Plant Mango & Grow

The he althy mango can be used for many recipes. You can plant the mango seed and thus grow a mango tree yourself - we will show you more about this here.

There is hardly anyone who does not like the flesh of the sweet mango (Mangif.webpera indica). However, the fruit not only tastes good in desserts, but also in heartier combinations such as curries or in the famous mango chutney. But with the core of the mango you can also very easily grow your own mango tree. In our article you can find out how you can grow a mango and what you need to consider when planting and caring for it.

Can you grow a plant from a mango seed?

Just like an avocado plant can be grown from an avocado seed, a mango plant can also be grown from a mango seed. Growing a plant from a mango seed is child's play. This works with the so-called regrowing method. In this way, the seed that would otherwise have ended up in the trash becomes a new plant. However, don't expect to be able to harvest your own mangoes anytime soon. It's just too cold here and the tropical plant doesn't produce any sweet mangoes here. Nevertheless, a stately and beautiful plant can grow from a mango seed, which decorates the garden in summer and the room all year round.

Plant mango seeds: How to do it

Choose a mango that is as ripe as possible for planting. It is also advisable to choose an organic mango for planting, as conventional mangoes are often treated with growth inhibitors and therefore do not germinate well.

Tip: You can recognize a fully ripe mango by the sweet, aromatic smell. A slightly wrinkled skin and small black dots are also good signs that your mango is ready to eat.

Once the right mango has been selected, the first step is to prepare the stone for planting. Then it's time to plant. We explain both steps in the following section.

Prepare mango seed for planting

With our step-by-stepInstructions prepare the mango seed optimally for planting.

Preparing mango seeds step by step:

1. Carefully cut open the mango until only the core remains
2. Remove all pulp
3. Open the case carefully by prying open the side with the tip of a knife
4. The actual, kidney-shaped seed of the mango is in the core
5. Mango seeds must not be damaged under any circumstances
6. Wrap the core in a damp kitchen towel and put it in a freezer bag
7. Close bag and leave for 10 days
8. The kitchen towel should always be damp - that means moistening it if necessary
9. After a few days you can see the germ and the roots pushing out of the core
10. Now the seedling can be planted

Tip: The mango seed should look fresh and whitish-green or brown. If it is gray or shriveled up, it can no longer germinate.

Plant mango seeds in the ground

However, before the mango seed can be planted, you should prepare the planter. To do this, create a drainage layer, for example made of expanded clay or potsherds. In this way, the water in the pot can always drain off easily and there is no waterlogging. Next, mix the substrate. You can find out in which soil the mango feels most comfortable in the section on the substrate. But it is also important to guarantee a good supply of nutrients from the outset. Therefore, before planting, mix a fertilizer with organic long-term effects into the substrate, which gently and long-term supplies your mango with all the important nutrients. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer has proven itself for this.

Now fill the container with substrate and insert the core vertically and facing upwards. Spray everything with water and place the pot in a mini greenhouse. Here are optimal growth conditions for your mango. The core can grow well in a bright place, for example on the windowsill and at temperatures between 25 and 30 °C. Ventilate the mini greenhouse regularly and spray the core frequently with water. Then nothing stands in the way of the successful growth of your mango.

Summary: How do I plant a mango?

• Create drainage layer
• Mix the substrate with a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect - such as the Plantura organic universal fertilizer
• Pot withFill substrate
• Insert the core into the substrate, facing upwards
• Spray with water
• Put in a homemade mini greenhouse
• Place in a bright place
• Germinate at temperatures between 25 and 30 °C
• Aerate and humidify regularly

Which location is suitable for the mango plant?

There are three main points to consider when choosing the ideal location for the mango: it should be bright, warm and moist. In its tropical home, the mango is spoiled with warm, sunny weather all year round. You should therefore try to come as close as possible to it at home. Temperatures between 24 and 30 °C are ideal. Young mango trees are still somewhat sensitive to light and therefore do not like direct sunlight. If your mango tree is larger, it can safely stand in full sun. In order for the tropical fruit to feel really good in your home, a sufficiently high level of humidity is important in addition to light and warmth.

The mango feels most comfortable in this location:

• Ideal temperatures: 24 - 30 °C
• Young mango trees: partial shade
• Larger mango trees: full sun all year round
• High Humidity

What soil do you recommend for a mango plant?

Mango trees prefer to put their roots in a permeable, nutrient-rich substrate. Also, it should be slightly acidic. A mixture of garden soil with a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect - such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer - and coconut fibers has proven its worth.

This substrate is suitable for the mango:

• Permeable
• Nutrient
• Slightly sour

Repot mango tip: After the second year at the latest, it is time to repot the mango plant. A pot is chosen that is only slightly larger than the old planter. The substrate will be completely replaced.

Mango tree care: The best tips

The mango is unfortunately not one of the easiest plants to care for and therefore needs regular attention in order to be able to grow well. We therefore provide tips on watering, fertilizing, cutting and overwintering the exotic plant.

Water the mango tree correctly

Water requirements of mango trees change with age. In the first three yearsafter planting, the young plants like it when the substrate is always evenly moist. From the third year you can let the top layer of substrate dry before watering again. Since mangoes like a rather acidic substrate, you should make sure that you water them with water that is as lime-free as possible. In addition, waterlogging should be avoided at all costs, because otherwise root rot can occur. To do something good for your mango tree, you can spray the leaves of the plant with a spray bottle several times a week.

Summary: How do I water my mango tree correctly?

• Young trees: substrate always slightly moist
• From 3 years: allow the top layer of substrate to dry before watering
• Pour with low lime water
• Avoid waterlogging
• Spray leaves with water

Fertilize mango tree

Mangoes need a lot of nutrients to grow well. However, you should only start fertilizing three months after planting. Basically, the plant needs more fertilizer, the larger and older it is. Therefore, the amount of fertilizer increases continuously with age. We recommend a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect, as this is more environmentally friendly and gentler than conventional mineral fertilisers. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer also releases the nutrients gently and sustainably to the mango plant and only needs to be re-fertilized every two to three months.

Fertilize mango plants properly at a glance:

• Do not fertilize until the third month
• Increase amount of fertilizer with age
• Fertilize every 2 - 3 months with a long-acting organic fertilizer
• Alternatively every 2 weeks with liquid fertilizer

Pruning mango tree

Mangoes generally do not require regular pruning. However, mango trees can grow up to 40 meters high in their homeland. Of course, it never reaches these heights as a houseplant. Nevertheless, the mango can grow into a stately little tree. Therefore, a pruning every few years can make sense. The best time to do this is during the winter months. On the other hand, you can easily remove old, dried-up or dead plant parts all year round.

Pruning the mango plant correctly at a glance:

• No regular pruning needed
• Pruning back in winter
• Remove old or dried plant parts all year round

Winter mango tree properly

You may have already guessed: the tropical mango cannot be overwintered outside here. A mango tree feels very comfortable outside during the summer months. But as soon as the temperature falls below 20 °C, you should bring your mango inside. If the tree is in a warm room all year round, the mango never rests and is cared for in the winter as well as in the summer. However, if the mango moves to a cooler area in winter, there are a few rules to follow. Even in the cold season, temperatures should never fall below 15 °C - otherwise the plant will die. And even in colder temperatures, the mango wants to be as bright as possible. Basically, the warmer it is, the more light the plant needs. In cold winter quarters you can stop fertilizing completely and only water moderately.

How do I overwinter the mango correctly?

• Do not overwinter outside
• Winter in the warmth: no rest
• Winter in the cool: Above 15 °C
• As bright as possible
• Stop fertilizing, water moderately

Tip: Not only mango plants can be grown from a seed with the regrowing method. Instructions for regrowing over 20 types of fruit and vegetables can be found in the book "Regrow your Veggies" by Plantura co-founders Felix Lill and Melissa Raupach. The lovingly designed paperback also contains practical tips on care and what to do in the event of a pest infestation.