Easy Guacamole Recipe

• 2 ripe avocados
• 1 small onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 small tomato
• 1 1/2 Tbsp lime juice (or juice of 1 fresh lime)
• salt and pepper to taste

This is so much fun.  My kids HATE guacamole, but they love growing the avocados, so they always ask to make it *laugh*.  These plants grow HUGE!!

Push three toothpicks in each avocado about a 1/3 of the way from the bottom (large end of the pit).

Suspend the avocado over a glass (the toothpicks will hold it up).  The pit should be in 1/2 inch or so of water.  Keep the level constant by adding water as needed.  DON'T change the water.

First, small roots appear on the bottom side, then the pit cracks and you can see the developing stem.  There may be more than one stem and these should always be left alone.  When the stem reaches 6 inches, cut it back to 3 inches; this induces a bushy leafy plant. 

Plant them after about 2 1/2 weeks.  Remove or break toothpicks off before planting.  The upper portion of the seed must be exposed to allow new stems to grow so don't bury it all the way under the ground.  The avocado should be potted in a large clay pot in a light sandy soil mixture.

Avocado plants need good light, but not too much direct sunlight.  Let the plants dry out between waterings.  Over watered plants will begin to wilt and shed dried leaves (which leads a lot of people to think they need MORE water which kills them even faster).

Keep them out of drafts.  Ours always die eventually because we live in a very dry climate.  But they're loads of fun while they last!