Sprouting an Avocado Seed

Chapters
Summary
What you need
Steps
What to Expect
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A Fun Science Experiment For Children: Sprouting an Avocado Seed

Summary

A while ago while I was making avocado salad for dinner my six year old asked if we can make a tree out of the avocado seed. Since then the ever sprouting seed has become a constant source of fun in our household. We have found out that it is indeed possible to grow the seed into a plant in a rather fun-to-observe fashion.
All you need to start your adventure is the seed from a ripened avocado, a little glass or bowl, some water and three toothpicks.

What you need:

An avocado
Small cup or bowl taller and just a bit wider than the seed itself (best if it is clear so you can watch the progress of the seed)
3 tooth picks to keep the seed raised above the bottom of the cup
Patience (it does take some time to see results)

What is needed for the experiment

Steps

1) Clean the seed:

First remove the avocado’s seed and clean it off. All you want to do here is gently clean the avocado from the seed itself. Don’t scrub the seed with an abrasive brush or sponge, just gently wash it.


Freshly removed avocado seed	The Cleaned Avocado Seed

2) Insert the toothpicks:

Insert 3 toothpicks

You want to keep the seed both raised above the bottom of the cup, but more importantly you want to keep the orientation of the seed such that only one side is always facing up and one side is always facing down. This way the seed will know which direction to grow the roots and stem.
To do this insert the toothpicks into the seed (just a little -- approx 1/2 inch). Make sure you hold the toothpick very firmly while inserting it in since the seed is hard and you can easily break the toothpick.
When you insert the toothpicks make sure that they are placed at an approximate 45° from the horizon.

3) Put seed in the glass:

Place the toothpick impaled seed into the glass. Since the toothpicks are inserted at an angle the seed will hang a bit lower than the edge of the glass.

4) Fill with water:

Now simply fill the glass with enough water so that half of the seed is in the water. It is best if the glass is placed near a window where it can receive sunlight; eventually the stem will appear and it wants light.

Avocado seed in the glass

5) Remain patient:

Now just watch and wait. It will take a couple of weeks but persistence and patience will pay off.

What to Expect

The seed will grow a web of roots

The stem will grow tall and thin

After a few weeks, you will see the seed crack open and sprout a stem upwards while growing a light colored root in the water. Let it stay there for a while, changing the water every two weeks. Slowly over the period of several weeks very thin white root will begin to poke out of the bottom of the seed. This root will grow thicker and longer until it begins to sprout smaller finger-like root threads which will grow into a vast web of roots.

After roots have formed a small stem will sprout out of the top of the seed. It will grow tall and thin and eventually unfold small leaves. When the roots and leaves are well formed, it is time to set the plant in soil. Get a small pot, and plant it with lots of soil. Keep the soil moist and in room temperature and soon you’ll see a leafy plant develop!

When it reaches about a foot, pinch it back to half its size so you help it become rounder and fuller. Keep it in full sun or in a fairly light soil. When it fills its pot repot it in a bigger pot, preferably in the spring. When it is time to plant it outside, do this over a period of time, moving it slowly into cooler and cooler spots. First put it outside in the pot, after a while plant it in soil.

Congratulations, you now have an avocado plant!