(Question)
What is the best way to grow an avocado from a pit? I have it on toothpicks resting in water. Should it be in soil instead?
(Answer)
What you have done sounds just right:
- Choose a pit from a ripe/squishy avocado (this is more like a fruit that dropped off the tree naturally & is ready to sprout)
- Clean the avocado pit well with water
- Peel the skin off the pit (not all experts recommend this) – keep track of which is the bottom of the pit
- Pierce the avocado pit with 3-4 toothpicks at its widest part
- Perch the avocado pit (fat or “bottom” end down) in a glass or jar and fill the glass with water so that around 2.54 cm (1 inch) of the pit is covered by water
- Set the glass in a bright window (not direct sunlight), in a warm place
- Keep water at the same level
- The seed should sprout in a few days to several weeks (usually 2-6 weeks, but this can take up to a few months) – the top of the pit will split open, and the stem will emerge, followed by the first leaves.
- When the roots start to fill the glass, and the young plant is around 15 cm (6 inches) high, plant the avocado (roots down) into a pot. Leave the top half of the pit above the soil – -this should remain exposed.
- Keep the plant in a sunny spot
- Water often and lightly and pinch back the new top leaves every time the plant grows 15 cm (6 inches) or so for a fuller, bushier plant.
- Fertilize during the growing season – use a balanced fertilizer
- If you wish, keep the plant outside during the summer (gradually acclimate it to the outdoors by starting to bring it outside for a few hours each day for a couple of weeks)
- The plant will likely NOT yield fruit. In theory, a plant grown from a pit could yield fruit, but this would likely take several years.