Question

About the journey of a mango seed from the time it is thrown back into the bin to growing into a new plant

Answer 1

Answer:

You can plant mango trees, such as the as the common mango (Magifera indica), from seed and grow them in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, but the process takes a little time, planning and patience. Before you plant seedlings out, you have to properly germinate them. While it only takes days for seedlings to sprout, you may have to wait a few years before your tree bears fruit.

Germination Process

Before planting, mango seeds need a thorough, somewhat lengthy germination process. First, you must remove and clean the large, flat seed of a mature fruit. After making an incision with a chisel or sanding its surface with sandpaper, store the seed in an open jar of warm water and place it in a warm spot. Once the seed begins to produce shoots, it's ready to planted in a pot of compost.

Germination Time

As your mango seed soaks in water, it takes about seven to 14 days to germinate, or start producing shoots. Plant Cultures, a project run partly by England's Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, recommends changing the water every two days during this time. If your seed doesn't sprout within this time, Plant Cultures suggests planting it in a 4-inch pot of compost and sealing the pot in a plastic bag. Water the plant frequently and keep it bagged in a warm spot for up to 60 days, or until shoots appear.

Development and Life Cycle

Once planted, mango seeds usually sprout in a week or two, but it takes mango trees about one year to reach 3 to 4 feet tall. This is the height at which commercial growers typically transplant mango trees out to growing fields. After planting, it takes mango trees between two and four years to produce fruit. Once the fruit appears, it takes three to six months to mature. Mature mango trees can reach heights and spreads of more than 40 feet, and some live for more than 300 years.

Variations

Numerous factors affect your mango tree's growth rate. Temperature is the main factor in a mango tree's growth, and warmth makes them grow faster and mature more quickly. The variety of mango you plant also has an influence. For example, a study by the International Society for Horticultural Sciences found the "Haden" cultivar always germinates faster than the “Manila” cultivar. If you don't remove the pulp from you mango seed, it may take the seed up to seven weeks longer to germinate, according to World Agroforestry Centre.