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How to Plant a Mamey Seed

Mamey trees are tropical, fruit-producing trees that can grow to as tall as 75 feet. They are native trees to Mexico and Central America. They produce oval-shaped, 4- to 8-inch long fragrant fruit that have a taste similar to almonds, according to Carlos F. Balerdi, Jonathan H. Crane, and Ian Maguire at the University of Florida Extension. When planing mamey tree seeds, keep in mind the seeds can require between 1 and 2 months to germinate.

Cut open a fully ripened mamey fruit.

Remove the seeds from the pulp of the fruit. Set them into a fine wire sieve or basket. Rinse the mamey seeds off thoroughly. Use a small brush if necessary to remove all residue from each of the seeds.

  • Mamey trees are tropical, fruit-producing trees that can grow to as tall as 75 feet.
  • When planing mamey tree seeds, keep in mind the seeds can require between 1 and 2 months to germinate.

Place a good-quality seed-starting mix into a bucket or large bowl. Mix together one-third peat moss, one-third compost with one-third vermiculite or perlite to create your own seed-starting mix. Moisten the compost thoroughly. Do not let it become so wet that you can squeeze out excess water when compost is pinched between two fingers.

Sterilize the seed starting mix, if it does not state on the label that it has been sterilized. Place the mix into a shallow, metal, oven-proof tray. Bake the compost at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Allow the compost to completely cool before using.

  • Place a good-quality seed-starting mix into a bucket or large bowl.

Crack open the hard seed coat on each mamey tree seed. Place the seeds onto a towel. Fold a section of the towel on top of the seeds. Use a hammer to gentle tap on each seed to create a crack in the seed coat. You can also use a nut-cracker to gently create a crack in the seed coat.

Scoop the seed-starting mix into 4-inch plastic pots. Pack it down in the pots using your fingers, a spoon or a fork. Create 1/2-inch deep holes in the middle of each pot. Drop in one mamey tree seed into each hole. Sprinkle 1/2 inch of the seed starting mix over each of the mamey tree seeds.

  • Crack open the hard seed coat on each mamey tree seed.
  • Sprinkle 1/2 inch of the seed starting mix over each of the mamey tree seeds.

Transfer the pots to a moderately warm, light-filled place in your home. Aim to provide six to eight hours of indirect light a day. The temperature should be between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Water each of the pots using a mist of water from the spray bottle to keep the seedlings moist, but avoid letting them become sodden wet. Transplant the seedlings after they are about 6 to 8 inches tall, or when they are approximately five to six weeks old.

Tip

Plant mamey tree seeds as soon as you can. The seeds will lose viability within seven to 10 days after you remove them from the fruit.

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