I recently read that avocados can be grown from seed, and the method recommended was cutting a piece of the seed off and then planting the seed. Is the seed planted with the cut end up or down and then what do you do? Is it necessary to have two avocado trees in order for the tree to bear fruit. I appreciate any info you an provide. I can't find the article to save my life. UGH!

Don't cut the seed! You need the whole thing. Plant it whole with the flatish end down. When I start the Hass avocado from seed I get my best results by burying the seed in soil leaving about a quarter of the 'pointy' end exposed. Keep soil moist but not wet. Likes full sun.

I agree with Anne, don't cut the seed. You can also start it in water by suspending the seed over a jar with toothpicks. Or my mom let me use a tapered wine glass, but you must keep the bottom of the seed touching the water. Once it starts growing roots and making a shoot out the top (pointy end of the seed) you can then plant it.

Not to discourage you, it's a fun project to grow them from seed. But it will take you probably 8 years to grow a tree big enough to bear fruit from a seed. Then what you get will not necessarily be the variety that the seed came from because they are wind-pollinated, so a different tree in your neighbor's yard could have pollinated it, making it a cross.

If you really want to grow your own avocado tree for the fruit, go to a good nursery (not Home Depot or Lowe's or Wal-Mart!) and buy a little grafted tree of a good variety. You will then get the fruit you want in maybe 3 years.

Mango can be started from seed the same way, or set the seed on its edge in some potting soil. Same cautions apply, though. Takes years to grow a tree big enough to get fruit.

Thank you all for the responses. I didn't realize it would take such a long time before the tree produced. Think I will try and find one at a nursery. Thanks again!

You should still plant the seed though, if you have the space it can't hurt!

This may not be the correct place for it, but what the heck.
I love chocolate pudding. Period.
When my daughter placed a dish of pudding in front of me I lapped it up.
She then told me it was made from avocado.

There are several recipes on the internet.
I recommend avocado chocolate pudding.

Growing an avocado from seed is good fun. If your goal is to harvest avocado fruit and you live in a suitable climate, yes, the grafted tree is the way to go.

Avocado chocolate pudding .. I will definitely be looking into that!

I love the little icons at the bottom of the page, what fun! I love avocados just about anyway you fix them...so the pudding sounds interesting. Thanks for the post!

Thank you, SongofJoy for the Thumbs Up!

You're welcome.

Adding a photo of my last avocado from a pit.