How to grow an avocado tree

Nothing is better than freshly grown food for the kitchen. I have tried unsuccessfully in the past, to grow my own avocado tree. I knew I was doing something wrong, but that didn’t keep me from experimenting, year after year. This year I was determined not to fail in my attempt so I asked “the mom” (who has amazing gardening skills) what I could be doing wrong and she told me the correct way to plant an avocado seed. It worked, woohoo.

The first thing I want to mention is that it takes 7 to 10 years for an avocado tree to produce. That’s a long time but I think it’s going to be fun to nurture it until it reaches maturity. However, patience is not my best virtue. The next thing I want to mention is that just because you grow a tree does not mean it will produce fruit. Avocado seeds partially self-pollinate. The seeds need to be crossbred to ensure it will produce fruit and I’ve not mastered that step yet. When I do, I’ll share. I plan to graft this one to a rootstock (with “the moms” help of course).

GROW AN AVOCADO TREE

Instructions:

  • I pitted an avocado and put the seed in a sunny location in a window in our laundry room.
  • I waited quite a few weeks until there was a brown papery dry cover over the seed.
  • I peeled the papery-type substance off of the seed.
  • I planted half of the seed (the flat end) in a pot with 1/4 teaspoon miracle grow time release in the potting soil. The other half I left above the ground.

I planted the seed indoors and it wasn’t until this month that I finally started noticing the sprout in the center of the seed. The seed split and I just kept watering it and checking it.

Sometime soon, I plan to plant the tree seedling in a permanent location and start a new tree next year.

It was easier than I thought it would be to grow the tree. The only thing I did differently from past attempts was to peel the dried outer layer off of the avocado seed after it was completely dried.

Avocado Tree

This process takes a lot of patience but it’s very rewarding to see the effort pay off.

31 Comments

  1. I’m going to try your method next time and see if it’s easier than mine. I didn’t think mine was ever going to sprout lol.

  2. I have also grown an avocado tree using the old potato in the water method. Stick toothpicks in, hang in water, wait until it grows roots than plant it. Works every time! All my family in Puerto Rico have avocado trees. I live on the east coast where I will never see an avocado tree, unless it’s just an avocado plant. Lucky for me I get a nice avocado package once a year.

  3. I had no idea I could grow my own avocado tree in my back yard. I definitely want to try and do this because my whole family loves eating avocado!

  4. How cool! If we ever move back out to the southwest I am going to do this!

  5. I love avocado! I’ve never heard of anyone growing it indoors though. Now that I know how to grow one, I might give it a try. 🙂

  6. This is so awesome! I would love to grow my own avocado tree! I never realized how long it would take to produce fruit but I still would like to grow one even if it didn’t produce any.

  7. This is so cool! I would love to have my own avocado tree and not have to buy them from the store any longer!

  8. Oh wow. I always knew but never really thought of doing it – maybe I should one of these days.

  9. I love avocados, I need to grow a tree in my backyard so that I can have some on hand at all time.

  10. This is so cool! My hubby loves avocado, so we should def do this!

  11. I would love to grow an avocado tree! I wonder if I live in the right climate for it.

  12. I have tried this before with avocados but I could never could get it to do anything so I gave up. I gotta do it again, avocados taste so amazing!

  13. It would be great to have one of my own. I wonder if it would grow here.

  14. Whhhhaaaat! That’s so awesome! I need to try this!

  15. I wish I lived in a climate where you could grow Avocado trees. It would be so cool to grow one and eat the fresh fruit. I had no idea that it took 7-10 years for a free to product avocados!

  16. PS – I love that you can grow your own! These kinds of projects are my favorite!

  17. My grandpa tried to convince my daughter to grow one. I’m not convinced it would survive in Utah!

  18. That seems cool! I never thought of growing my own avocado tree! It just seems so tropical that it’s daunting to attempt this in Toronto!

  19. Wow, this is fabulous! I had no idea you could do this. Not really sure what I thought, but I would LOVE to give this a try! I am horrible at growing things and keeping things alive, so this could be a challenege!

  20. I’ve tried to get the avocado seed ready to plant in a pot several times -I get the leaves growing but then nothing more – so yep – I’ve got your ‘recipe’ now and am going to try it again 🙂

  21. What a great post/tips, I don’t think about growing tree but you made me had interest in avocado tree, you know my kids loves avocado shake.

  22. Ooohh it takes seven years to grow an avocado tree? Wow that’s some serious wait!

  23. This is awesome!
    I’ve been wondering how to grow the avocado for a long time now! Thanks

  24. Ok You are like the 10th person I’ve heard about this from!!! I’m starting to think I need to grow my own to fit in hehe 😉 I do love avocados though so it would be neat to have my own tree!

  25. I love avocados!!! I never would have thought to do this…thanks for the idea!

  26. I need to show this to my mother in law. She eats more avocados than anyone I know.

  27. i wish I could grow an avocado tree but I don’t have a yard and like to move every 7 years it seems lol. I love eating avocados with some salt & pepper and eat it with a spoon . Actually making some quesadillas with avocado in them tonight

  28. I BROUGHT MY AVOCADO TREES INSIDE so they won’t die during the winter. This is my second time trying to grow as well. I have three that I am growing in a pot. Hopefully, they will continue to grow as I love avocado. Good luck to our avocados

  29. I have never considered growing an avocado tree. I love Avocado and this is something I would like to grow. It is super easy

  30. My sister is a teacher and did this experiment as well. She actually did it over a glass of water until it sprouted then planted it! Amazing to see it grow!

  31. I love making avocado trees at home. They look so wonderful, and they’re SUPER easy to grow.

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