Leander
The Mango Tree
Meet Leander, a young mango grown from a supermarket seed. She was sown in late October and is already showing a strong root and emerging shoot in the mini greenhouse.
Her botanical world
According to Kew's Plants of the World Online, Mangifera indica is a tree whose native range reaches from Assam to China (southern Yunnan). It is widely cultivated throughout the tropics for its fruit.
In floras cited by Kew it is described as a tree of about 10–30 m. While young, Leander needs warmth, humidity and consistent moisture — never soggy. An exciting long-term project plant, with the potential to fruit under the right conditions.
Growing journal
A Rather Eager Beginning
Leander began with an ordinary mango bought for its fruit.
But after we'd enjoyed the mango, we decided to see whether its seed might grow.
On 22 October, we tucked the seed into a little bag with perlite and moisture, and waited.
We didn't have to wait very long.
Much sooner than expected, there were signs of life. A little green growth appeared, followed by a curious brown shoot that curled over the top of the seed.
I was surprised by how quickly she was growing.
By 2 November, it seemed time to take a closer look. The seed was still firm to the touch, and the little shoot was continuing to develop.
So today we gave her a pot of her own, with fresh compost and perlite, leaving the upper part of the seed visible.
And, of course, we gave her a name.
Leander.
She doesn't have any leaves yet, or even a proper little stem reaching towards the light. But something rather extraordinary is already happening beneath that modest beginning.
A mango bought for its fruit has become the beginning of a tree.
For now, we'll keep her warm, watch for her first leaves, and see what happens next.
And so Leander's growing journal begins.
Next time: Will that curious little shoot become her first stem?
