The mango tree is one of the easiest to grow from seeds and is very easy to care for. The size and flavor of the fruit depends on the variety you choose. Taste the fruits before starting the process, if you have the way. Depending on the climate, the tree can grow from 9 to 20m and survives for hundreds of years. If you plan to grow it in a pot, you can keep it around until it overgrows and then start a new crop from another seed.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Germinating the Seed
Step 1. Check the climatic conditions
Mango is a native plant of the hot and humid tropical regions of Asia and Oceania. Outside these areas it grows well only in temperate climates which tend to be warm; in colder regions, mangoes should only be grown in pots and taken indoors when temperatures drop.
Condo mango is a very popular variety suitable for those who want to grow it indoors as it can be kept at a height of 2.5m by pruning it regularly. However, there are also smaller dwarf varieties, particularly suitable for those with limited space
Step 2. Find a "parent" mango tree
The best way to ensure that you get a seed that can develop well in your geographic area is to find a mango around it; if it produces good fruit, you can get a seed of the variety suitable for the climate in which you live. If your area has a warm climate with mild winters, you should be able to find a mango quite easily.
- However, if you can't find one, you can order seeds or purchase them from a nursery or garden center. Make sure you choose a variety that grows well in your area;
- You can also try planting a seed that comes from a store-bought mango. however, it can be much more difficult for it to survive in your geographic area, especially if the fruit has come from another country. In any case, "trying doesn't hurt"!
Step 3. Check the seed to see if it can develop
Cut the pulp of the fruit to find the seed integument and gently engrave it to expose the inside. A healthy mango seed is light brown in color and fresh in appearance; at times, it may shrivel and turn gray if exposed to cold temperatures and, in this case, it is not suitable for cultivation.
- Cut off both sides of the pulp by bringing the blade as close to the seed as possible. Hold the fruit in your hand with the rounded part in the palm, carefully engrave the upper side in both directions for about 2 cm; afterwards, turn the cut wedge upside down exposing the cubes of the fruit's delicious pulp. Eat it directly from the peel or scrape the pulp off with a spoon to collect it in a bowl.
- You can wear gloves when handling semen if you wish, as it produces sap that can cause skin irritation.
Step 4. Choose a method for preparing the seed
You can opt for a dry or wet technique, as described in the next steps. The wet method reduces the germination time by a week or two, but increases the risk of mold.
Dry Technique
Step 1. Thoroughly dry the seed with kitchen paper
Put it in a sunny and ventilated place for about 3 weeks; after this period, try to break it with one hand, but avoid opening it halfway; you just have to separate the two parts slightly and leave it undisturbed for another week.
Step 2. Fill a pot with fertile, well-draining soil
Dig a small hole about 20cm deep and push the seed in, making sure the bottom is facing down.
Step 3. Water it carefully every day or every other day, depending on the type of soil
After about 4-6 weeks you should begin to notice that the seedling reaches 10-20 cm; depending on the variety of mango you originally ate, it may be dark purple, almost black, or bright green.
Step 4. Grow the young shoot until it has developed a strong and healthy root system
Many people grow it indoors for a year or two before burying it outdoors.
Soaking technique
It is an alternative to the dry method which reduces the time to one or two weeks; however, it carries a higher risk of mold, so you should not try this method if you have only one seed.
Step 1. Scarify the seed
"Scarification" is a procedure to create a slight incision on the outside of the seed and thus facilitate germination. Proceed carefully and make a small cut in the surface or rub the outside of the seed with just enough sandpaper or steel wool to get through the seed coat.
Step 2. Soak it
Place the seed in a jar of water and place the latter in a warm place, such as a cabinet or shelf. soak it for 24 hours.
Step 3. After one day, remove the seed from the container and wrap it in absorbent paper
Put it protected in a plastic bag to which you cut a corner; keep the paper moist and wait for the seed to start sprouting - it usually takes about a week or two. Make sure the seed stays in a warm, humid place if you want it to develop.
Step 4. Prepare a pot to insert the seedling
Start your cultivation starting from a pot; choose one large enough to hold the seed and fill it with a mixture of potting soil and compost. You could plant the seed directly in the ground, but burying it first in a pot can keep temperatures under control during the most delicate phase of growth.
Step 5. The sun strengthens the seedling
Place the pot outside in an area partially exposed to sunlight; in this way, the sprout gets used to the sun and grows stronger before being transplanted into its last home in full sun.
Part 2 of 2: Burying the Floor Plan
Step 1. Transfer it to a spot in full sun
Choose an area that is well exposed to sunlight in which to plant the mango seed; make sure it is large enough to provide room for the plant when it matures - remember it can reach 20 meters!
- When choosing the final location for the plant, you need to find a place in the garden where the soil offers good drainage. Think about the future too, it must be an area that does not interfere with buildings, underground pipes or suspended electrical cables.
- Transplant the young tree when it is well established and the roots are healthy and strong. The base of the trunk should be 5 cm thick; most plants need about two years to reach this size.
Step 2. Leave the mango in the jar
If you live in a region with cold winters, it is best to keep it in a container so that you can move it inside when the temperatures drop too low; as it grows, you will need to prune it to keep it small, otherwise you will have to transfer it to a larger pot.
Step 3. Plant the seedling
Dig a hole large enough to hold the small root ball; make it three times bigger than the roots themselves. Add 1/3 of quality potting soil, 1/3 of garden sand (not clay) and fill the rest of the hole with soil; insert the seedling, compact the soil surrounding its base and water carefully.
- Proceed very carefully so as not to break the sapling when transplanting it;
- Keep the base of the trunk clean to avoid having to remove a ring of bark from the plant that gives this "fruit of the gods".
Step 4. Water the mango regularly and use the fertilizer sparingly
Most of these trees take five to eight years to bear fruit and reach maturity slowly, but it's worth the wait.
Do not over-fertilize, otherwise concentrate your energy on the development of the leaves and not on the fruits
Advice
- You can purchase mango seeds from a specialist seed company.
- The seedling can take 5-8 years to produce fruit.
- Don't overwater it.
