Growing Avocado Science Activity

We have started to grow an avocado from the stone and without soil! An avocado seed has every nutrient the plant needs, just like a neatly packed lunch box. This science activity came from a lovely book we have been given years ago: Science Maker Book which includes over 40 interesting experiments to make and do with kids.  

And growing plants from stones is quite a fun home education activity that gives children plenty of opportunity for first-hand observation and experience of the natural cycle. You can ask your kids to make a chart to document the growth.

That will be a long process… but I would like to document the progress here.

What do you need for this science activity

Avocado – of course

Glass container with water

3 toothpicks

Patience….

First – we prepared the stone by removing it from the avocado and washing it from any fruit remains. Just remember not to damage the brown layer! The next step was to push 3 toothpicks into the top of the stone (the top is the more pointy part). This will help to balance the stone over the glass container (a jar for us), so only the bottom part is under the water.

The book asked to put the stone on a sunny windowsill – ours was placed on the north-facing window and it still worked.

We changed the water every 5 days or so and after about 2 months… the stone broke and a tiny new plant appeared.  

Roots continued to emerge and a single stalk started growing. In our case the second stalk appeared!

When the stalk is about 15 cm cut it back halfway – this should encourage the plant to grow.

After it has re-grown to about 15 cm tall it is time to put it in a pot with some soil.

It didn’t take long for the plant to grow back. Below picture is taken at the end of June.

I wonder if we ever be able to see the fruits… watch this space!