Mangoes are a delicious summer stone fruit produced by the tropical tree Mangifera indica. Not only do they taste good, but mangoes are full of vitamin A and folate and also contain fibre.
If you consider yourself a green thumb, you might be interested to know more about how to grow mango tree from seed.
How to grow mango from seed
Check out our handy-dandy guide below to learn how to grow a mango tree from seed.
1. Eat the flesh from your ripe mango
It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. Eat the flesh from your mango and keep the seed. Just make sure the mango you select to plant is ripe. Propagation by seed is only recommended for poly-embryonic mango varieties such as Kensington Pride.
2. Clean the seed
Remove the excess mango flesh from your seed and ensure it is nice and clean. While you can plant your seed as it is in a potting mix, germination will take a long time. Instead, leave your seed to dry for 24 hours and move onto the next step.
3. Remove the seed from its shell
Carefully open the husk around the seed. You may need scissors to make an initial cut. The seed inside the husk should be white.
4. Wrap the seed in a wet paper towel
Grab a damp piece of paper towel and wrap your seed in it. Place the parcel inside a plastic bag. Leave it in a warm spot and wait for it to germinate. Germination can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. If the seed is green, then it’s healthy. If there’s discolouration, the seed might be rotting and not viable.
5. Plant your seed
Once your seed is sprouting (about 5cm), it’s time to plant. Grab a pot and some potting mix. Place your seed in the pot so the soil is just covering the seed. Making sure the root is covered but the embryonic leaves on top are uncovered.
How to grow a mango tree that bears fruit
So will your mango tree actually bear fruit?
It’s hard to say. But probably not. That doesn’t mean it won’t make a great houseplant. Suppose your mango tree does have the capability to bear fruit. In that case, growing in a consistently hot and humid environment can take several years.
If you want a mango tree that will bear fruit, your best bet is to start with a grafted mango tree purchased from a nursery. A grafted mango tree is part of the parent tree (scion) and joined with a rooted plant (rootstock). However, this can still take around 3-5 years for your mango tree to flower and fruit.
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