Steps:
- Select a ripe, healthy mango: Choose a mango from a tree with desirable fruit characteristics. The seeds lose viability quickly, so plant them within a few days of harvesting the fruit.
- Extract and clean the seed: Carefully remove the seed from the fruit. Clean off all the pulp.
- Remove the husk: This is crucial for faster germination. Use strong scissors or a sharp knife to carefully cut along the thin edge of the kidney-shaped husk and pry it open to remove the embryo inside. Some people soak the seed in water for 24 hours first to soften the husk.
- Germinate the seed:
- Paper towel method: Wrap the cleaned seed in a damp paper towel and place it in a sealed plastic bag. Keep it in a warm, dark place. Check regularly for sprouts (roots and shoots).
- Direct planting: Plant the husked seed directly into a pot filled with well-draining potting mix (e.g., 50% coarse river sand, 25% sphagnum peat moss, 25% vermiculite). Plant the seed on its edge with the concave side facing downwards, leaving a part of the top uncovered.
- Potting and care:
- Once the seed germinates (typically 10-14 days), transfer it to a 3-4 inch pot.
- Place the germinating seed flat on the soil and cover with more soil, ensuring new leaves are not covered.
- Provide bright, indirect sunlight (filtered sunlight initially, then gradually expose to more sun).
- Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
- Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer once the seedling has multiple sets of leaves and fills the pot with roots.
- Transplanting: As the seedling grows, gradually move it to larger pots. When planting outdoors, choose a sunny location with well-draining soil. Dig a hole wide and deep enough to accommodate the root ball.
