Mangos are a fruit for those who are patient. They can take up to five years to fruit. Some varieties, such as Kensington Pride, can produce in two to three years, but that is the minimum time.
But before you can grow Mangos for yourself, you must know how to plant them. But how deep do these seeds need to be planted to grow, and how do you even get to the seed?
Mango seeds need to be planted 8 inches (20 cm) into the soil; either plant them right away or germinate them first, so the root grows before planting.
Getting to the seed is a little bit of a task, but well worth it once that seed starts to grow. For even better results, plant the seed down the right way so that the divot of the seed is face-down. This will allow the roots to grow down and the sprouts to grow.
How Do You Properly Plant a Mango Seed?
To grow a Mango from seed, you can use the pit from the one you would buy in the store. To reduce waste and have a delicious snack, we recommend you start by eating the Mango first.
Then, when you are only left with the Mango seed, you can get started. While we usually associate the pit in the center with the seed, it is a husk that surrounds the seed.
Clean the Husk
The first step is to clean the husk. You may have noticed with Mangos that when you get closer to the husk, there is a lot more stringy, fibrous texture.
This is what you will want to be removing. You can do this by using a soft sponge or a rag to scrub off as much leftover fruit and stringy hair as possible. You can also use a knife, but you have to be careful not to injure yourself, as the husk is usually very slimy and still slippery.
It is okay if some of the string is still attached. The main point of removing the fruit and strings is to allow it to dry quicker and make it a little less slippery.
Dry the Husk
After cleaning it as much as possible, give it a gentle pat with a towel or paper towel and allow it to dry for a day or two. Do not let it dry too much, or else the seed may crack, or the plant may not sprout.
While you want the husk dry, you don’t injure the seed, and a dry Mango seed will not germinate, so you must find a good balance. Usually, a day or two is what works for most people.
Remove the Seed from the Husk
For the next part, it is very important to be careful. You will want to break open the husk, but you have to be careful not to damage the seed inside.
Broken seeds will not produce a Mango tree. This is because if a Mango seed is broken, you have likely damaged either the root or the sprout, which means the plant won’t be able to grow.
The best way to do it is to use scissors designed for cutting things like leather. Regular scissors for fabric or paper can easily break while trying to cut the husk. Find some way to stabilize the husk so it won’t slip or move around while you are cutting.
Once you pry the husk open, a seed should be waiting for you inside. It is hard to describe the seed, as no two seeds look exactly the same, but many people describe it as similar to a lima bean.
Clean Off the Seed
The next step is to clean the seed. To do this, you will want to take off the paper-like material over the top of the seed. You only need to remove the loose parts. It is best not to peel or force anything off of the seed.
If the seed looks dead or dying, it may be best to start with a different seed, but you can always use it to see if it will sprout.
Plant/Wrap/Soak the Seed
Depending on your method, you will either bury, wrap, or place the seed into some water at this point.
It is worth noting that if your fruit had a single seed, known as monoembryonic, the fruits that the Mango produces aren’t necessarily the same as the parent breed. Only fruits with multiple seeds, polyembryonic, or grafted trees will produce seeds true to the parent fruit.
How Do You Bury a Mango Seed?
When planting a Mango seed, you want to use a moist potting mix. That way, the seed will not dry out before it has time to sprout. You don’t want the seed too deep into the soil but not too close to the surface.
Usually, about 8 inches (20 cm) down is best. This allows the seed to receive light and sprout up while not drying out from being too close to the surface.
Which Side of the Mango Seed Goes Down?
When you bury a Mango seed, you want to put the side with the divot in it face-down. If you are thinking about Mango seeds looking like lima beans, the smooth, humped side will go face-up, while the side that looks like it has a cut will be face-down.
This allows the root and the stem to emerge easily and face the right direction.
How to Plant a Mango Seed at Home in a Paper Towel?
When germinating a Mango seed, using the paper towel method allows you to see if your Mango will even germinate before burying it. To germinate in a paper towel, you follow all the same steps, but instead of planting it in the dirt, you place it between two paper towels.
Then, moisten the paper towels, ensuring they aren’t too wet. You can use anything for this, including thin rags or toilet paper, but paper towels are sturdy and thin enough that many people choose to use them.
Once the paper towels are wet, put them into a plastic bag or container. You don’t want to seal the container fully, as the fruits do best with airflow.
Once the shoots and roots start growing out of the seed, you can plant them in the soil.
How to Grow a Mango Seed in Water?
While Mango plants themselves do not like growing in water, it is perfectly acceptable to germinate the seed in water. Following the same steps, you will take the seed and place toothpicks on top of it.
You don’t want to drive in the toothpicks all the way and risk damaging the seed. Instead, you just want to put them enough that they will stay in the seed. Then you stick the seed on top of a glass or cup, so just the bottom of the seed is touching the water. This should be the side with the divot in it. The rounded side should be face-up and out of the water.
The toothpicks allow your plant to sit on top of the water, holding the rest of the seed outside the glass. After about two weeks, or when the taproot starts to grow, you can plant the seed in soil.
How Long Does it Take to Grow a Mango From Seed?
For the most part, Mangos take anywhere from five to eight years to grow from seed to the point that they can produce fruit. Some varieties can take two to three years, but they are not the default.
However, if you just want to know how long it will take for a Mango to sprout, a seedling should appear in just a couple of weeks.
Do Mango Seeds Need Light to Germinate?
Mango seeds do need light to germinate. Usually, somewhere warm with bright but indirect light is best for Mango seeds. It allows them to germinate correctly and grow as they should.
Summary
Mangos are a delicious and sweet fruit. However, you don’t have to go to a store to grow one. If you are patient, you can get your fruits in as little as two to eight years. Planting a Mango seed is easy enough once you know what you are doing.
Mango seeds need to be planted 8 inches (20 cm) into the soil; either plant them right away or germinate them first, so the root grows before planting.
Mango seeds need to be pulled from their husk, which can help to increase germination. Then, you plant the seed and wait. Though it does take a long time to produce fruit, it only takes a few weeks for the fruit to start sprouting.