Next time you eat an avocado , save the pit. You can actually plant this pit (seed) and grow an avocado tree! Here are the steps to grow your own avocado tree from an avocado pit.
Step 1 – Cut the avocado in half. Carefully working the knife around the pit.
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Step 2 – Twist the two halves of the avocado. The two halves should easily come apart.
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Step 3 – Remove the pit. You can dig the pit out with a spoon or you can carefully stick the blade of the knife into the pit and twist (it will pop right out).
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Step 4 – Carefully wash the pit with some warm water (no soap). You can use a soft bristle brush but be sure not to damage the brown, outer skin.
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Step 5 – Stick three tooth picks into the side of the pit. Point them slightly upwards (the smaller end of the avocado is the top and the larger end is the bottom).
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Step 6 – Place the avocado pit in the mouth of a cup or jar.
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Step 7 – Fill the cup with luke warm tap water so that the water covers the bottom half of the avocado pit.
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Step 8 – Set the cup in a warm location. A window sill works well. You should keep the pit above 23 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Step 9 – Wait. In about 1 – 3 months the avocado will split and a root will begin growing downwards. Be sure to keep adding water so that the bottom of the avocado pit is submerged.
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Step 10 – Wait. About 3 – 6 weeks after the root emerges, a green shoot will begin growing from the top of the avocado pit.
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Step 11 – Plant your avocado pit once your avocado has leaves. Use a good draining potting mix. Water about once a week. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
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Now you can enjoy your avocado plant. Mine is about 3 years old. It went through a rough time and lost most of its leaves. I began fertilizing every couple of months and letting the soil dry out between waterings. Now it looks strong and healthy.
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