Guide to Planting an Avocado Nut

Avocados are considered a healthy source of omega fatty acids. The seed, while inedible, can be used to grow an avocado plant for the home. Avocado plants take about 10 years to bear fruit in optimal environments outdoors, so indoor plants have very little chance of supplying you with avocados for free.

Step 1 - Start the root system. The avocado seed needs to be planted or rooted as soon as it is removed from the inside of the avocado. There are two methods of seeding the avocado nut. The first involves planting the seed directly into the soil. Some people cut off a sliver of the nut on the fattest end and sit the nut into the soil to root.

Step 2 - Watch it root. A second option for rooting the avocado seed is to place the nut in water. Several toothpicks can be pushed into the nut to create a support system to hold the nut half submersed in a glass of water. With half the seed in water, the root system will start on its own. While this process is not optimal for the seed, it can be fun to watch the roots sprout from the bottom

Step 3 - If the root system is started in water, once roots have sprouted the nut can be moved to a soil filled container. Place roots down into the soil and cover with about ½ inch of dirt. Water and wait for the plant to grow.

Step 4 - Treat the household plant right. Avocados grow indoors or outdoors from home will not produce fruit for at least 10 years. In most cases, the plant is better viewed as a houseplant rather than a fruit tree. Treating the avocado like a houseplant includes pruning old leaves, selectively removing buds and shoots and trimming the tree from time to time.

Step 5 - Getting the most from your avocado nut. The avocado plant can be a hearty plant when given enough sunlight and cool conditions. Warmth increases the plants desire to stretch toward the sun so lengthy, thin stalks can result. To combat think stalks, place the plant in a window full of direct sunlight and keep the plant cool.

Tips

• Avocado plants take a decade to produce fruit.
• Commercial avocados tend to taste better than home grown varieties.