decade to mature, sprouting an avocado tree at home is pretty easy if you follow the right steps.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Growing an Avocado Tree with Toothpicks

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  1. Cut your avocado in half, so it exposes the oval shaped seed in the middle. Use a utensil like a knife or a fork to extract the seed out of the avocado. Once the seed is removed, rinse it under warm water to remove all of the avocado fruit from it. [2]
    • Do not remove the brown skin or "seed cover" from the seed. [3]
    • Read Cut-an-Avocado if you're unsure how to cut an avocado.
  2. The top of the seed is the pointed end, while the lower part of the seed is rounded. It's important that you're able to identify the top and the bottom of your seed. The roots will grow out of the bottom and your tree will sprout from the top of the seed. [4]
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  3. Insert three toothpicks on a slight downward angle in the middle of the seed. The toothpicks will enable you to suspend your seed so that the roots can get enough water while the top of the seed stays dry. [5]
    • The toothpicks should be an equal distance apart from one another.
    • Make sure that each toothpick is inserted firmly but not too far.
  4. Use the toothpicks to balance the seed on the brim of a cup, ensuring that the bottom half of the seed is under water. The other half of the seed should be above the water's surface. Place the glass in a warm spot where it can get some sun. [6]
    • Remember to replace the water as it evaporates.
    • Change your water once a week to prevent mold from growing in your glass. [7]
    • Use room temperature water for your avocado tree.
  5. In two to six weeks, you should see your avocado tree start to sprout. [8] You'll notice that the seed will crack and roots will begin to grow from the bottom of the seed. [9]
    • If your avocado tree does not sprout in eight weeks, consider starting over with a new seed.
  6. Once your plant grows to 6 - 7 inches (15 - 17.7 centimeters), you should move it to a pot with soil. Remove the toothpicks from your seed and place it in a 8 - 10 inch (20.3 - 25.4 centimeter) deep pot filled with humus soil or a multi-purpose potting soil. [10] [11] The seed should be half exposed on top of the soil.
    • Humus is loose and crumbly soil. It includes organic material like leaves, grass clippings, and peat moss. [12]
    • Avocado trees thrive in fast draining organic soil. [13]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Growing an Avocado Tree in Dirt

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  1. You can use a paper towel or run your seed under water. Remove all of the avocado pulp from the seed before you continue. If your seed is giving you issues during cleaning, you can submerge it under water for one to two minutes to loosen some of the stuck on avocado.
  2. Once you've extracted your avocado seed, you'll need to peel back the brown layer over the seed, sometimes referred to as the "seed cover." Use a sharp knife and cut away at the brown cover to reveal the tan seed under it.
    • Light scratches on the seed will not prevent growth but avoid puncturing or cracking the seed while you remove the cover. [14]
  3. Fill a pot with loose soil that has good drainage. Some options include sandy loam or humus. You can find these specialty potting soils online or at a home and garden store. Good drainage is essential for growth. [15]
    • A healthy pH level for your soil is between 6.0 and 7.0. [16]
    • If you're using soil from your garden, make sure you sift through it and remove any weeds or roots are in it.
  4. Bury your avocado seed so that the fat rounded end is under the soil while the pointed end is exposed. An avocado grown this way may take up to two months to sprout. [17] Return to the soil daily to make sure that it's wet enough to promote growth. It's important that your soil doesn't dry out during this period.
    • The best times to plant your avocado tree are March through June.
    • Planting your avocado tree during the hottest parts of the summer increases the risk of sun damage for your tree. [18]
    • Burying more than one seed may increase your chances of a tree sprouting.
  5. Avocado trees can take 2-8 weeks to sprout. Once your taproot begins to grow, you'll know you're on the right track. The taproot will be thicker than your tree's other roots. After your avocado tree sprouts, it can take anywhere from 5-13 years for it to bear fruit. [19]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Caring for Your Avocado Tree

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  1. Once your avocado tree grows to be about 6 - 7 inches (15 - 17.7 centimeters), cut it back about 3 inches (7.6 centimeters). Cutting the top of the stem will promote more horizontal growth on your plant. [20] Trim the tree when using both the toothpick and potting method. Regular pruning after the first year of growth should be limited but is useful for maintaining a healthy avocado tree in some cases.You can prune smaller branches as your tree matures to limit its growth or to balance the tree. [21]
    • The best times to prune your tree is in the late winter or early spring.
    • If you don't cut your avocado plant, the stem may grow too long.
    • Do not cut the roots on the bottom.
  2. Watering your tree too much can hurt the plant. A good indication of overwatering is if the plant's leaves become a light green or translucent color. Check the soil every couple of days to make sure that it isn't dried out. You can do this by pressing a finger into the soil about an inch (2.5 centimeters) deep.
    • A fully matured avocado tree will need about 20 gallons (75.7 liters) of water per day during the irrigation period. [22]
  3. If you live a place where the temperature doesn't dip below 24 degrees Celsius, (75.2 degrees Fahrenheit) then you can keep your tree outdoors all year round. However, if you live in a place where it gets cold, you'll need to bring it indoors, or it will die. [23]
  4. For your avocado to grow fruit, it must be pollinated by insects. If you have had your plant for a long time and it hasn't grown fruit, consider moving it to an outside garden or keeping a window open so that bees and other insects can pollinate it. [24]
    • You will have to maintain your tree for many years before it starts to produce fruit, and in the end, it may never produce fruit.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What should I do when my avocado plant is 7 inches tall?
    Lauren Kurtz
    Professional Gardener
    Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
    Lauren Kurtz
    Professional Gardener
    Expert Answer
    If you are growing in water it’s time to plant your tree in a pot with soil. The pot needs to be at least 8-10in deep. Use a well draining soil with high organic matter. Plant the tree with half of the seed sticking out of the soil
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 16
  • Question
    How long before it fruits?
    Lauren Kurtz
    Professional Gardener
    Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
    Lauren Kurtz
    Professional Gardener
    Expert Answer
    Your avocado tree needs to flower and be pollinated before it can bear fruit. It can take 3 to 15 years for your tree to mature and fruit, if at all. Some may never produce fruit.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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  • Question
    Why is my avocado tree growing so fast?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    A fast growing avocado tree is likely a sign that the tree is getting the right amount of everything––fertilizer, water, light and suitable soil. If this is the case, then it's a happy tree! Also, avocado trees are naturally fast growing, with an average of around 36 inches per year of growth. If this presents a problem for your garden, you might like to consider switching to dwarf avocado plants, which will still grow as fast but won't grow as tall as a standard avocado tree.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-proven-benefits-of-avocado#1
      2. ↑ https://inhabitat.com/how-to-grow-an-avocado-tree-from-an-avocado-pit/
      3. ↑ https://www.homestolove.com.au/outdoor-gardening/gardening/grow-an-avocado-from-seed-10585/
      4. ↑ http://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/youth/avocado.shtml
      5. ↑ https://inhabitat.com/how-to-grow-an-avocado-tree-from-an-avocado-pit/
      6. ↑ http://www.fruitexpert.co.uk/growingavocados.html
      7. ↑ https://www.avoseedo.com/grow-an-avocado-tree/
      8. ↑ http://www.californiaavocado.com/how-tos/your-own-avocado-tree
      9. ↑ https://inhabitat.com/how-to-grow-an-avocado-tree-from-an-avocado-pit/
      1. ↑ http://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/1375/what-is-the-best-type-of-soil-for-growing-an-indoor-avocado-plant
      2. ↑ https://inhabitat.com/how-to-grow-an-avocado-tree-from-an-avocado-pit/
      3. ↑ http://compostguide.com/using-humus-to-improve-soil-organically/
      4. ↑ http://www.tropicamango.com/avocado.html
      5. ↑ https://dengarden.com/gardening/An-Almost-Foolproof-Way-to-Grow-an-Avocado-from-a-Seed
      6. ↑ https://www.avoseedo.com/successfully-growing-avocados-in-a-pot/
      7. ↑ http://www.thegardenhelper.com/avocado.html
      8. ↑ https://dengarden.com/gardening/An-Almost-Foolproof-Way-to-Grow-an-Avocado-from-a-Seed
      9. ↑ http://www.californiaavocado.com/how-tos/your-own-avocado-tree
      10. ↑ http://ucavo.ucr.edu/General/Answers.html#anchor417098
      11. ↑ https://www.homestolove.com.au/outdoor-gardening/gardening/grow-an-avocado-from-seed-10585/
      12. ↑ http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/AgNatRes/Pubs/Pruning_Avocado_trees.pdf
      13. ↑ http://www.californiaavocado.com/how-tos/your-own-avocado-tree
      14. ↑ https://www.homestolove.com.au/outdoor-gardening/gardening/grow-an-avocado-from-seed-10585/
      15. ↑ http://www.fruitexpert.co.uk/growingavocados.html
      16. ↑ http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/avocado
      17. ↑ http://ceventura.ucanr.edu/Gardening/Garden_Info/avocado_questions/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To grow an avocado tree from an avocado seed, insert 3 toothpicks into the middle of the clean seed. Use the toothpicks to balance the seed on the brim of a cup filled with water, making sure the bottom half of the seed is immersed. In a few weeks, your tree should start to sprout. When that happens, remove the toothpicks and bury the bottom half of the seed in a pot with soil, keeping the top half exposed. Once your tree is about 6 inches tall, trim 3 inches to encourage growth. Make sure to water your avocado tree and keep it indoors during colder months. For more tips from our Horticulturist reviewer, including how to start your avocado tree in dirt instead, read on!

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