Avocado

Florida-type avocado fruit, raw. Scientific identity: Persea americana Mill.; the USDA example is a Florida market class rather than a named variety. Edible part: Raw fruit pulp; skin, seed/pit, leaves, bark, and other plant parts are excluded. Exact source form: Avocados, raw, Florida, corresponding to USDA FoodData Central FDC 171707.

A rich, creamy fruit whose ripeness transforms it from firm and grassy to buttery and spreadable.

Common name

Avocado

Scientific name

Persea americana

Family

Lauraceae

Edition

Core Edibles

Flavor

Mild · nutty · buttery

Texture

Creamy · dense

Season

Varies by region

Best storage

Ripen out · chill ripe

Great for

Mash · slice · blend

Know this

Skin, pit, leaves, and bark are not included as food

The pit will grow a tree, but it will not copy the parent fruit and may never fruit indoors. A seedling can become very large and may need another flowering avocado nearby.

START WITH

A clean avocado pit from a ripe fruit

CLIMATE

Frost-free subtropical conditions; cultivar-dependent, roughly zones 9–11

LIGHT

6–8+ hours of direct sun

SOIL

Very fast-draining soil; avocado roots fail in standing water

1. 1

   Start it

   Wash the pit and plant it broad end down with the top half above soil in a deep pot. Keep at 70–85°F and evenly moist; sprouting often takes 2–8 weeks.

2. 2

   Give it room

   Transplant only after gradual outdoor acclimation. In ground, allow roughly 20–30 feet from structures and trees.

3. 3

   Water correctly

   Water deeply, then wait until the upper soil begins to dry. Never leave the pot in a saucer of water.

4. 4

   Care for it

   Protect from frost, wind, and trunk sunburn. Mulch widely but keep mulch away from the trunk; prune lightly for structure.

5. 5

   Harvest

   Fruit does not soften on the tree. Pick mature full-sized fruit and test-ripen indoors; if it shrivels or stays rubbery, wait longer before picking more.

Seedlings may take 7–15 years to fruit, with no guarantee of fruit quality.

Fruit does not soften on the tree. Pick mature full-sized fruit and test-ripen indoors; if it shrivels or stays rubbery, wait longer before picking more.