A variety of methods are available if you want to learn how to grow mangoes from seed. From putting a mango seed in a paper towel to planting it straight in the soil, we’ve compiled the best ways so you can choose the one that works best for you. If you want to cultivate a mango from seed, though, there are several factors you must consider first.
Learning how to grow mangoes from seed is a fun and rewarding gardening experience that can produce delicious fruits for years to come. This article looks into how to grow mangoes from store-bought ones.
Can You Grow Mangoes From the Seeds?
Like growing an avocado from seeds or a pineapple by cutting the pineapple top, part of the good thing about growing mangos from seeds is using any fruit that would otherwise go to waste.
Some store-bought fruits can’t be used to grow plants. Some seeds aren’t likely to grow because of how the fruit is handled before it is shipped. Others will grow fruits far from the original plant, or worse, won’t grow any fruits.
Fortunately, this is not the case with mangoes. It is known that store-bought seeds germinate often and thrive well.
However, there are a few limitations.
- Mangos need a few years to grow up and start making fruit. To get them to this point, you must plant them in a tropical or subtropical climate with warm temperatures and high humidity.
- You can keep growing them indoors if you don’t have the right weather. But they aren’t likely to bear fruit because the lighting isn’t good enough.
- Those fortunate to grow their mango tree for many years may discover that the fruits produced by the plant are not identical to the original fruit. Also, the tree is very susceptible to pest and disease damage, therefore, more challenging to maintain.
Despite the caveats, learning how to grow mangoes from seeds is a rewarding and fun gardening activity. If your tree does not bear fruit, it will still make an excellent green tree with lovely leaves.
How to Grow Mangoes From Seed
Mangoes are delicious and nutritious fruits that grow worldwide. Mango trees are widely available in tropical areas, and they can also be grown indoors or outdoors in areas with warm climates. Mango seeds can be planted to produce new mango trees. Once they mature, mango seeds germinate and grow into young mango trees. Growing mango trees from seed can be done in several steps described below.
- Carve out the flesh of the fruit
- To get to the seed within, you must remove the flesh around the fruit. This is the tasty part for true mango lovers. You can eat the fleshy part right away or store it for later use in desserts or fruit salad. Don’t bother about damaging the seed; a hard brown husk protects it.
- Wash the hush thoroughly with running water. You can use a sponge to remove any flesh that clings to it. You can also let the husk dry for a couple of days.
- Using kitchen scissors or a knife, cut the edge of the seed husk, enabling you to tear the husk and extract the seed. The seed can be a tad bit slimy so go with caution.
- Soak the seed overnight in a cup of water.
- Wet the paper towel. Check that it is evenly soaked all over but not dripping wet. Thoroughly wrap it with a paper towel until it’s completely covered.
- Put the seed in a sandwich bag and put it somewhere warm.
- Check the growth of the seed once every few days to look for any signs of sprouting. The amount of time needed for germination will vary depending on the air’s temperature and the mango’s degree of ripeness at the time the seed was removed.
- Start planting in the potting soil. Proceed with caution, ensuring not to cover the seedling’s tender fresh leaves.
- After a few days, the mango shows a set of new leaves.
- Keep in mind that you may eventually need to transfer the young tree to a bigger container to accommodate its growth until it is ready for permanent planting.
How to Grow Mango From Seed in Water
If you want to grow a mango seed with little work, the best way is to grow a mango from seed in water. If you’ve ever grown an avocado from seed, you’ll know how this works. It’s the same way to grow a pineapple, too.
- Extract the seed from the husk
- Place two toothpicks on either side of the seed about halfway up.
- Then, using toothpicks to support the seed’s upper half, immerse the seed’s lower half in a big glass filled with water.
- Every couple of days, change the water to keep it clean and stop bacteria from growing. One to three weeks will pass before you can see signs of growth.
- Grow your mango seed in this way until it develops a second set of leaves, and then plant it in compost with the seed buried and the stem visible.
How Much Time Will It Take to Grow Mango From Seed?
Mango trees need between five to eight years to mature from seed. The seedling, however, will sprout in a few weeks. A mango tree in the wild may reach a height of 20 feet, but if you plant it in a container and prune it frequently, you can maintain it at a much more manageable size.
Related: Growing Dragon Fruit, Growing Strawberries, Fast Growing Trees
Which Side of the Mango Seed Grows Roots
Plant the mango seed with the pointy end and the hump sticking out of the soil a little. If you start your mango seed in water or a paper towel, this step is simpler because you want the roots to go down and the shoot to grow up.
Mango trees are easy to grow from seed, provided you get the right conditions and take some precautions to prevent them from rotting. Growing mangoes from seed is fun to teach your children about planting and caring for plants.
Don’t forget to tell us about your experience of growing mangoes from seeds. Drop us a line in the box below.
