How to grow an avocado from the stone

Delicious and packed with nutrients, avocados are a real superfood. Did you know you can actually grow your own avocado tree from the stone? Find out how here.

In the last few years, avocados have exploded onto the scene in our part of the world. The green fruit is now common in every supermarket and found on an ever-growing number of restaurant menus. There is a huge variety of ways to enjoy avocados, from creams and dips to salads and avocado burgers. What many people do not know, however, is that you can easily use the stone of the fruit to grow your own avocado tree. Growing an avocado from the stone is actually pretty easy if you follow our tips below!

Planting avocados: from seed to plant

Growing an avocado is not rocket science. Just follow these simple steps:

The first thing you need is an avocado. Once you have enjoyed the tasty fruit, instead of putting the avocado stone into your compost bin, wash it off thoroughly so that there is no fruit residue left on it. Then leave the stone to dry and insert four toothpicks into its sides with an equal amount of space between them. Since not every avocado pit will develop roots, repeat this step with two or three avocado stones to increase your chances.

Next, take a glass of water and place the avocado stone on top, using the toothpicks to balance it on the rim. The toothpicks will help the lower part of the core to stay submerged in the water. The pointier side of the avocado core should point upwards. The toothpick tips should point slightly upwards, so that the stone is covered with enough water. Use a clear glass and change the water at least every two days. After a few weeks, the tip of the stone will begin to break open and over time, a stem, small leaves, and roots will slowly emerge from the stone. Be patient and keep changing the water regularly.

After about three months you will have a small avocado plant that is about 15 to 20cm tall. When leaves have formed, plant the stone in a pot, but do not cover the upper part of the stone with soil. Place the plant in a sunny location and water regularly. In the tropical regions of the world, an avocado tree takes about four years to bear its first fruits. In temperate and colder climates this can take a lot longer, even under optimal conditions. Often, however, the light is too weak, so the tree cannot bear any fruit. Nevertheless, you will soon have a beautiful avocado tree – and the best part is that you grew it yourself.

Tip: Read “Regrow Your Veggies” by Plantura co-founders Melissa Raupach and Felix Lill to find out how to regrow more than 20 delicious types of fruit and veg. The book is full of lovingly designed illustrations as well as helpful care tips for your little plants.

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A brief history of the avocado

The avocado (Persea americana or Persea gratissima), which is part of the laurel family (Lauraceae), originally comes from southern Mexico. Over time, it spread throughout Central America and has probably been used by the indigenous peoples there for 10,000 years. During the colonisation of the American continent, Spanish invaders spread the avocado to other South American countries such as Chile. Later, the green fruit, which botanically is in fact a berry, was also brought to other tropical and subtropical regions of the world, where it still grows today.

Avocados are still to this day cultivated in southern Spain, especially in the Malaga region, but the biggest producers of avocado are Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Colombia, and Indonesia. So you see, the avocado plant needs a humid and warm climate to produce its delicious fruit. But do not let this put you off! It is still possible to successfully grow the plant here in our climate, as we have shown above.

The many uses of avocado

Avocados are pretty versatile. Their rich, mild, almost buttery-smooth taste can be added to lots of different recipes. A true classic avocado recipe is guacamole. To make guacamole simply mix together avocado, tomatoes, onions, and coriander with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Those who like a bit of spice can add a little chilli. Guacamole can be enjoyed with nachos, which is a popular dish in Latin America. Alternatively, you can simply eat the avocado mashed on bread or toast. To make it fancy, cut the avocado into artfully long slices and drape it on the bread like a fan. The green fruit can also be enjoyed warm, for example on burgers or lightly fried in a pan. The avocado can be cut into simple green salads or made into a dressing. This adds a creamy contrast to the crunchy salad greens.

People often wonder about the nutritional and caloric value of avocados. Are avocados healthy and how many should you eat a day? Well first things first, yes, the avocado is extremely healthy. It contains many of the essential vegetable fats for body health. Even though many have negative associations with the word fat, you don’t have to worry about the unsaturated fatty acids of avocados. However, we do not recommend eating five avocados a day; a variety of fruit and vegetables is important for a healthy and balanced diet. With 160 calories (kcal) per 100 grams, avocados are one of the highest energy fruits. But even this is nothing to fear, as it is far healthier to eat 160 calories of fruit and vegetables than the same amount of fast food. This superfood is also packed with potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A and C.

The avocado’s unsaturated fatty acids are also beneficial for the skin. As a result, avocado oil is being increasingly used in the beauty and cosmetics industry.

You can also grow new plants from other kinds of fruit and veg. Read all about it in our articles on how to regrow leftover veg and the easy way to propagate herbs from cuttings.