How to Grow Avocado from Seed At Home In Water

Of course, you can choose to plant an existing avocado seedling to get fruit faster. But remember, if you have young children and want them to practice growing fruit trees, it's best to start with those seemingly discarded avocado seeds. This is similar to growing jackfruit from seeds - very exciting!

1. How to Germinate Avocado Seed

The method for growing avocado from seed that we introduce in this article consists of two parts: (1) Germinating the seed; (2) Planting the seedling in soil. Let’s go through the detailed steps.
 

1.1. Preparing the Avocado Seed

• Use a knife to cut the avocado in such a way that the knife does not touch the pit in the center. A simple method is to make a clean incision around the fruit, about 1 cm deep. Then, twist the two halves of the avocado in opposite directions to keep the pit intact.

• After removing the seed, rinse it gently with clean water to remove all the remaining flesh. Make sure to use clean water and wash by hand, avoiding soap. Additionally, be careful not to remove the thin brown skin on the outside of the seed, as this protects it; without it, the seed can easily rot and have difficulty sprouting.

1.2. Placing the Avocado Seed in Water to Germinate

• To germinate the avocado seed before planting, hold the seed upright with the pointed end facing up. Then take four toothpicks and insert them into the seed around the middle. Each toothpick should penetrate about 2.5 cm into the seed. This method helps keep the avocado seed balanced in a cup of water without submerging it, to prevent the seed from rotting.

• Choose a cup to hold the water and fill it with water. Place the seed with the toothpicks in such a way that only half of the seed is submerged in the water. Ensure that the pointed end of the seed is facing up, while the round end is submerged in the cup. This is extremely important because the pointed end will sprout, while the round end will develop roots.

• Once the seed is placed, put the cup in a location with moderate temperature and good light for the avocado seed to grow roots and sprout. Suggestion: it’s best to place the cup on a windowsill.

1.3. Changing Water and Waiting for the Roots to Grow

• You need to change the water every 1-2 days. This is essential to ensure that mold, yeast, and bacteria do not cause the seed to rot. Additionally, make sure that the bottom of the avocado seed remains submerged in water.

• Wait for about 2 to 3 weeks for the outer skin of the avocado seed to dry and start peeling off. At this point, the seed will quickly crack open at both ends as it becomes "water-filled." Be patient for another 2 weeks, and the roots will begin to grow from the bottom of the seed.

• During this time, continue to provide water for the avocado seed. Be gentle when changing the water to avoid damaging the roots. Continue waiting for the avocado seed to grow additional roots, and after a while, the avocado seedling will begin to sprout, followed by the appearance of leaves.

2. Detailed Steps for Planting Avocado from Seed After Germination

The avocado tree is quite particular about its growing conditions, similar to the way durian trees are planted. Usually, this fruit tree is planted in a pot and then moved to meet weather conditions. Note that avocados should only be planted when temperatures are above 10 degrees Celsius, at any time of the year.

 2.1. Preparing Soil or a Pot for the Avocado

• The soil for growing avocado does not need to have a specific pH but should have low salt content and good drainage. Additionally, when the avocado tree is still young, it should not require much fertilizer (wait until the tree is 1 year old before starting to fertilize twice a year).

• For the pot, it is best to use a clay pot with a width of 20 to 25 cm. The secret to effectively planting the avocado seedling is to add some gravel to the bottom of the pot for better drainage. After that, fill the pot with the prepared soil, leaving about 2 cm from the top. Many people suggest using half topsoil mixed with coconut coir.

• Once the soil is in the pot, level and lightly compress it. Then, dig a small hole according to the size of the seed and the roots of the germinated avocado.

2.2. How to Plant Avocado Seed in the Pot

• When you see the roots of the avocado seed are strong and the top of the plant is about to sprout leaves (after one pruning), you can take the avocado seed down to plant in the pot. At this point, gently remove the germinated seed from the water cup, pulling out all the toothpicks.

• Carefully bury the avocado seed in the prepared hole in the pot. When burying the seed, make sure the top half of the seed is above the soil surface, and then lightly cover the seed with soil. This step is extremely important to prevent the young avocado from rotting.

• After completing the planting process, remember to water the soil daily to keep it moist. Note that avocados dislike being waterlogged, so if you notice the soil is soggy, stop watering immediately. The trick is that if you see the leaves turning brown at the tips, the plant is "thirsty!" If the tips of the leaves are yellow, it means there is too much water, and you need to let the roots dry out for the next two days.

2.3. How to Plant Avocado from Seed Directly in the Ground

If you plant and germinate the avocado seedling in a pot, you can easily have a charming and impressive avocado tree. However, according to some growers, this method often makes it difficult for the tree to bear fruit quickly. Besides being ornamental, it's best to plant avocado directly in the ground if you want to harvest fruit.

If you want to grow avocado from seed directly in the ground, you can skip the soaking in water and plant it straight into the soil. Here are a few important steps you need to follow:
 

• Choose the planting location and soil as suggested above. Additionally, make sure to clear the area where the avocado seedling will grow of any weeds. It’s best to plant two avocado seeds at the same time, as avocado trees prefer to grow close to each other.

• The planting method remains the same: place the round end down, cover it with soil, and water it lightly. 

• Remember not to rush to fertilize when planting the avocado seedling in the ground. Fertilizer should only be applied when the seedling has emerged from the soil. If fertilized too early, the avocado may rot, and the roots will struggle to develop.

3. A Few Notes on How to Grow Avocado from Seed
 

• Be patient when growing avocado from seed. If you truly love plants, the waiting process for the avocado seedling to grow will be incredibly enjoyable. Conversely, if you want fruit quickly, it’s best to plant from an existing grafted tree.

• Don’t pull out or feel too upset if you see the avocado seedling from the seed looking like a stick. Remember that the avocado seedling usually needs to reach a height of 20 cm before it starts to produce leaves.

• If you live in an area experiencing winter with cold weather, it’s better to transplant the germinated avocado seedling into a medium-sized pot instead of planting directly in the ground. During this time, you should also place the seedling pot on a windowsill to catch sunlight and water less frequently.

• Avocados are rarely picked when ripe; it’s best to harvest them and wait for them to soften before consuming. Of course, this is a later step; the journey described above is much more exciting.

Although nowadays, growing avocado from seed is thought to have a low success rate, some people complain that this method may take 7 to 8 years to bear fruit. This is somewhat true. However, as mentioned by Veque, sometimes we germinate a seed without waiting for it to bear fruit; simply witnessing the growth of the plant is an indescribable joy. Or in another example, try growing a potted ornamental avocado from a seed; it will be quite unique!