When trying to grow an avocado tree, it's best to keep your expectations low. The process requires a lot of patience; it will be years before the first fruit begins to appear, and many trees grown from seed don't end up producing fruit at all.

Still, growing an avocado tree can be a rewarding experience. The initial process is so simple that it is often done as an elementary school project. And even if you can't enjoy some extremely locally sourced guacamole, you can still enjoy the vibrant appearance of an avocado tree grown as a houseplant.

You can start the plant by simply saving the pit from a store-bought avocado. The large, hard stone should not be cut, but it should be thoroughly washed. Jill Fehrenbacher, writing for the sustainability site Inhabit, says you shouldn't remove the brown skin, which is the seed cover.

Identify which part of the seed is the top and which is the bottom. The bottom, from which the roots will grow, is flatter while the top is slightly pointy.

Pierce the seed at its widest point with three or four toothpicks. Meagan Francis, writing for HGTV, says the end result should be able to suspend the pit over a glass of water. The bottom of the seed should be submerged in about an inch of water, while the top should remain dry. You may need to angle the toothpicks slightly downward for the best arrangement.

Keep the glass in a warm area out of direct sunlight. The California Avocado Commission says the water should be replenished as needed to keep the seed partially submerged.

It typically takes two to six weeks for a seed to develop roots and a sprout. If you haven't seen this growth after eight weeks, it's best to try another seed.

Once the sprout grows to a height of 12 inches, cut it back by half. Jon Vanzile, writing for the home design site The Spruce, you can also take this step when the sprout is six inches tall. This early trimming will encourage stronger roots to grow.

Keep the taproot submerged throughout this process. Fehrenbacher says the plant will die off if the roots dry out.

Once the sprout grows back to a height of six or 12 inches, you can move the plant to a pot. A container of eight to 10 inches across should suffice, and the bottom half of the seed should be covered in a rich humus soil. Place the pot in a sunny location.

Avocado trees require frequent watering, although this should only be a light soak. The California Avocado Commission says the soil should be moist but not saturated. If the leaves of the plant start to turn yellow, it's a sign that you've providing it with too much moisture.

As the plant grows, pinching off some new leaves will help create a bushier, lusher plant. Fehrenbacher recommends pinching off the top two leaves at a height of 12 inches, and for every six inches of growth afterward.

Although avocado trees can move transplanted outdoors in areas with warm winters, homeowners who experience cold winters should tend to the tree as a houseplant. Francis says you should only tend the plant outdoors if the winter temperatures stay above 45 degrees. The California Avocado Commission says avocado trees can tolerate temperatures as low as 28 degrees without too much damage, although freezing temperatures should generally be avoided.

The tree will begin to outgrow its container as it gets larger. Vanzile recommends repotting the plant every spring.

Avocado trees can benefit from some fertilizing each year. The California Avocado Commission recommends half a pound to one pound of nitrogen per tree per year, which can be added in several applications if desired. Zinc applications can also help the tree. A typical home fertilizer is often enough for the tree to thrive.

Wash aphids off the plant if you spot any. A crusty white layer on the soil indicates that the fertilizer is leaving too much salt behind, and you should flush out the container if you experience this issue.

Get ready for a long wait before you start to see fruit on the branches. It generally takes five to 13 years before a tree starts to produce avocados. Some trees won't bear fruit at all, or will only produce tiny, inedible fruit that soon falls off the tree.

If you do see fruit after several years, it will often look considerably different than what you can purchase in the store. One common result, which can be eaten, occurs when the plant does not pollinate properly. These fruits are called "cukes," or finger or cocktail avocados, due to their similarity in appearance to cucumbers.

Trees can be kept outside as long as the temperature is high enough, with optimal fruit production occurring at 65 to 75 degrees. Growing multiple trees can increase your chances of eventually harvesting fruit, since it can aid with pollination.

Alternatively, you can buy a plant which has already been grafted. In this complex process, the tissue from a fruit-producing tree is mixed with that of a nonproducing tree. These plants are often available at nurseries.