The mango, which usually refers to the Mangifera indica, is actually the fruit of an entire genus of citrus trees. This fruit, yellow or orange in color, is very popular for its slightly acid taste, and has its origin in India and Burma.
Many of the species that are currently consumed have been obtained by grafting or cultivating, and it is used in a large number of dishes in cuisines such as India. If you want to learn how to grow your own mangoes at home to be able to enjoy their fruits first-hand in an ecological and economical way, keep reading us in this EcologíaVerde article in which we explain how and when to germinate and plant a mango.
How to germinate a mango
before power plant the mango seed it will be necessary to make it germinate. To do this, the first step is to extract the seed from the fruit, which is protected in a shell or bone. It is important that you use a seed from a mango that you have just consumed, since it loses its germination capacity very quickly. follow these steps to germinate a mango seed:
- Very carefully, insert the tip of a knife through the widest end of the shell, and make small movements up and down to give it play and open it. It is very important that you take all possible care not to damage the seed inside.
- Once you’ve cracked open the shell, remove the seed and prepare a napkin or several pieces of absorbent kitchen paper to wrap it in.
- Place the seed wrapped in absorbent paper in a container approximately its size, and moisten the paper with water until it absorbs no more. Once you’re done, remove the excess water.
- Now that the paper provides the seed with the darkness and humidity it needs, place the container somewhere in the house with a warm temperature. Remember that the mango is a tropical plant, and requires a warm environment.
- Moisten the paper again each time it dries, but always making sure there is no puddle of leftover water. In about ten days or two weeks, your mango seed should already have given a first root a few centimeters long. When the root is about half the length of the seed, it is ready for you to plant.
In this other EcoologíaVerde post we tell you how to create a germinator.
When to plant a mango
Now that you have the sprouted mango seedYou will have to plant the mango in a pot. Later, when it has grown properly, you can transplant it to its final location.
Since it is a tropical climate fruit tree, the best time to plant it is the warm months, avoiding the cold of winter in the first months of the tree’s life. A good time is therefore around march.
How to plant a mango step by step
This is the step by step to plant a mango at home easily:
- Prepare a pot about 30 cm deep with a mixture of generic substrate and a fifth or fourth part of earthworm humus. This will provide the seed with the necessary nutrients for those first delicate weeks.
- Using a pencil or stick, poke a hole in the center of the pot about the length of the root of the mango.
- Being very careful not to damage or split the root, try to place the seed in the pot so that the root enters the hole created for it.
- Cover the root completely with soil. The seed does not need to be covered, but the root must be protected. Moisten the substrate with water, avoiding puddles as always but providing enough moisture.
- Place the pot in a place in the house where it receives direct sunlight, although if you live in a very hot climate, try to remove it during the hours of greatest incidence. You can leave the napkin on the seed in the first days or weeks, until you see the first sprout grow. In just a few weeks, your little tree will be growing at full speed if all goes well.
Mango care – basic guide
The mango is not a very demanding plant, and if you provide it with a suitable substrate and keep it moist, you should not have any problems with its growth. Anyway, these are the basics about how to care for a mango tree correctly so that it grows well and bears fruit:
- Even if you have to keep your soil moist, don’t flood o Never flood the pot, and if it has a saucer underneath, always remove the excess drainage water after watering it.
- If you have homemade organic fertilizer, you can add it in moderation once a month.
- Place the plant in an area where it receives lots of direct sunlightunless it is particularly strong in your area.
- When the tree has grown too large for its pot, don’t hesitate to repot it. Keep in mind that these trees can reach 12 meters in height, so choose a place that is wide enough for it if you place it outdoors.
- So that you know what is necessary about pruning a mango tree, we recommend this other post on How and when to prune fruit trees.
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