Starting an Orchard from Seed

Planting an orchard is a dream of many, but can be prohibitively expensive. Especially in a place like Maui. Doing it yourself can save some costs. But, the greatest savings come from a land planning strategy that can effectively utilize  the local resources available.

One often overlooked way to save on initial cost is to select trees that can be grown from seed, rather than purchased as grafted stock. You have probably heard that trees grown from seed are slow to produce fruit, and of unreliable quality. This is true more often than not. Only some specific types of tree can be planted from seed without compromising on quality, and then a trained eye is needed through the process.

For example, if you plant a mango seed from a grafted mango variety like Golden Globe, it will likely not be true to seed, and will take years to produce. Many mangos are mono-embryonic, meaning they contain a single fertilised embryo which will grow into a single sprout. This embryo will be a random genetic mix of the parent plants.

Only poly-embryonic mango seeds produce true clones of the parent.

Even then, poly-embryonic seeds will have multiple embryos, all but one of which will be clones of the parent tree. The fertilised embryo is usually smaller, stunted looking, or off-color in comparison.

So which mangos can reliably be planted from seed with the expectation that they will be true enough to type that they will be worth all the years of effort an orchard requires?

Here are some poly-embryonic mango varieties that do well on Maui:

Kensington Pride, R2E2, Florigon, Laris, Mekong, Ono, Orange, Turpentine, Samini, Simmonds, Torbet, Wester, Bullock's Heart, Bundaberg Late, Kasturi, Champagne, Honey, Altaufo, Manila, Chandrakaran, Cathamia, Baramasia, MA 173

But what if you don't know what kind of mango you have for sure, you just know you love the taste, and want to start planting seeds? Is there any way to tell if the seed is poly-embryonic or mono-embryonic?

Sadly it is not possible to tell by looking at the outside of the seed. By dissecting the seed, you can determine if there is one or multiple embryos.

Or, by planting the seed. A poly-embryonic mango that is true to type should have multiple sprouts.

Other advantages of planting from seed as opposed to buying grafted stock include an increased resistance to anthracnose (a fungal disease that can be very bad for mangos in Hawaii), as well as a faster rate of growth.

Because poly-embryonic mangos will be clones of the parent, they often fruit on a similar timeline as grafted trees. The increased seedling growth rate is a bonus that can get you larger trees and yields in less time.

Considering the cost of orchard quality small grafted mango trees can run $50 a piece or more, it offers a substantial cost savings to your Maui orchard installation to work with at least some seedlings.

Always make sure to research and trial your seeds before embarking on a new orchard. Careful selection of seeds or grafted trees that are appropriate for your area is critical to success.

Other types of tree, like Citrus, are similar to Mango in that only some poly-embryonic varieties will be true to seed. Some plants are not poly-embryonic, but are predictable and stable enough to plant from seed anyway. Papaya, for example, can easily be planted from seed with great results. And then some, like Avocado, are almost never poly-embryonic and are quite a gamble to plant from seed.

If you'd like some expert assistance with your Maui land planning, land development, orchard installation, or other tree services, get in touch and we would be happy to help.