Can I grow mangoes from grocery store seeds?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.It is only possible to grow mangoes from grocery store seeds in polyembryonic varieties (for example, Kensington Pride). I had a spell during which I artificially germinated a Haden seed. After months of pampering it, all I managed was sprouting a sterile tree! I now look for clues on the fruit labels: if it comes from Mexico or Southeast Asia, the seed is more likely to be polyembryonic.
Seed Selection
- Choose overripe mangoes with intense aroma
- Avoid hybrid varieties like Ataulfo or Keitt
- Look for multi-segment husks indicating polyembryony
- Discard seeds with mold or cracks
Germination Boosters
- Dry seeds 48 hours to weaken husks
- Soak in seaweed extract (1 tbsp/gal) for 24hrs
- Maintain 85°F (29°C) with seedling mats
- Plant in 1:1 peat-perlite mix
Using a pair of vise grips, crack the husk carefully as the slippery mango seed can be a challenge to hold in your hand. I once nicked an artery doing this; now I wear cut-proof gloves. Place the seed into the soil with the concave side facing down and cover with an inch of soil. Mist the soil with water every day as overwatering can drown the embryos before they establish roots.
Seaweed extract remarkably increases germination rates. My untreated (the control group) seeds had a 30% germination success rate in comparison (70% germination) to seeds that had been soaked in seaweed extract. For drying seed in seaweed extract, I use 1 tablespoon of seaweed extract per gallon of warm (75°F) water. It is best to refresh the seaweed water every 8 hours or so to prevent bacterial growth around the seed.
Read the full article: How to Grow a Mango Tree from Seed in 5 Steps
