Grafted mango tree vs seedling mango tree | Which is better?

A grafted mango tree will produce fruit quicker than a seedling mango tree so is a better choice if you are looking to get fruit quickly. Grafted mango trees will be grown on a strong, advanced root system so can adapt to range of soil types vs a seedling mango tree. A seedling mango tree will usually cost less and can grow to a bigger size vs a grafted mango tree.

Choosing a grafted mango tree vs a seedling mango tree will depend on what you are aiming for. If you want fruit quickly choose a grafted mango tree, if you want a cheaper option choose a seedling mango tree.

In the video above, you can see that seedling mango trees can outperform grafted mangoes for size and growth rate. From a grafted plant we will know what fruit we will get as it will be the same as the parent but for seedling mangoes it is going to be a surprise.

Difference between a grafted mango tree and a seedling mango tree

A seedling mango is grown directly from the seed while a grafted mango is made by joining together a good fruiting mango stem at the top and a strong root system at the bottom. Mango trees are grafted to get the best fruiting tree with a strong root system. Root systems can be chosen because of their ability to tolerate a vast range of soils temperatures and resistance to pests and diseases.

A seedling mango tree is grown from the seed of the mango. Although mango trees self-pollenate, they don’t always produce a tree the same as the parent. Sometimes they will grow bigger or smaller or have different fruit. It is not known exactly how the plant will come out when you grow a seedling mango tree.

I like to grow all of my fruit trees by seed and I like the variety of fruit they can produce. I am growing my mango tree as coverage for our front yard and not just for the fruit.  My goal is a big bushy tree and mango fruit is a bonus.

Grafted mango tree vs seedling mango tree – Time to grow fruit

A grafted mango tree will take 3-4 years to grow fruit and a seedling mango tree will take 5-8 years to fruit. The main reason I am growing a mango tree is for the leaf coverage. I want to keep it down to 10 feet high (3 meters) even though mangoes can grow over 65 feet (20 meters). I want the top to branch out and block the view into our town house.

Although the seedling Kensington Mango may take 5 years to produce fruit, I hope that in 1-2 years it will grow plenty of leaves and branches to block the view into our front yard.

Benefits of a grafted mango tree vs a seedling mango tree

The benefits of a grafted mango tree are:

• It is selected to produce good quality fruit – the same as the parent plant
• The root system is chosen to be strong and often tolerant to a range of soils
• Produces fruit quicker than a seedling tree
• More disease resistant
• More productive than seedling plants

The best time of year to plant a mango tree

The best time of year to plant a seedling or grafted mango tree is in Fall (Autumn). The weather is cool so won’t burn the leaves of the young mango tree or dry out the soil too quickly. The cool fall and winter weather will allow the plant to settle into its growing space getting ready to sprout again in spring.

Mango trees grow best in tropical and subtropical areas which have milder winters. They will stay green all year round and have new growth in spring and again the next fall.

How to plant a seedling or grafted mango tree – Step by Step

If you have chosen a seedling mango tree or a grafted mango tree, this step by step process will get them off to the best start ready to produce lots of new leaves and fruit.

Step 1: Prepare the soil with aged cow manure, pelleted chicken manure and dig it in. Dig this through an area at least 2-3 times the size of the fruit tree root ball.

Step 2: Dig a hole the depth of the root ball and at least twice as wide.

Step 3: Remove the mango tree from the pot or grow bag and place it in the hole. Backfill the hole pressing down firmly. I have planted my mango tree slightly higher than ground level and mounded the soil up. This will make sure it is well drained and the roots won’t stay too wet.

Step 4: Cover it with a thick layer of sugar cane mulch. This will help to keep the water in the soil and stop the mango from drying out. Lay the sugar cane mulch at least 2-3 inches thick.

Step 5: Water it in well using a spray attachment on your hose. This will settle the soil around the roots of the plant without washing the soil away.

This step by step process will get your mango tree of to the best start and ready to grow quickly in the next spring. It provides lots of organic matter and long lasting, slow release nutrients. Keep your new mango tree well-watered, particularly over the first few weeks. Test the soil with your finger and if it feels dry 1 inch down, then make sure you water the plant well.

Do you need two mango trees to produce fruit?

You do not need two mango trees to produce fruit, you only need one. Mango trees are self-pollenating meaning that they produce pollen on the male anther which will be deposited on the female stigma. Pollen can be moved from flower to flower by insect pollinators like bees or butterflies or by the wind.

Summary: What is better a seedling mango tree or a grafted mango tree?

I chose a seedling mango tree because I want a large, affordable tree to grow a nice screen in my front yard. I chose a Kensington Pride mango which can grow over 65 feet but I will keep it trimmed to 9 feet so that I can still reach the top with loppers.

I am excited to see how fast my mango tree grows after I prepared the soil with a whole bag of cow manure, plus pelleted chicken manure and topped it off with sugar cane mulch.