February 10, 2026, 1:09 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Botanically speaking, avocados are classified as berries. Their creamy flesh is appealing with a nutty flavor and versatile uses in the kitchen. The pit, however, usually ends up in the trash. Yet, with a bit of patience, you can grow a new avocado plant from it. myHOMEBOOK presents suitable methods for this.
Overview
Proper Preparation
No matter which growing method you choose, the preparation is the same. To ensure success, select a ripe avocado. This is easy to check. If the skin yields slightly to pressure, the avocado is ripe. To access the pit, the flesh must be completely removed. Then, use a knife to peel off the brown skin from the pit. Now, simply wash the sensitive seed once more and dry it thoroughly.
Growing Avocado – Two Methods
1. Sprouting the Avocado Pit in a Glass of Water
For this method, insert four toothpicks into the side of the avocado pit. Be careful not to pierce too deeply, as this could unnecessarily damage the pit and impair its ability to sprout. Then, using the toothpick construction, suspend the pit with the pointed end up in a glass filled with water. It should be half-submerged in water.
The ideal location is warm, bright, and protected from drafts. Regularly changing the water is essential. Now, it’s time to wait. With a bit of luck, roots and shoots will appear after about three to ten weeks. Once the avocado plant has developed its first leaves, it’s advisable to plant it in a pot about 20 to 30 centimeters wide. The pit should be no more than halfway buried in the soil. Remove the toothpicks beforehand.
2. Growing Avocado Directly in Soil
For a more purist approach, you can also plant the washed avocado pit directly in a flower pot filled with soil. Again, the pit should be no more than halfway covered with soil. With this method, it’s crucial to maintain constant moisture. The location requirements are similar to the water glass method—a bright and warm spot without direct sunlight is ideal.
What Care Does an Avocado Plant Need?
The further growth of the small avocado plant ultimately depends on proper care. However, this is not a difficult task. Especially in the early stages, the avocado is somewhat sensitive. Gradually acclimate it to sunlight until it can tolerate a full-sun location. In summer, it also enjoys a spot outdoors. By fall, however, it should be brought back indoors. The plant cannot tolerate temperatures below five degrees Celsius.
Tip: Avocado plants tend to develop only one shoot. You can counteract this. When the shoot is about 15 cm long, cut it back by half. If growth is good, this can be repeated at about 30 cm. This way, the avocado will grow more broadly, becoming bushy and strong.
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How Big Does an Avocado Tree Get?
It can take several years for the pit to grow into a respectable plant. Mature specimens can reach up to 20 meters and have expansive, broad crowns. Hobby gardeners need not worry: When cultivated as a houseplant, avocado plants only grow to about 1.5 meters tall. The branches also grow sparsely. This is due to their origin. The plants are native to North and South America. The weather conditions there are difficult to replicate in your own home.
How Long Until the Avocado Plant Bears Fruit?
Patience is truly required here: Under ideal conditions, it takes about six to ten years for an avocado plant to bear fruit. In these latitudes, however, it’s a different story. Here, if at all, there are only enough sunny hours in the summer to create adequate conditions.
Another issue is pollination. The avocado is a hermaphroditic plant and has both male and female flowers. However, it cannot self-pollinate. It relies on cross-pollination.
Even if fruiting doesn’t happen: It’s still fun! What could be more rewarding than watching the small shoot, after initial struggles, reach upward day by day? The result is a houseplant that is not only decorative but also something to be truly proud of.