Does the juicy yellow pulp of the mango make you long for summer? Find out how to plant a mango at home from seed and how to grow it.
An exotic plant native to India, the mango adapts well to all warm latitudes and can also be grown in pots from seed. Planting mango seeds in a pot is a very simple operation that allows you to enjoy the beauty of this unique tropical plant, making it the queen of your home balcony.
Mangoes are easy to plant and grow, but if you want them to bear fruit, you need patience and space. In nature, mangoes grow quickly, reaching a height of 25 meters, capable of producing a large quantity of thirst-quenching, vitamin-rich fruit, something that can only be achieved in captivity under certain conditions: space and grafting.
Hint
When to plant mango seeds
Planting the mango tree: germination
How to Plant Mango Seeds
How to Grow a Mango Plant
When does the mango bear fruit?
When to plant mango seeds
The most suitable seasons for planting mangoes are late spring or, even better, early summer. This time of year is characterized by mild temperatures and longer days, which will allow the seedlings to benefit from more hours of sunlight.
Mango, on the other hand, is a plant that does not tolerate temperature changes and for this reason mild temperatures are ideal for sowing, for growth but also for keeping it alive. In order to preserve the plant from thermal excursions during the colder months, it is advisable to use the same precautions used to protect lemon trees (i.e. plastic or fabric covers) or transfer the plant inside the house (as long as it is in an area where it can be illuminated for several hours by direct light).
Planting the mango tree: germination
Germinating the mango seed before planting it in the ground allows the young roots to be sufficiently strengthened, which will have a better chance of taking root and growing our seedling.
The best way to sprout mangoes is to use a plastic bag or food container as an “incubator.” There are three basic steps to sprouting mangoes:
The mango seed must first be removed from the shell . This is a delicate operation during which care must be taken to clean the seed extracted from the peel, but above all not to damage it.
The second step is to create an artificial seed container. To do this, wet a sheet of absorbent paper and place the mango seed inside without smothering or squeezing it too tightly. At this point, everything should be placed in the food container or transparent plastic bag: anything goes, as long as it can be closed to maintain high humidity.
Caring for the sprouted mango seed is very important. The paper sheets in which it was wrapped should be replaced at least once a week and should always be kept moist (for this purpose, we can use a plant sprayer). It takes a few days for the mango seed to take root and about two weeks for it to begin germinating. When the sprout is about 4 centimeters tall, it is ready to be planted in the ground.
How to Plant Mango Seeds
When the root is strong and the shoot is vigorous, the time has come to plant the mango seed and the ideal place is a not too large pot of about 10 cm in diameter which is enough to accommodate the seedling and grow it in the first phase of its growth life, then transfer it to a larger vessel.
As a potting soil, it is advisable to use universal soil , easily available in supermarkets and garden centers, to be enriched with homemade compost. The seed should be planted as a cutting , that is, with the root downwards and the shoot upwards. If the root consists of seeds wrapped near the shoot, there is no need to worry: when the mango seed is in the vase, the root will descend naturally. It is important to remember that the shoot must remain above ground.
How to Grow a Mango Plant
The mango tree needs a lot of water , especially during the growth phase. Therefore, it is important to water it regularly to prevent the soil from drying out completely but without creating stagnations that could cause it to suffer.
Once the mango tree has grown strong, the stem should be cut back to the first node. This will strengthen it and boost its growth. The plant should also be placed in a well-lit area , but without excessive direct sunlight, especially during the hottest hours of scorching summer days.
It is possible to check the health of the leaves, which should be bright in color and long and stretched. The mango tree grows quickly, but a healthy and robust plant is not enough to produce fruit.
To make the mango plant bear fruit, a graft is necessary and it is therefore advisable to contact a specialized nursery, alternatively it is possible to choose the seed of a local mango variety such as those grown organically in the south of Italy and in particular in Sicily.
When does the mango bear fruit?
The mango tree is a very particular plant and it takes years to bear fruit, given that a mango tree grown from seed can take up to eight years to bear fruit (but it can also fail if it is not grafted); while grafts produce fruit after 3-5 years and guarantee a good harvest.
Typically, a mango tree produces 10 to 20 fruits per tree at three or four years of age, increasing to 50 to 75 fruits in subsequent years, and about 500 fruits in its tenth year of life. Obviously, the plant grows larger each year and will need to be transferred to larger and larger pots or soils capable of spreading its roots.
Having a mango tree that bears fruit is a real privilege because this fruit is a true elixir of well-being that can be enjoyed in different ways . In particular, mangoes are a good source of vitamin C, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber that help fight sluggish bowels.
In addition, among its properties, it is worth including the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties due to the presence of flavonoids, such as quercetin.