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A vibrant bowl of freshly made guacamole with chunky avocado and cilantro.

Proven way to grow guacamole in 8 weeks

This guide will show you how to grow your own guacamole, starting from an avocado pit and nurturing it into a plant that can eventually produce fruit, leading to homemade guacamole in about 8 weeks.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Guacamole Ingredients
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 half small onion
  • 1 half lime
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch black pepper
Growing Ingredients
  • 1 avocado pit
  • 3 toothpicks
  • 1 glass of water
  • 1 small pot
  • 1 bag potting soil

Equipment

  • glass
  • toothpicks
  • small pot
  • medium bowl

Method
 

Growing Instructions
  1. Carefully remove the pit from a ripe avocado and wash off any remaining fruit flesh, being careful not to remove the brown seed cover.
  2. Insert three toothpicks symmetrically around the middle of the pit, about halfway up, to create a tripod for suspending it.
  3. Balance the pit over a glass filled with water, ensuring the broader, flat end of the pit is submerged about an inch in the water.
  4. Place the glass in a warm spot out of direct sunlight and change the water every few days to prevent mold and encourage growth.
  5. After 2-6 weeks, a root will emerge from the bottom and a sprout from the top; once the sprout is 6-7 inches tall, cut it back to about 3 inches to promote new growth.
  6. When the stem regrows to 6-7 inches, plant the pit in a pot with rich potting soil, leaving half of the seed exposed above the soil.
  7. Water daily with frequent mists and expose to as much sunlight as possible, planting outdoors only if temperatures are consistently above 50°F (10°C).
Guacamole Preparation
  1. Once your avocado plant produces fruit (which can take several years, not 8 weeks for the fruit itself), you can make guacamole.
  2. Mash the ripe avocado in a medium bowl, leaving it as chunky or smooth as you prefer.
  3. Stir in the finely chopped half onion, juice from half a lime, and fresh cilantro.
  4. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper to taste, then mix well.

Notes

Growing an avocado from a pit is primarily for ornamental purposes, as it can take 5-10 years for a tree to bear fruit, if ever, and the fruit quality may vary. The "8 weeks" refers to the initial sprouting and growth of the plant, not fruit production.