Usually, when talking about planting fruit pits, the first thing you think of is avocado or lemon. But what about a more exotic fruit? Do you know how to plant a mango pit?
If you really like this fruit and would like to have your own tree from which to obtain fruit If you want to plant plants that are completely natural, then this is of interest to you. We are going to help you to know how to plant it and what care it needs to thrive. It is true that it will take a few years to grow and bear fruit, but it will be worth the effort. Shall we begin?
How to plant a mango seed?
The first thing you should know about mangoes is that they are a summer fruit. Even so, in certain establishments you can find them all year round. It is true that the best time to plant the seed is in summer or autumn, but if you give them the necessary care you should have no problem in other seasons of the year.
As you know, Mango is a tropical fruit that comes from India and Indochina. It can be easily grown in temperate climates and in Mediterranean climates, so if you live in such an area, you will have no problem.
Now, the The mango seed is protected by a stone that is located in the center of the fruit.When you eat it, that bone is what remains and, inside, is the seed.
What should you do to plant the mango seed so that it germinates and grows into a plant? That is what we are going to talk about next.
Wash the bone well
Once you have eaten the mango, especially if it was good, what you have to do is wash the seed. Try to wash it as well as possible to remove the film that makes it slippery. This way you will prevent it from rotting or affecting the seed.
Just remember that, After washing it, you have to dry it very well.
Remove the seed from the stone
Now that you have washed the seed and it will not leak, the next step is to remove the seed. As we have said, the seed is protected by the seed, and it will not be able to come out on its own, which is why it dries inside it. Therefore, there are two methods.
The first of them consists of hit with a hammer trying to break the bone. The problem is that if you do it wrong, you run the risk of breaking the seed with a hammer blow. Or it may not come out as easily even if you break the stone.
The second method is the most recommended, although you must be careful. And that is that you have to take a pointed knife and insert it through the widest part of the bone to try to open itYou have to make up-and-down movements to open it a little. The goal is to pull the sides so that it can open completely (like a book).
This way you will get the seed. But be careful, it may happen that when you open it you discover that the seed is not good. This is common and you should not give up, you can always try another mango. Over time, the seeds can dry out or not germinate because they are no longer prepared for it.
Germinate the mango seed
Now that you have the seed, and you will see that it is quite large, it is time to germinate it. That is, you will have to get the first sprout to come out of it. This is quite simple to do, and is similar to other plants.
For that, find a bowl and some napkins. You need to put the napkins in the bowl and the mango seed inside. Cover it with the napkin and wet the napkin. The goal is to get the napkin completely wet, but without any loose water remaining.
So you have to make sure it is soaked but not so that when you tip the bowl over, water comes out.
Once you have done this, you will be providing humidity and darkness, which are two fundamental parts for germination. But it also needs a constant temperature. Our recommendation is that you use a bit of plastic wrap and cover the bowl. Make some holes to let some air through and store this in a dark place.
After five days you should see some changes in the seed. That is, sprouts should start to appear. After approximately eight days, the root will appear, although it is best to leave it for about 15 days in the napkin so that it develops a good root and has a better chance of it succeeding.
Of course, during this time you will have to check that the napkin remains moist.
How to plant mango seed
Now that you have the mango seed ready to plant, it's time to put it in the ground. This means that you will need a wide and deep pot (about 30 centimeters). Mix worm humus with substrate and some drainage, such as perlite.
Pleasure Using a pencil or a stick, you have to make a hole in the center to put the root that has come out inside. You have to cover the root well so that it can come out. Be careful when you put it in because if it breaks, then it won't come out.
Water the soil a little and cover the seed with a new, wet napkin. Leave it for a few days and you will see the stem start to emerge. It is important to keep the temperature constant. To do this, you can use a plastic bag, for example, by making some holes in it, to create a kind of greenhouse and a warm or temperate temperature.
After a while you will see that the stem is growing and, normally after a month, you will see that it already has a good stem.
Mango plant care
Once you have the plant settled in the pot, The main care will be watering, which you should try to keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged, and also the temperature. Mango needs a temperate or warm climate, so if you want it to thrive, don't forget this.
If you are in winter, or your house is cold, you can solve it with the plastic bag trick, but always keeping an eye on the humidity as well, so that it does not rot or cause diseases.
Do you dare to plant a mango seed now?