Authored by Donna Ryan in Gardening 
Published on 12-10-2009

Related to pistachios and cashews, the mango is native to India and Southeast Asia and is available in the grocery from spring to summer. The oval fruit with inedible skin yields flesh that is yellowish orange in color and rich in the substance beta carotene. Beta carotene is an antioxidant and disease fighter that changes to Vitamin A in the body. In addition to beta carotene, mangoes also furnish nutrition in the form of a number of B vitamins, Vitamin C and potassium as well.

Two types of mangoes are grown in the world—the Indian and Indochinese mango—from which a large variety of mangoes are produced. The Tommy Atkins mango is found most often in grocery stores in the U.S.

If you want to grow mango from seed, it’s best to choose a premium mango as you want seeds that are healthy for optimum growth. Therefore, select a mango that feels slightly heavy when you lift it. Also, the skin should spring back lightly to the touch. Choosing this kind of mango will typically guarantee that you’re buying a fruit that is juicy and ripe and is of good quality.

For the mango plant to grow successfully, you should live in a tropical or subtropical region to see your mango plant or tree prosper and yield a significant amount of fruit. In the U.S., Florida or some of the southern states, such as Louisiana or Mississippi, are good regions to see a healthy yield from a mango tree. The plant loves warm and sunny climates and rarely does well indoors in cooler climates. Keep that in mind if you’re serious about germinating a mango plant from seed.

The husk of the mango that holds the seed is located in the center of the mango and runs the length of the fruit. It’s about an inch thick and is big and fibrous. To remove the husk, slice the fruit lengthwise cutting the mango in half. As you halve the mango, make sure you don’t cut into the husk. After you remove the husk, wash it under running water with a scouring brush. Scrub away any flesh or remaining residue.

Once the husk is dry, pry it open with a utensil such as a butter knife and remove the seed. If the seed is healthy, it should be white. Discard the seed if it’s gray, brown or shriveled as this type of seed will not produce a select plant. Be extremely careful when removing the seed from the husk. Do not remove the root if one is present.

Find a pot for the seed that is approximately six to eight inches in circumference. Fill the pot with potting soil. Add a small amount of time-released fertilizer. Dampen the soil and tamp an indentation into the center for the seed. Place the mango seed in the indented portion of the soil with the rounded protuberance of the seed barely visible above the surface.

Never saturate the soil after planting the mango seed but make sure it’s kept damp. Place the pot with the mango seed in a warm location that receives plenty of sunlight. Keep it in this location for about ten days.

To increase the moisture and amount of heat, drape the pot with a plastic bag. After the ten-day period, your seed should sprout and you can transplant the seed outside in a sunny location.