10 Plants You Can Grow from Grocery Store Produce: Avocado, Pineapple, Citrus & More

Growing Food from Store-Bought Seeds

A fun, educational project for all ages. Success depends on produce freshness, variety, and your climate. Cold climates need indoor growing with supplemental lights.

Step-by-Step for 10 Popular Plants

Avocado

Clean pit, suspend with toothpicks over water (broad end down). Roots/sprout in weeks. Plant in soil; pinch top at 6" for bushiness.

Pineapple

Twist off leaf crown, remove bottom leaves, root in water (change regularly). Plant in well-draining soil; keep moist. Patience—months to establish.

Apples

Dry seeds, stratify in moist cloth in fridge 3 weeks. Plant sprouted seeds; transplant later. Fruit may not match parent due to grafting.

Oranges

Clean seeds, soak 12–24 hrs in warm water, wrap moist in zip-bag at room temp. Germinate in 2–3 weeks. Transplant at 2–3 leaf sets. Love sun.

Ginger

Select pieces with "eyes" (bumps). Cut 1" pieces with ≥1 eye. Plant in moist soil; wait 1+ month. Then grows vigorously.

Mango

Remove pit, carefully crack open to extract seed. Germinate in water or damp cloth. Plant; grows fast once started.

Limes

Similar to oranges but seeds smaller. Viable seeds sink in water. Stratify on top of fridge for steady warmth. Sprout faster than oranges.

Pomegranate

Remove red flesh from seeds (messy!). Dry 2 days, germinate in moist cloth. Start 6+ seeds—hit or miss. Love sun.

Papaya

Dry seeds 12–24 hrs, remove outer coating. Plant in moist soil; don’t transplant. Need male & female—plant 6 in medium pot.

Lemons

Viable seeds sink in water. Stratify on top of fridge. Transplant sprouted seedlings; feed regularly, full sun.