Growing an Avocado from Seed
A Photo Journal and Gallery from All-Creatures.org

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 00a) We have grown avocado plants from different varieties of avocados.  This particular one is a Haas.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 00b) When we want to grow an avocado from the seed of a ripe avocado, it is important to be careful that the seed will not be damaged when cutting the avocado in half.  We begin by using a sharp knife to cut around the outer skin of the avocado to a depth of about 1/4 inch.  Then we use a table knife to gently cut through the rest of the avocado until we feel the inner seed, and then turn the avocado around the knife until we make a complete circle around the inner seed.  Then gently separate the two halves as shown in the photo.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 01) We scoop the seed out of the avocado half and wash it off.  Then we plant it in a flower pot with potting soil with the pointed end of the seed sticking up about 1/3 of the way above the soil, or we plant it in our indoor planter as you see here in this photo.  Keep the soil moist until the seed begins to split and sprout, which takes about two weeks.  Then keep the soil moist as you do to keep any plant healthy.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 01a) This is a closer look at the top of the avocado seed sticking out of the soil with the stem (or trunk) of the tree growing up from it.  The leaves are the ivy that is also growing in the planter.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 02) As the avocado grows, it will began to develop leaves.  The avocado plant in this photo is about 3 feet tall.  Growing an avocado like this with your young children is a good way to help them appreciate the whole of God's creation.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 03) This avocado tree, which is about 8 feet tall is growing under our skylight, and this year it began to develop flower buds and bloom, which is something we rarely see.  Usually they just provide nice greenery.  Avocado trees are also easy to trim and shape as desired.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 03a) This is a close up of one of the five flower cluster stalks that grew on the top of a branch of the avocado tree in late winter, when the new leaves began to sprout.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 04) This is a closer look at another one of the budding flower cluster branches.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 05) This is a closer look at the uppermost budding flower cluster on the avocado branch.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 06) This is another view of a cluster of buds on our potted avocado tree.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 07) This is the top of a blooming branch on our potted avocado tree.

 (Growing an Avocado from Seed - 07a) This is a closer look at one of the flowering branches of the avocado tree.  Two of the flowers are in bloom and a few others are ready to open.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 07b) If every bud and flower on this flowering branch would mature into fruit, it would produce about 20 avocados.  Note at the bottom of the photo that there is another cluster of buds beginning to grow from the tree branch.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 08) This is a look at another one of the potted avocado tree's branches that is producing more bud clusters.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 08a) This is a closer look at the newly developing bud cluster, and the newly sprouting leaves.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 09) These are more of the avocado tree's bud clusters.  If all of the buds on this 8 foot tall potted avocado tree would develop into fruit, there would be over 400 avocados.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 10) This is another look at some of the buds on the avocado tree.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 11) This is another view of a branch of our potted avocado tree.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 12) In this photo, we can see a fully opened avocado flower.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 13) This is another bud cluster that was growing on our potted avocado tree.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 14) In this photo, we can see that avocado flowers have 3 sepals, 3 petals, 6 stamens, and a pistil.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 15) This is another view of the avocado flower.

 (Growing an Avocado from Seed - 16) This is another look at the avocado flower.

 (Growing an Avocado from Seed - 17) This is another look at one of the avocado's flowering racemes.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 17a) This is a very clear view of the tiny 1 cm. flower of the avocado.  Of specific interest to us was the flared or petal-like stigma of the pistil.  We are always fascinated by the amount of detail that God puts into His tiny creations.

(Growing an Avocado from Seed - 18) This is another look at the flower of our potted avocado.