Q&A for How to Plant a Mango Seed

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  • Question
    How long it will take for a mango plant to bear fruits if grown from a seed?
    Andrew Carberry, MPH
    Food Systems Expert
    Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.
    Food Systems Expert
    Expert Answer
    Typically, it takes mangos grown from seed between 5 and 8 years to bear fruit.
  • Question
    Is a north Alabama winter too harsh for a mango?
    Andrew Carberry, MPH
    Food Systems Expert
    Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.
    Food Systems Expert
    Expert Answer
    North Alabama is USDA zone 7, which is too cold for growing mango trees outside. You could grow one in a pot, moving it inside for winter.
  • Question
    Can I grow a mango tree in the UK?
    Community Answer
    Yes, I tried, and I managed to germinate it and it grew about 30cm. As long as you have a greenhouse and give it enough water and good care, it should be fine.
  • Question
    How long should I wait to plant my mango seeds? What if I have had the seed for a year before planting it?
    Community Answer
    After a year, the seed is probably dead. Carefully remove the hairy shell and check the seed inside.
  • Question
    How big can mango trees grow?
    Community Answer
    The larger, red to orange ones can grow to about 30 feet, and the malina or ataulfo mangoes grow only 15 feet.
  • Question
    Can I grow mango if I live near the sea and most of the soil is soft and sandy?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can grow it after fertilizing the soil. It will survive. Make sure to follow the champagne pruning.
  • Question
    I live in southwest Florida. Is this a good growing area?
    Community Answer
    Mango trees grow well in southern Florida, so no need to worry about bringing the plant inside for the winter.
  • Question
    Are mangos self-fruiting?
    Community Answer
    Yes, they are. Once the flowers show, make sure they're protected from strong winds and harmful insects. If flowers are left alone to grow profusely and in peace, you'll have plenty of excellent mangoes.
  • Question
    Can mango trees grow in New Zealand?
    Community Answer
    The climate is too cold for them to grow outdoors, but they can thrive in large pots indoors or inside a greenhouse.
  • Question
    If my mango seed germinated with two stems growing, should I let them both grow, or cut one and let the best one grow?
    Community Answer
    It's best to cut the smaller stem.
  • Question
    After I have wrapped the seed and put it into a bag with the corner cut off, do I put it back in the cupboard or on a windowsill?
    Community Answer
    Just leave it in a warm location, preferably in light. I don't cut the corners of my bags.
  • Question
    Can I grow a Mango tree in Texas?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but rather grow it during the summer, because it's very hot in summer. During the winter when it gets cold, you should keep it inside, unless it's a "Crazy Texas Weather Day" where it's 90 degrees out in the middle of winter.
  • Question
    I planted the seed two weeks ago, and there's no sign of any growth. The soil is damp, and the pot sits in the sun. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    I covered the pot with plastic wrap and left it in a light-filled location until the growth started; then I removed the plastic wrap and placed the pot where it would receive sunlight. It took about a week or more to show growth above the soil.
  • Question
    What zone is it in northwest Florida?
    Community Answer
    The whole panhandle of Florida is Zone 8B. This means that winter temperatures can drop to 15-20 degrees, or too cold for a mango.
  • Question
    My garden soil is typically dusty and and some clay underneath and hard rock below that. Someone said this is called hardpan. If a soil mix calls for say 50 percent mulch and sand, does my dusty sandy soil qualify as a sand mix or does it mean I have to buy another type of sand?
    Community Answer
    Sand mix means sand (silica) mixed with loam and typically clay. "Dust" is either fine silica or the "fines" which make up the clay. Your soil does not likely qualify as that.
  • Question
    Can mangoes grow in south LA?
    Doctor Piggy
    Community Answer
    Yes! Mangoes would grow really well in south LA, as mangoes grow best in zones 10 and 11. LA is in zone 10.
  • Question
    Can I keep it in a pot in a conservatory?
    Community Answer
    That is a better option for most climates since the conservatory is a warmer environment and you can keep an eye on the plant.
  • Question
    My mango seed has sprouted two stems. Should I cut one?
    Community Answer
    No. Try to replant one of them.
  • Question
    I live in southern Italy. Is it possible to grow a mango tree here?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can grow mango trees where you live. It is hot there and mango trees will grow.
  • Question
    My cat ate the leaves off my seedling. Will the plant survive?
    Community Answer
    Yes, the plant should survive.
  • Question
    Where can mangoes grow?
    Doctor Piggy
    Community Answer
    Mangoes grow best in zones 10 and 11, but you can keep them indoors during the winter if you live a colder area.
  • Question
    What is the use of removing the hairy shell of the mango seed before germinating?
    Community Answer
    The hairy shell is actually not part of the seed itself, but a separate structure called the "seed coat" or "husk." Removing the husk greatly increases chances of germination, as the husk evolved to protect the vulnerable seed from harsh environments like a hungry animal’s acidic stomach, or perhaps abrasive rocks.
  • Question
    I live south of Atlanta, Georgia. I want to grow a mango for fruit bearing purposes. What can I do to preserve/protect it from our winter temperatures?
    Community Answer
    If you’re certain you want to grow it outside in the ground, you can plant it close to your home. This micro-environment will protect your tree from wind and should stay just a few degrees warmer than the actual outdoors temperature. Otherwise, I would say make it a container plant and just move the pot inside during the winter time.
  • Question
    Can mango be planted as an indoor plant, and will it survive in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
    Community Answer
    Absolutely! Just make sure that it gets enough light in the winter and stays above 70 F.
  • Question
    Will mango trees grow well enough in Northeast Texas?
    Community Answer
    Mango Trees are tropical trees so as long as they get plenty sun, water, and a around 100 degree temperatures, they should grow nicely and fruit in about 5 years, but if the mango is grafted it should fruit sooner.
  • Question
    Can I grow mango tree in Las Vegas?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. Follow all of the instructions above. Start it in a pot indoors. Be sure the soil is rich and fertilized moderately outdoors. Water 3 times a week. Desert sand alone won't do.
  • Question
    Do the mango trees grow in a hot climate?
    Community Answer
    Yes, mangoes are a tropical fruit; therefore, they prefer hotter climates as opposed to climates with harsh winters.
  • Question
    Will my mango grow if I planted the husk without taking the seed out?
    Community Answer
    Yes. It will take longer, though. It's best to remove the husk.
  • Question
    Will a rotted mango seed still germinate?
    Community Answer
    No, there's no seed that I know of, that germinates when rotten. Try again, this time with the drying method, or the one I prefer is scarifying the seed, getting the big bean-looking seed out and covering it with moist paper towels in a Ziploc bag.
  • Question
    My mango seed has the root. Do I plant it root down?
    Community Answer
    Yes, the root goes down. In about a week, you will see the sprout above the soil.
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