An avocado seed will sprout a few weeks after planting.
Next time you make guacamole, save the pits from the avocados. Avocado seeds sprout easily, and growing avocados indoors is a great activity for kids. In warmer climates, the sprouts can be planted outside, and in a few years, they may produce fruit. In colder areas, avocados can be grown as a low-maintenance houseplant.
Preparation
Choose an avocado that is perfectly ripe and firm, without any squishy parts. Carefully cut the fruit in half, taking care not to damage the pit. Lightly scraping it with the knife won't hurt it too much, but do not cut through the pit's husk. Peel and eat the fruit. Avocados can be mashed to make guacamole, and sliced avocados are a nice addition to salads or sandwiches. Rinse the pit clean with running water, and fill a 6-inch pot with potting soil.
Planting and Germination
An avocado pit has a wider, slightly flatter end and a narrow, pointy end. Plant the avocado so that the pointy end is sticking up. The pit should be buried 3/4 of the way in the soil. It may still germinate if you plant it deeper, but it will take considerably longer. Avocado plants prefer loose, well-draining, evenly-moist soil. Water the avocado regularly so that the soil remains as wet as a wrung-out sponge. Depending on temperature and light conditions, it will take between two weeks and six months for your avocado pit to germinate. The long, hot, sunny days of summer are a perfect time to plant avocados. Avocados can also be grown by suspending the pit with toothpicks in a glass of water, but planting the pit directly in soil often produces a stronger plant.
Indoor Care
As a houseplant, avocados require very little specialized care. They prefer high humidity and lots of sunlight, so they do best with regular waterings and a south-facing window. Mist the leaves in the winter if the air in your house is dry. Once the avocado plant is well established and is at least 12 inches tall, fertilize it every two to three weeks in the summer and every six to eight weeks in the winter. Avocados have an extensive root system and do best in large pots. A healthy avocado may need to the re-potted every spring. Avocados grown indoors rarely produce edible fruit.
Outdoor Care
Avocados thrive in full sunlight and loose, sandy, loamy soil. For best fruit production, plant two or more avocados, and since the root systems may crowd out other plants, provide at least 20 feet of space between your avocados and other trees. Avocados will only grow in climates where there is no danger of frost, and will only produce fruit in tropical or subtropical conditions.
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