![]() ![]() If you cut one side of the mango pit with strong scissors, you can open it up, like so: Well, here we go again with the mad science stuff. Step 3: Remove the Embryo from the Seed Coat You can just plant it at this point but I think it’s better to go a step further and perform surgery.ĭon’t let mango seeds sit around for long – they have limited viability and do not store well at all. ![]() I slice the mango fruit and set it aside to eat later, then scrape the pit with a knife and clean it off under running water. It’s not a sure thing that you’ll get great fruit from its baby, but it’s a better bet. If you eat an amazing mango, that’s the pit you want to keep and plant. If you start with a fruit that is lousy, why would you expect anything good from the next generation? Smart parents usually have smart children… and well, you get the idea. Blonde parents usually have blonde children. Short parents usually have short children. These Imperial mangoes I got at the market are huge, beautiful, aromatic and quite delicious: Genetics are passed on, as is quite obvious in observing human parents and children. You’re more likely to get a good tree from a mango that tastes great. Now let’s plant! Step 1: Eat an Awesome Mango and Save the Pitĭon’t save pits from any mango that is less than awesome, unless you plan on sprouting them for root stock. If you haven’t been around the fruit or the trees before, it’s something to keep in mind. I discuss more on mango propagation in my new book Free Plants for Everyone, but I’ll just run through a quick step-by-step in today’s post so those of you who are too cheap to buy the book everyone can see it.Ī quick note before we start: if you suffer from poison ivy, sumac or poison oak allergies, watch out for mangoes as they can be a trigger. There are easier ways, of course, like just throwing mango pits in your compost pile and potting up the trees that pop up later however, this method gives you faster and more consistent germination. After about 5 to 8 years, your mango tree will begin to produce fruit.On Saturday I posted a new video demonstrating how to grow a mango tree from seed the easy way: Cut excess branches back to about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the trunk. As the tree gets bigger, prune it occasionally to reduce crowding near the center of the tree and encourage it to grow new fruit. Weed the area around the base of the tree regularly, and put a layer of mulch around the roots to trap moisture and prevent new weeds from growing. You can also water older trees once a week if you’re having a particularly dry period. Water your mango tree every other day for the first week after you plant it, then about once or twice a week for the rest of its first year. From then on, fertilize the tree about once a month during its first year. After you’ve planted the tree, wait until you see some new growth, then dissolve some 6-6-6-2 fertilizer in warm water and apply it around the base of the tree. Set the tree in the hole so that the root ball is level with the ground or slightly above it, then fill in the hole with a 50:50 mix of compost and soil. If you’re planting a larger sapling, dig a hole that’s about 2 to 4 times the size of the baby tree’s root ball. Once you see a sprout, transfer the seedling to the ground or a larger pot in a sunny location outdoors. ![]() Store the pot in a warm, shady area for about 2-3 weeks, or until the seed sprouts. Dampen the soil, but don’t make it sopping wet. Place the seed about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep in a pot full of potting soil, making sure to position the seed with the concave side facing down. Put the pit someplace cool and dark and allow it to dry overnight, then carefully pry it open with a sharp knife and remove the inner seed. To grow a mango tree from seed, remove the pit from a large, ripe mango fruit and clean it with a scrub brush or steel wool pad to remove all the fibers. Your mango will be happiest outdoors in an area that gets plenty of direct sunlight during the day, with sandy, well-drained, acidic soil. It’s also best if you don’t get more than 12 inches (30.5 cm) of rain per year. Mangoes thrive in areas where the average temperature stays between 80–100 ☏ (27–38 ☌) during most of the year and does not dip below freezing in the winter. Mango trees are easy to grow if you live in the right climate. ![]()
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