I don't know where the best place would be to post this. And since the search feature is down for a while, I'll just have to create a new post...
Does anyone know how do grow an Avocado from a pit? I have one sprouting and rooted in a jar of water. I think it's time to put it in dirt, probably time to pinch the growing tip, too. I'm just not sure.
So when do you plant, pinch and how deep should it go in the potting soil mixture?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Avocado pit
I don't think you need to pinch the growing tip--I never do that on trees that I'm growing from seed. But maybe there's a reason to do it and I just don't know it. As far as planting it, I would plant it when it looks like it has decent roots, and when you plant it make sure that the crown is slightly above the soil level, otherwise it can rot. I have heard though that avocados don't do well in containers for the long-term--I think there may be a dwarf kind that has been bred specially for containers, but I'm guessing yours is from a grocery store avocado so it wouldn't be the dwarf kind. Definitely worth trying though and see what happens!
I have no experience or idea but it piqued my interest enough to search around. I found this:
Many people start avocado trees as novelty house plants by piercing the seed with its pointed end up, partially through with toothpicks on three or four sides to hold it on the top of a jar or vase partly with water and few pieces of charcoal (to keep the water sweet) just covering the base. In 2 to 6 weeks, when roots and leaves are well formed the plant is set in potting soil. Unless they're moved into soil within a few weeks or months after germination, they'll begin to deteriorate.
They are also easily sprouted in a well-drained 4- or 5-inch pot of porous, fertile soil. The top of the seed should just barely peek above the surface of the soil. If the soil is kept fairly moist and the temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees, the seed will begin to sprout and a pretty, leafy plant will develop.
When the seedling reaches 12 inches, it should be pinched back to about 6-8 inches to produce a rounder, fuller plant. Avocados grown inside thrive in sun or in a good, lighted location. Once they've filled their pots up with healthy roots, they should be potted in larger ones. Repotting should be done in the spring. Well-rooted plants should be given a dilute liquid fertilizer every week or two. Watering should be done so that the soil never becomes really dry but isn't ever soggy and waterlogged. They should be fertilized with a balanced houseplant food every two or three weeks in the summer and about every six weeks during the winter. It's also a good idea to mist the leaves of your Avocado if the air in your home is very dry. Indoor trees need low night temperatures to induce bloom. Transplanting should be done in early spring. Potted plants should be moved outdoors gradually, so they can acclimatize themselves, and adjust to the new elements.
Avocado in the garden
Avocado trees are very versatile in their adaptability to different soils, but they prefer a rich loose sandy loam. They will not survive in locations with poor drainage. . The desirable pH level is generally considered to be between 6 and 7. They will grow in shade and between buildings, but are only productive in full sun. The root system is extensive and will choke out nearby plants, so they should be given plenty of room--up to 20 feet. However two or three trees can be planted in a single large hole to save garden space and enhance pollination. Once established the avocado is a fairly tough tree. Once the tree is a year old, they should be fed four times yearly using a balanced fertilizer. Older trees benefit from feeding with nitrogenous fertilizer applied in late winter and early summer. Yellowed leaves (chlorosis) indicate iron deficiency. This can usually be corrected by a foliar spray of trace elements containing iron.
Hi Maryev
It's funny you should mention avacados. I just put one in a glass of water and was wondering what to do next. I live in FL but the nights have been getting cold (40s). I wonder if one will survive here. Let me know how yours does. Good Luck.
Gail
I'm in 8b here in Houston. I have an avocado tree that I just topped so that it will bush. If the roots are well established the tree may get touched by the cold - frost, freeze - but it will come back from the roots, I have found. I never expected the tree to bear - just grew it for shade - but now I'm told on DG that it will eventually bear at the age of 9 to 12 yrs. if I remember correctly but that it can be grafted to bear before that. I plant all my avocados and most of them grow. The pits I have - they come from the quantities of avocados we consume - so the loss of a few doesn't bother me. Lots of luck!
Ann
I have one a growing that I started this summer. I just planted it in a pot and it is growing. The plant itself is about a foot tall now. I will have to take a picture and post it for you. It is in the gh. I mean if I can get to it to take a picture.
I've got several started from last year and year before last. They've lived here on the cusp of 9a & 9b outside, unshelted, and very, very neglected (underwatered, underpotted, underfertilized, horribly rootbound...). They do take a long time to produce from seed, if they ever do. And then you may not get a "good" avocado like the fruit your started it from. If you graft, you have to graft from a tree that is or bearing age or you will still have to wait (which, maked the point of grafting pointless if you don't already know the virtues of the plant you are grafting...).
Most people (like me and you) do if for the novelty of starting the seed. It's just plain fun! Okay, not a "wild & crazy" kind of fun, but a "I'm a plant addict" kind of fun. ;^)
That's me carter, I just did it to see if I could do it.
if I can do it, anyone can. I'm such a plant killer that when I go to a nursery, the plants there just curl up and play dead ahead of time. guess they would prefer a quick and painless death rather than what they get from me which is likely to be tortuous.
Ann
I'm surprised to hear from all the people in zone 8b/9a that have luck with these--I had always heard that even where I am in 9b is very borderline for them. I had one at my old house so it's definitely possible for them to survive, but I had always heard they were borderline hardy in 9b so you were kind of taking your chances and if you had a bad winter you would lose them.
Thank you all for such a great response!!!
I love plant people - we can't resist trying to grow anything, no matter what. For me, if it looks like a seed, I'll try it! Looks like we're all like that.
Mine has about a 6" sprout and a great root system, but no leaves yet. I'll probably put it in a pot next week, when I have the time. And still more time till I pinch it back.
Maybe I'll get a nice tree in time, though it will never go in the ground in Ohio.
The way I feel about free stuff such as the avocado pits is that there are so many of them, why not try to grow them. You're only out a little time if they don't grow and you have a nice tree if they do grow and maybe, just maybe, you'll eventually have fruit.
Ann
I have 1 growing in a pot that is about 4 years old now. It is about 4ft, I clipped it once and it made a Y. It will be in the gh for the winter, then I'll move it to a larger pot next spring when I bring it out. I may clip each side of the Y to see if it will get more branches.
I love starting seeds too, be sure to mark them. I have 2 lovely citrus trees of some sort that I think was red grapefruit (I didn't put a label in the pot, then when they showed up I forgot what I planted). If they survive the winter outside in pots, I'll plant them on the property line. They have long, sharp thorns.
I know what you mean about labeling the seeds or pots. I collect seeds when I travel and usually don't put anything on the bags I collect them in. Right now I have two 4" future trees from seeds that I collected while I was in India last year and I'm not sure I remember where I got these from, either.
Maybe one day I'll be surprised by some flowers.....or maybe I can find a picture from my trip with the seeds....