Questioning the Myth about Growing an Avocado Tree from the Pit
Avocado pits have become a popular take-home souvenir from the kitchen these days. We have all seen the Pinterest posts of an avocado pit planted in a repurposed jar with a handful of toothpicks. Maybe, we’ve even posted it. Growing an avocado tree from an avocado pit has become an intriguing idea that is gaining steam. We might have all heard about this process as teenagers, but can it really produce a tree? The question lingers: Can an avocado pit grow an avocado tree?
The Urban Farmer, a website that provides advice to gardeners new and experienced alike, asserts that while it’s possible to grow an avocado tree from the pit, the tree won’t necessarily produce avocados. The tree itself may live, but will not bear fruit unless it is cared for and grown in a specific way that takes a considerable amount of work.
In general, the steps to growing an avocado tree from the pit involve extracting the pit, washing and drying it and suspending it over a jar of water by toothpicks until it develops a root and begins to sprout a stem. Once the pit is rooted, the Urban Farmer suggests a potting soil that is composed of one-part peat moss, one-part perlite and one-part organic material, such as burnt fertilizer or kelp meal, for optimal soil drainage. The pit should also be placed in bright, indirect sunlight and only receive water every five to seven days until the plant develops into a sapling.
New York Times shares advice from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo horticulturist, Charles M. Balch, who explains that a Mexican variety of avocado is the best kind to attempt to grow from a pit. In order to the germinate and sustain a full-grown tree, he explains the tree must be pollinated, noting that because his own tree is in his backyard and pollinated by other avocado trees, an individual tree grown inside the home would not bear any kind of fruit. The pollination aspect adds a crucial complexity to growing an avocado tree from the pit.
To further understand the task of growing an avocado tree in the home, advice from the Washington Post provides a list of necessary tools and suggests patience as a key device in growing a viable tree from the pit. To be successful, they report it is necessary to maintain constant watering, just enough to keep the soil moist and free of excess, maintain air humidity with an atomizer and a self-made greenhouse, and provide 12 hours of light each day with artificial light if need be.
Considering the Cost
It is important to consider the cost, both monetary and timewise, involved with growing an avocado tree from the pit. The process requires more effort and resources than just placing the pit in a jar of water. Tools such as an atomizer and an artificial light to mimic the light of the sun, if in fact the home doesn’t have access to expected natural light, will cost monthly energy bills as well as the cost of initial investment.
In addition, the process can take years to reach full maturity, been seen in many cases to take a minimum of seven years for the tree to produce avocados. While it can take as long as fifteen years for the tree to produce fruit, a person can spend one full year just to get the saplings to germinate.
What about a Seedless Avocado?
With these facts in mind, the cost measures up to a tedious process that might not produce a fruit-bearing tree. Many ask if it is possible to buy avocado plants already germinated, but they’re challenged with a disappointment. The Seedless Avocado Company that offers plants on their site changes the question of growing an avocado tree from pit to growing an avocado tree from a seedling, bypassing the need to wait for the pit to form a roots and a stem.
It is important to keep in mind that a seedless avocado tree is not the same species as a regular avocado tree, the basis of this being the lack of a pit. The Seedless Avocado Company makes it very clear that the plant will not produce an avocado with a pit and is for the purpose of providing a higher yield of seedless fruit. The Seedless Avocado tree avoids the risk of growing a tree from a pit that may not produce fruit, but also comes at the cost of the lack of cross-pollination that could occur with the other type of avocado tree.
Moreover, when purchasing the seedlings from a nursery, one must remember that the avocado tree is a tree of subtropical climates and won’t successfully grow in cooler and wetter climates. The Seedless Avocado Company reports that a fast-draining soil, such as a cactus soil mix, is key for success in areas such as along the East Coast and Midwest.
The Importance of Patience
Any growth process, especially a slow-growing tree that may take up to fifteen years, requires patience and attention span from the planter in order to achieve an avocado tree, either from the pit or from a seed. While the process may seem simple in the beginning, it actually requires skill, precision, and resources all of which might soon add up to a price tag.
Though the investment may cost in more than just money, if one is motivated to attempt to grow an avocado tree, the journey is a rewarding one, no matter what form. The results: sitting in the peaceful, serene atmosphere of the backyard, enjoying the sight of a mature, fruit-bearing tree – or at least, dreaming of it.
Maintaining Regularity and Consistency
In any gardening endeavor, there are a few aspects that must be kept in mind when committing to a gardening project like growing an avocado tree from the pit. Allotting time specifically for the care of the tree, from planting and germinating to pruning and cropping, is key. One must be sure to water it when necessary without excess so as to not drown the roots and also provide enough sunlight as to not stunt the growth of the tree.
Scheduling for regular garden inspections is also helpful for a tree grown from the pit. Noting any yellow or dead leaves, or any discoloration in the stem or trunk of the tree and attending to them as soon as possible is essential for the health of the tree. For the pit-germinated tree, attention to thinning is also important, as some cultivators may be inclined to prune the tree to look like a miniature version of an adult tree, ultimately leading to its death.
Paying Attention to the Soil
For an avocado tree, started from an avocado pit, it is essential to pay attention to the soil. When the pit is placed in the soil, make sure that it is several inches under the surface, not just sitting on top. The soil should also be made of a blend to ensure a smooth, even water drainage and minimal risk of rotting.
When the soil has been prepared and watered well before hand, it should be just moist enough so as not to drown the roots, but to still provide moisture. A soil tester is a popular tool to help gauge the correct level of water the soil in the pot needs.
Harvesting at the Right Time
When the tree matures to the right age and begins to produce avocado fruit, one should make note of the harvest season of the pit-grown tree and ensure that they pick in a timely fashion. A tree that is doing damage to its own fruit is an indication that the harvesting time is near, and should not be left unattended.
An avocado tree grown from a pit can produce fruit, but most require pollination to bear a successful crop – making the task of planting and growing an avocado tree from a pit a much more complex and potentially fruitless endeavor, with seven years as a minimum amount of time investment. When, and if, the tree is successfully grown to full maturity however, one can be sure of reaping the rewards that come to those with a green thumb.
