As a superfood that's high in healthy fat and also just plain delicious, avocados have skyrocketed in popularity since the mid-2010s. Remember when it was reported that no millennials could afford to buy a home because they were spending so much on avocado toast? Well, honestly, we're feeling it too. Regardless of how you feel about avocado toast, groceries have gotten more expensive, and in the off-season it can be difficult to find great local produce. If you know how to grow an avocado seed at home, you don't have to worry about it. It's actually quite easy—even if you don't live in Southern California.
No, really! Using the seed or pit of a previous avocado, you can sprout and grow a full-size avocado tree from the comfort of your kitchen. And while this isn't the same process as germinating and planting over vegetable seeds, avocados don't require a lot of maintenance. Be warned, an avocado tree doesn't start bearing fruit until it reaches maturity—around five to 13 years after planting, according to California Avocado—so this is a game of patience. Regardless, you'll have a beautiful houseplant until that time comes.
Ahead, we break down exactly what you need to grow an avocado seed plant and the proper care steps to ensure it.
What You'll Need
- Avocado pit
- Toothpicks
- Drinking glass or narrow vase
- Soil
- 10-inch pot with drainage holes
- Trowel or large spoon
Fiskars Ergo Gardening Hand Trowel
How to Grow an Avocado Seed
As we mentioned earlier, it can take years for an avocado tree to bear fruit, but this process will give you a beautiful (and essentially free!) houseplant to enjoy in the meantime. Plus, it's a fun science experiment to watch a seed sprout.
Step 1: Prep the Pit
While you're whipping up your avocado toast or guacamole, remove the avocado pit and set it aside. Give it a good rinse to remove any residue, then let it dry. Meanwhile, fill your vase or drinking glass with water.
Step 2: Insert Toothpicks
If you have a vase specifically designed for avocado pits, you can skip this step. Otherwise, push three toothpicks about an inch or so into the pit to create a suspension system. You want the toothpicks to be evenly spaced around the pit. Place the avocado seed in the vase so that it's balanced on the toothpicks with its bottom half submerged in the water. Add water if needed.
Step 3: Give the Pit Time to Sprout
Once the pit is suspended properly, place your vase or jar in a warm and fairly sunny spot. Remember, avocado trees grow best in hotter climates, so bright, indirect sunlight is key. An ideal spot is a windowsill. Your pit should start to sprout roots and a stem in about six weeks. Replenish the water as needed to keep the bottom half of the pit submerged. Once the stem grows to six or seven inches, trim it in half.
If you don't see a sprout after two months (eight weeks), consider it a dud and start over with another pit.
Step 4: Plant It in Soil
Once the roots have grown in strong and thick and the stem has sprouted leaves, it's time to transplant your avocado seed plant to soil. Plant it in your pot as you would any standard houseplant using rich, well-drained soil and a trowel or large spoon, but be sure to leave about half the pit (seed) exposed above the soil line.
Avocado plants love their soil moist but not drenched. As with most houseplants, water it only when the soil dries out completely, and be sure to plant it in a well-draining pot to prevent root rot.
Kate McGregor is the former Digital Editor at House Beautiful, where she wrote countless stories on home renovation costs, design inspiration, and plant care. After years of experience writing commerce and search-optimized content for brands like Domino, Real Simple, and Architectural Digest’s Clever, Kate developed a passion for uncovering the personal stories that often inspire people’s spaces. She previously worked as the Assistant Market Editor at ELLE Decor where she identified top products and brands in the industry and interviewed emerging designers on their thoughts on the latest interior design trends. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University. When not researching the specificities of begonia plant care, you can find Kate scouring vintage markets for the ideal wrought-iron chair, knitting yet another cardigan, or reading historical nonfiction.
