AVOCADO TREES

On December 2, 2016 a friend gave me an avocado that he brought back from his cousin's tree in Puerto Rico. On December 8, 2018 I cut the avocado open to eat it and the pit inside had already sprouted. I was excited to grow an avocado tree, I named him Luis and documented his growth in photos below.

Since then I've grown many avocado plants and given some away as gifts. How I start my avocado babies is:

Gently removed the pit from the fruit. Wash it and peel the darker outer skin off the pit. Poke 3 or 4 toothpicks in the pit and settle the bottom (wider flatter end) in water. Once roots, a stem and about 3 good size leaves appear I plant the pit in soil and water once a week. Although most websites say avocado plants prefer direct sunlight, I noticed that when I place them in the sun, their leaves burn. I like to keep mine in the shade but outside or in a window.

Although Luis is from Puerto Rico I am unsure of what type of avocado he is. I tend to have better luck growing the Florida avocados from the grocery store. They are larger, greener and smooth with a very large pit.