GROWING
MANGO SEEDS GERMINATION
Mango trees can grow up
to 65 feet tall at full maturity. You can sometimes grow your own mango tree
from grocery store seeds if you select a healthy seed and plant it correctly.
The mango plant grows well as a houseplant for several years, or until it becomes
too tall to keep it easily contained in a pot. The trees don't tolerate heavy
frost, but they can grow well outdoors in mild climates.
Viability
Some
seeds from grocery store mango fruits are completely viable, while others are
treated to sterilize or chilled until the seed dies. The seeds usually turn
gray if they are no longer viable, so the only reliable method of determining
whether the seed will sprout is to check the seed's color. Even seeds that have
a healthy tan color may not sprout if they've experienced chilling damage or
the fruit was picked underripe. Sowing more than one healthy-looking grocery
store seed improves your chances of successfully growing a mango tree.
Seed Preparation
Planting
the seed quickly after opening the mango improves the chances of it
germinating. Mango seeds cannot dry out before you plant them or they won't
sprout. Wear gloves when handling the seed because the latex sap inside can
cause skin irritation. Carefully remove the hard outer husk from the seed by
cutting it off with sharp scissors, without damaging the seed inside. Once
removed, the seed is ready for immediate planting.
Planting
Seeds
will sprout in soil or in a plastic bag. To germinate it in a plastic bag, soak
the seed in warm water for 24 hours then wrap it in damp paper towels. Place
the wrapped seed in a plastic bag, leaving one corner open so air can
circulate. The seed usually sprouts within one to two weeks if you keep the
towel moist. You can also sow the seed in a pot of moist soil with the top of
the seed even with the soil surface. Soil-planted seeds generally sprout within
two to four weeks if the soil remains moist. Providing bottom heat, such as
from a germination heat mat, can improve the chances of sprouting with grocery
store mango seeds.
Care
Once a
mango seed germinates it requires full sun and warmth to continue to grow.
Those started in plastic bags require immediate transplanting into moist soil
as soon as they sprout, but take care not to break the sprout when you plant
it. The plants can't tolerate temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and
young plants can experience damage at 30 F, so overwintering indoors is
necessary with young plants. In mild climates, you can transplant the mango
outdoors once it's 1 or 2 years old
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