HA im going to grow an avocado tree! I was joking with my mom about putting the seed in my compost and maybe it too would grow! haha...and she said she had a friend that grew one...so she looked it up for me and now im in the process! says to grow more than one to have fruit...so maybe ill have 2. They grow to like 20 feet tall...but can be pruned to be MUCH smaller. Seems how we live in OHIO I cant have one full time outside, so it will have to come in during the winter. I will take up to 3 or 4 years before it will produce any fruit....

here is what i found in case anyone else wants to grow one too!

Grow an Avocado Tree!

There's nothing more fun than growing your own Avocado Tree!

"How do I do it?"

Open the avocado and remove the pit from the center. You can eat the fruit of the avocado, it's yummy and is full of nutrients!*

Wash the avocado pit under cool running water, you don't need soap to clean it. With your fingers gently wipe away and remove any of the green fruit that might be on the pit. Rinse it well and then blot it dry with a paper towel.

Carefully push three toothpicks into the thickest width of avocado, you want to push the toothpicks into the pit about a 1/2" deep. (It's okay if you push them in deeper or even a little less) The toothpicks will help suspend the avocado pit in water and keep the top part of the pit in fresh air and the fat base of the pit under the surface of the water. Be careful pushing in the toothpicks, they have pointy edges and could hurt if they poke your hands, it's all right to ask a grown-up to help with this.

Suspend the pit over a glass filled with water....the toothpicks will rest on the rim of the glass and hold the pit in place so it doesn't sink to the bottom. Always check the water level in the glass and see that the water is covering the fat base of the pit by about an inch depth. If the water is below that level you'll need to add some more. Slowly and carefully pour in more water from a small cup to avoid splashing.

Place the glass in a bright windowsill. In about three to six weeks the top of the avocado pit will begin to split and a stem sprout will emerge from the top and roots will begin to grow at the base.

When the stem grows to about five or six inches pinch out the top set of leaves. In another two or three weeks new leaves will sprout and their will be more roots.

It's now time to plant the young avocado tree. Place enriched potting soil in a large flowerpot (maybe 8" to 10" across). Fill the soil to about an inch from the top of the pot. Make a small depression in the center of the soil and place the pit, root-side down into the depression. Don't put it too deep...you want to have the upper half of the pit above the soil line. Add some more soil around the pit to fill in any air holes by the roots and then firm it into the soil by gently pushing the soil around the base of the pit. The tree's stem and leaves should be straight and pointing up (like a flagpole).

Give the soil a drink to water the pit. Water it generously so that the soil is thoroughly moist. Water the soil slowly and gently so that when it's poured in it doesn't gouge out holes in the soil. Keep your tree watered but don't let the soil be so moist that it ever looks like mud.

How do I care for my avocado tree?"

Keep your tree in a sunny window, the more sun it gets the bigger it will grow.

Remember to give it frequent light waterings but don't let the soil get muddy. If the leaves turn yellow it means that the plant is getting too much watering, let the tree's soil dry out for a couple of days, then return to light waterings.

When the stem grows six more inches pinch out the top two sets of leaves. This will encourage the plant to grow side shoots and more leaves, making it bushy. Each time the plant grows another six inches pinch out the two newest sets of leaves on top.

"Can my avocado tree ever go outside?"

Yes it can go outside in the summer. If your winters are cold ~ below 45 degrees (F) or 7 degrees (C) ~ you must bring your tree inside for the winter. Otherwise, if your winters are cool and mild, the tree may stay outdoors year round.

"Will my tree ever grow fruit?"

Sometimes they will begin setting fruit after they are three or four years old. It helps to have several avocado trees growing together to aid with pollination.

"How tall will my avocado tree grow?" An avocado tree is a medium to large tall tree. It can grow between 20 and 40 feet tall. With pruning it can be kept at a much shorter height.

Views: 1

Comment

You need to be a member of Garden-Share to add comments!

Join Garden-Share

Comment by Misty, z9b, 18 on May 30, 2009 at 3:07am
I grew four of them from seeds when I was younger, using a pretty similar method - except no toothpicks. I just used the 5 oz. Dixie cups to start the roots in. It took about three or four years to get them to about 6 ft tall, and they never produced fruit, but I had a great time growing them from seed. Don't get your hopes up about it bearing fruit, its rare for an avocado tree grown from seed to do so. If you want fruit bearing avocado trees, try grafting. Check out the avocado growers website for more info -- http://www.avocado.org/.
Comment by Melody Leftwich z8 TX on May 29, 2009 at 11:24am
Ok, if you plan to keep it indoors and prune it regularly, it might work. Even in Texas they don't survive outdoors without a tall greenhouse of orchard heaters for winter though.

Latest Activity

Yvonne Martin zone 9a se texas commented on Garden-Share's group Cactus & Succulents
"I now know why I can't grow succulents, I have had it in full sun all day long and texas heat is a killer. I will try again and do like Grant and put it under the eves shade in the afternoon. I love garden share I learn so much,  THANKS…"
45 minutes ago

Contributing Gardener
Clare Oliva commented on Clare Oliva's photo
Thumbnail

Daylilies Churning Out the Blooms

"Thanks Myan and Barbara. These really brighten up the garden at this time of year!"
1 hour ago
Deb Sanders commented on Deb Sanders's photo
Thumbnail

P1010014

"Thank you! This clematis just loves being in the garden in front of our house. She has bloomed every year now for almost 10 years!"
1 hour ago
Deb Sanders commented on Deb Sanders's photo
Thumbnail

P1010011

"Thank you! These are two of my favorite decorative birdhouses (but I have had a house wren check out the church house more than once)!"
1 hour ago

© 2012   Created by Garden-Share.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service