How to Make Avocado Seed Powder (for the garden!)
Learn how to make avocado seed powder using leftover avocado pits for an easy, low-waste gardening fertilizer. This homemade powder can be added to compost, mixed into soil, or turned into a liquid fertilizer for a low-waste approach to gardening.
Recommended use is for garden fertilizer and not human consumption.
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Jump to:
- 🥑 what is avocado seed powder?
- 📝 quick overview
- 💚 why it's worth making avocado seed powder at home
- 🌱 how to use avocado seed powder in the garden
- 🥣 ingredient notes
- 🔪 tools for this DIY version
- 🧑🏽🍳 instruction notes
- Recipe
- 🧊 storage
- ♻️ sustainability profile
- ⚠️ a note about human consumption
- ❓ frequently asked questions
- 🥑 more avocado recipes
- 🥣 more food scrap recipes
- 🕰️ the latest...
Avocado seed powder is simple to make in your low-waste kitchen, and a great way to use food scraps! Turn the seed into a natural fertilizer for your indoor or outdoor plants by drying and grinding the seed into a powder that can be worked into the soil and give your garden a nutrient boost.
To learn more about low-waste kitchens and spark ideas, check out our low-waste cooking guide!
🥑 what is avocado seed powder?
Avocado seed powder is a finely-ground powder created from the dried seeds of avocados. The powder is packed with nutrients and antioxidants; though, studies are still limited about safety for human consumption. The nutrients can be beneficial for plants, which is why you should consider using it as a low-waste DIY garden fertilizer! Please note that avocado seed powder differs from avocado pulp powder which is made from freeze drying and grinding the flesh of an avocado.
📝 quick overview
- Skill level: Beginner
- Waste: No waste
- Nutrients: Phosphorus, calcium, potassium, iron, sodium, zinc, among others (full details available with this NIH article)
- Sustainability: Excellent
- Cleanup: Easy
- Ingredients: Common, easy to source
- Equipment: Simple
- Time: 2-3 hours
💚 why it's worth making avocado seed powder at home
No waste. Avocados are delicious produce, but require a lot of resources to grow and transport. That's one of the reasons why it's so important to get the most you can from each avocado you use. Using the seed supports a no or low-waste kitchen and puts its nutrients back to work, which also helps you get the most for your money.
Easy to make. This process can only has a few steps and is ready in 2-3 hours. No special equipment is required, since you can dry these in your oven and blend them in a spice or coffee grinder.
🌱 how to use avocado seed powder in the garden
- Mixed into the dirt and mulch. Gently incorporate into the soil or mulch surrounding plants. I usually add about a tablespoon per plant.
- Combine with water for a liquid fertilizer. I haven't tested this method personally, but you can combine the powder with water for a liquid fertilizer version.
- Add to compost over time.The compost will eventually be used for soil in the garden.
- Some have had success using avocado seed powder for indoor plants as well.
🥣 ingredient notes
Avocado pits. Any remaining flesh from the avocado needs to be washed off the pit before using. If you aren't ready to make the powder immediately, you can store them in the freezer until ready to use.
🔪 tools for this DIY version
- Baking sheet. No need for parchment paper.
- Oven. While a dehydrator uses less energy, an oven will work.
- Spice or coffee grinder. This helps get a more even blend. A high speed blender will also work.
- Knife. A large knife, like a chef's knife will be best to carefully slice the seed.
- Cutting board.
- Air tight storage container. I use a mason jar for storage.
🧑🏽🍳 instruction notes
Place cleaned avocado seeds on baking sheet and bake in oven on the lowest setting. I bake at about 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove from oven. After the skins look paper-y and start pulling away from the seed, remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes so you can safely handle the seeds. Then, remove the skin (you can toss in the compost).
Slice the seeds into smaller pieces. I use a large knife to carefully cut the seeds into smaller pieces. It helps the grinder and helps me fit more in the grinder each time.
Pulse into a powder. Grind into a powder, which should take less than 15 seconds. Stubborn hard bits can be ignored (since you're just using this in the garden) or tossed in the compost.
Recipe
Avocado Seed Powder
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add your clean and dry avocado seeds to a baking sheet and place on the center rack of your oven for 2 hours, or until the outer skin starts to blister away from the pit.4 avocado seeds
- Remove and allow to cool so you can safely handle the seeds.
- Using a large knife, carefully slice the avocado seed into smaller pieces.
- Grind the pieces in a blender or spice grinder until a powder forms. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!🧊 storage
The powder should be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Note: Commercially-prepared avocado seed powder may last up to a year when properly stored.
♻️ sustainability profile
sourcing
Seasonality. Given how resource-intensive and sensitive avocados are, it's best to buy them sparingly and when they're at peak freshness.
- U.S. avocados are in season February to September.
- Mexican avocados are in season from January to March.
Organic vs. conventional. Avocados consistently rank on the "Clean 15" list for pesticide residue. While supporting organic growers is always preferred, you may feel comfortable buying conventional avocados given their testing.
no waste
I recommend using the seeds for a garden fertilizer. Regardless, remember that all parts of the avocado can be composted, including the skin. I suggest making sure no part ends up in your trash can.
Remember, there's no need to use parchment paper for DIY avocado seed powder.
If you have time and space for a dehydrator, that will reduce kitchen energy waste. Slicing them before dehydrating will reduce the amount of time needed, which can range up to 24 hours. Alternatively, you can place the seeds in a sunny, low humidity area of your home to dry for a few days before grinding. This also uses less energy.
⚠️ a note about human consumption
A quick online search will show you LOTS of results explaining the benefits of using avocado seeds and avocado seed powders as a supplement to smoothies, baked goods, and more. However, research and testing is limited and consuming too much can have negative health effects. It's best to consult with a medical professional before consuming a new supplement, and why I'm using this in my garden rather than my smoothie.
People have been known to use avocado seed powder as a food supplement, ingredient for face and hair masks, tea, and natural food dye. See above paragraph about human consumption.
❓ frequently asked questions
How to use avocado seed powder as a fertilizer?
Add the avocado powder to the soil and mix in gently before watering to incorporate into the soil and the plant's root system. You can also blend the powder in water for a liquid version or sprinkle around the plant to incorporate it into the mulch.
Can you compost avocado seeds instead?
Yes, you can compost avocado seeds. While you can toss them into the compost whole, cutting them into smaller pieces will help them break down much faster and is the recommended method.
Which plants benefit from avocado seed powder nutrients?
While avocado seeds have lots of nutrients, fruiting and flowering plants that like potassium should benefit most from adding avocado seed to their diet. Some examples include strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, hibiscus, roses, citrus trees, and more.
Does avocado seed powder attract pests or disease?
Though more research is needed, avocado seed powder has shown promise in acting as a pest and fungi repellant. Large quantities of avocado pits or powder may attract some pests, but if distributed correctly, the powder should act as a deterrent.
🥑 more avocado recipes
🥣 more food scrap recipes
- Strawberry Top Simple Syrup (uses leftover strawberry tops)
- Popcorn Bark (uses leftover unpopped kernels)
- Strawberry Basil Simple Syrup (uses leftover strawberry tops)
- Savory Collard Green Stems (uses leftover stems from collard greens)
