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Growing Avocados From Seed

© Connie Krochmal

Winter can be a gloomy time for fruit gardeners. For that reason, I plan to feature some articles on indoor gardening for the winter season.

It is a lot of fun to present someone with a gift that you have created. That is possible with mini avocado trees. I propagate these in a corner of the house without any hard work or sophisticated equipment. The folks that receive these gift plants are tickled. The seedlings are even suitable for youngsters as a means of introducing them to indoor gardening and to help them develop a sense of responsibility in terms of watering.

I begin by saving the seeds of the avocados left over from salads. I clean them, and set them in a corner of the kitchen counter on a small piece of paper towel. Over a period of two to three weeks, the paper-like covering over the seeds will begin to dry. At that point, this can be gently rubbed off, a step that will help minimize the possibility of mold and mildew.

When the seeds are cleaned, I carefully poke three toothpicks about halfway up the sides. The toothpicks may break, but be patient and keep trying. I have found the rounded toothpicks work a little better for this. Next, I place the seed with the rounded end down and the pointed end upwards into a small jar filled with water. The lower half of the seed should be immersed in the water with the toothpicks resting on the rims of the jar. At this stage, the jar can go almost anywhere indoors. Usually, I pick a spot out of direct sun.

I keep a watch on the jar and change the water as it becomes the least bit dirty or cloudy. At the same time that I am doing that, I give the jar a good washing as well. In between times, I add a little additional water as some evaporates below the halfway point.

It will take several weeks, sometimes three or four or even more, for the seed to show any signs of growth. The first clue will be when several long white roots begin appearing at the bottom of the seed and growing into the water. Following that, single or multiple stems will begin to appear at the top within about another month. Normally, these will cause the seed to start splitting. Over a period of time, these stems will begin to produce small, shiny leaves.

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