Mango- Planting activities

Mango is propagated through seeds and also by grafts. Around 100 plants can be accommodated in an acre.

Epicotyl or stone grafting is the widely practiced method of grafting. One year old grafts are ideal for planting.

The planting should be done with the onset of monsoon showers. It helps the grafts to get established before the rains. If rainfall is heavy, planting should be done during August-September.

For raising rootstock, the seeds of mango are sown within 4-5 weeks after extraction. The germinated seedlings of 8-15 days old are used for grafting.

Select four month old scion materials. Defoliate the scion shoots 10 days prior to grafting.

Grafting of 8 cm long scion on rootstocks at a height of 6 to 8 cm is most successful. August is ideal for the operation.

Pits of size 1 m x 1 m x 1 m are made at a spacing of 9 m one month before planting. The pits are filled with a mixture of topsoil and 10 kg of compost to ground level.

The grafted plants are planted with their graft union above soil surface. Deep planting results in poor growth of the plant. The planting should preferably be done in evening hours.

Tie the plants to stakes to prevent snapping at the graft joints. Remove the vegetative growth arising below the graft union periodically.