Growing an Avocado Tree

It's quite ironic that we are growing an avocado tree because Andy and I are pretty strict to only growing things that will produce something to feed us.  While an avocado tree may produce delicious avocados in tropical paradises, it does not produce fruit in frozen tundra's such as Wisconsin.  Also, (in case you live in tropical paradise) you need two trees to pollinate and produce.

So why grow it?  Because we can!  How cool it is to know we can grow an avocado tree from a pit/seed from an avocado we ate?  This is how YOU can grow and avocado tree, too:

Step 1:  Eat an avocado
Easy peasy, throw some slices on a (veggie) burger, mash it and make some guacamole, or just eat it plain.

Step 2:  Save the pit
When taking the pit out of the avocado, be careful to not damage it with a knife.  I normally stab it (helps relieve my inner angst), but you might just want to gently guide it out if possible.  Once you have the pit out, peel the "skin" off.  It's like a thin brown coating.  Peel as much of it off as you can.

Step 3: Set pit up for germination
No dirt needed!  Just fill up a cup, mason jar, bowl, etc.. with water.  Poke 3 toothpicks into the sides of the pit so that you can suspend the avocado pit over the water. 

The water should go up about half of the pit.  Add water if it ever gets below the bottom of the pit.

Step 4: Wait... patiently.
This is the hardest part.  Put your pit in a sunny spot and wait.  You will find yourself watching the pit, hoping that any minute it will start to sprout.  Andy and I got totally down on ourselves when nothing was happening a week or two into starting our tree.  Please note it will take at least 4-6 weeks before you get some sprouting action going on.  The bottom of the pit will crack open and you will see a bit of the root popping out and than it will take a while for the plant to start growing out of the top too.  When this happens, throw a mini party to celebrate!

Step 5:  Plant in soil.
Once you have a sprout that is an inch or so tall, plant it in a pot with soil.  We used a medium sized pot, added some potting soil and planted the plant.  Do not bury the pit too deep.  Make sure the top portion of the pit is exposed.  Keep the soil moist and water pretty frequently.  Put back into sunny spot.

Step 6:  Wait... patiently.  Again.
Story of my life when it comes to gardens.  Waiting... ugh.  But no worries, over time you will find your avocado tree is growing beautifully.  Our avocado tree is now a year old now and it's about 2 feet tall!

Add some signage with inappropriate language to pursuade the tree to grow and grow well.

That's it!  Andy and I are just a week into starting a second tree.  Who knows... if we have two of them inside with temperatures around 70 degrees, maybe we'll actually get one to produce.  I doubt it, but I can still dream, right?