How to grow mango from seed

Step 1: Eat the Mango & Clean the Husk 🥭

1. Enjoy your delicious mango, scraping off as much of the yellow, fibrous flesh from the large central pit as possible.
2. Use a scrub brush or a clean scouring pad under running water to clean the large, hairy outer husk. Let it air-dry for 24 hours so it isn’t slippery.

Step 2: Extract the True Seed ✂️

1. Look closely at the dried, fibrous husk. Inside this tough outer shell sits the actual mango seed, which looks like a large, pale lima bean (as seen on the wooden board in the image).
2. Carefully take your kitchen shears and snip a small opening along the thin edge of the husk. Be very careful not to cut too deep, or you might nick the delicate seed inside!
3. Pry the husk open with your fingers and gently slide the smooth, plump seed out. Discard the woody husk.

Step 3: The Paper Towel Germination Method 🧻

1. Wrap the naked mango seed snugly in a damp (but not dripping wet) paper towel.
2. Place the wrapped seed inside a ziplock bag, seal it almost all the way to trap the moisture, and store it in a warm, dark place like a kitchen cupboard or above the refrigerator.
3. Check the bag every few days to ensure the towel stays moist. Within 1 to 2 weeks, you will see a root sprout and a tiny reddish stem begin to emerge!

Step 4: Potting Your Sprout 🪴

1. Fill your small pot with loose, well-draining potting mix.
2. Create a small trench in the soil. Place the germinated seed horizontally into the soil, with the root pointing downwards and the new shoot pointing upwards (similar to the green seed sprouting in the clear cup in the image).
3. Cover the seed lightly with about half an inch of soil, leaving the very tip of the new shoot exposed. Water thoroughly until water drains out the bottom.

Step 5: Sun, Warmth, and Growth! ☀️

1. Place your new pot in a warm, bright location that gets plenty of indirect sunlight. As it grows stronger, move it to a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
2. Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged or soggy—mangoes hate having “wet feet.”
3. Watch in awe as your tiny sprout grows into a lush, gorgeous leafy plant with long, glossy green leaves, just like the beautiful potted plant shown in the bottom right of the image! 🌿