An experienced academic chemist, Dallas Rabenstein served as executive vice chancellor and provost of the University of California, Riverside from 2009 to 2014. Since retiring from this position, he has devoted a great deal of time to gardening. Dallas Rabenstein counts three avocado trees among his small grove of fruit-producing trees.
While many an elementary student has caused an avocado pit to sprout, growing that sprout into a full-grown, fruit-bearing tree can be a bit trickier. The process begins by suspending the pit over a glass of water with the pointed end facing upward. The most effective way of doing this is by pushing three or four toothpicks into the pit to create a small support scaffold. After about two to three weeks of constant exposure to sun and water, roots and a leafy stem will sprout from the pit. When this stem grows to about 6 inches in length, it must be trimmed in half.
After letting the stem sprout new leaves, the gardener should transfer the plant to a pot, covering its roots with loose, sandy soil. The plant needs plenty of sunlight and water to grow; however, if its leaves begin turning yellow, it may be overwatered. When the stem reaches 12 inches in length, it must be trimmed in half once again to encourage the growth of new shoots.
At this point, the young avocado tree is ready to leave the pot for its permanent spot in the ground. This spot should be protected from wind but receive a great deal of sunlight. Since the avocado tree is quite shallow rooted, the gardener only needs to dig a small hole to accommodate its relatively compact ball of roots.
