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How fast do mango trees grow


How to Grow Mango Trees

Although it can be tricky to grow, a mango tree (Mangifera indica) can make for an interesting specimen when grown in the ground or a large pot. This tree forms a dense canopy of long oblong green leaves in the right conditions, rewarding you with white flowers from December through March. After flowering, mango trees bear fruit three to five months later.

Mango trees grow best in tropical and warmer subtropical climates where there is no danger of frost. In the United States, mango trees grow in California, Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. They should be planted in the spring and are generally fast-growing. You don't need two trees to produce fruit; a single tree has flowers with male and female parts.

Mango trees planted in the garden are more likely to bear fruit than potted trees. It is challenging to keep an indoor mango tree alive long enough to reach maturity and bear fruit. Small varieties suitable for containers, such as the dwarf spotted mango tree, are capable of fruiting if they receive enough sunlight. Its fruit are usually ripe for picking in summer or autumn but it varies per region. Also, note that the sap, bark, or fruit skin can be toxic to people.

Common Name Mango
Botanical Name  Mangifera indica
Family Anacardiaceae
Plant Type Fruit, tree
Size Up to 100 ft. tall, 35 ft. wide
Sun Exposure Full sun
Soil Type Loamy, moist, well-drained
Soil pH Acidic, neutral, alkaline
Bloom Time Winter
Hardiness Zones 9–11 (USDA)
Native Area Asia
Toxicity Toxic to people

How to Plant a Mango Tree

When to Plant

The best time to plant a mango tree is in the spring when the weather is still mild. However, be sure it will not be exposed to any frost.

Selecting a Planting Site

Mango trees prefer a sunny spot with loose, well-draining soil. Consider the tree's mature size when selecting a planting site, and note the site's proximity to other plants and structures. Container growth is an option for the smaller mango tree varieties. 

Spacing, Depth, and Support

Spacing depends on the mango variety you're growing. Check the mature canopy width, along with the height, to make sure you'll have enough room to grow your tree. Saplings should be planted in their nursery container at the same depth they were growing. You should plant seeds about 1/2 inch deep. Saplings might need staking for support as they grow, especially in an area with strong winds.

Mango Tree Care

Light

Mango trees require full sun, meaning at least eight hours of direct sunlight on most days. Their flower and fruit production will suffer if they don't get enough light. A south-facing window indoors can work, but it's best to move the pot outside as much as possible for full sunlight exposure.

Soil

These trees can tolerate a variety of soil types. But a sandy loam that's light and well-draining is best. The soil pH can range from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (5.5 to 7.5).

Water

Mango trees have some drought tolerance, though drought can negatively impact fruit production. It's best to water whenever the top couple inches of soil dries out, but do not let the tree sit in soggy soil.

Temperature and Humidity

Mango trees prefer humidity above 50 percent; mist an indoor tree daily if the air is dry. Also, keep your tree as warm as possible, ideally above 70 degrees. Mango trees can't tolerate freezing, and even temperatures in the 40s can cause flowers and fruit to drop.

Fertilizer

These trees don’t need a lot of fertilizer, and if you already have rich soil, you likely won’t have to provide supplemental feeding. A slow-release balanced fertilizer can be applied in poor soil conditions, following label instructions. 

Pollination

Mango trees are pollinated by bees, ants, flies, and other pollinators, along with wind.

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Types of Mango Trees

If you're growing a mango tree from seed, don't expect the fruit to be true to the parent plant. It is also possible that the propagated tree will be sterile and won't bear fruit, so it is generally best to buy a grafted mango variety if you want fruit. Some good choices include:

  • 'Pickering' develops into a bushy tree. You can expect it to flower in late winter and bear fruit in the summer.
  • 'Ice Cream' makes a good plant for the patio, as it grows to 6 feet tall. When ripe, the fruit is yellow-green rather than red.
  • 'Cogshall' is an excellent choice for growing in a container and produces fruit consistently.

Mangoes vs. Peaches

Mangoes and peaches are often substituted for one another in recipes. Their fruit color and texture is similar. However, mangoes can taste a little tangier than peaches. And peaches can be more watery. 

Harvesting Mangoes

A mango tree from seed requires at least five to eight years to bear fruit; a nursery sapling should produce fruit in about four years.

The mango fruit takes three to five months to ripen after the tree has flowered. The color of the ripe fruit depends on the variety. The fruit is typically harvested by hand and must be handled gently to avoid breaking the skin.

One way to test for readiness is to pick fruit and sniff it to see if it has a sweet scent. If you pick unripe fruit, you can place it in a paper bag at room temperature to ripen further over several days. Mango can be eaten raw or cooked. Immature fruit is often used to make pickled mango. Store fully ripe fruit in the refrigerator, and aim to use it within a week. It also can be frozen.

How to Grow Mango Trees in Pots

Most dwarf mango trees typically reach 4 to 8 feet tall, making them ideal for growing in pots. With container growth, you can keep your tree in an easily accessible spot for harvesting, and you don't have to dedicate a lot of garden space to it.

The best time to plant mango trees in containers is in the spring. Choose a container at least 20 inches tall and wide with ample drainage holes. An unglazed clay container is best because it will allow excess soil moisture to escape through its walls. Place it on a plant caddie with rolling casters for easy mobility.

Pruning

Pruning typically should occur every year or two after the tree bears fruit to keep its size manageable. The trees can tolerate heavy pruning, though fruit production can take a season to bounce back. Thin some canopy branches to improve air flow and allow sunlight to reach the remaining branches. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches as they arise.  

Propagating Mango Trees

Mango trees are typically grown from seed or grafted nursery trees. It's also possible to grow them from cuttings. Though cuttings don't always result in a strong root system, it is an inexpensive and easy way to create new trees. The best time to do so is in the summer. Here's how:

  1. Cut a 6- to 8-inch portion of a young, thin branch from a healthy mango tree, and remove the leaves on the lower half. Also, remove any flowers or fruit. 
  2. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
  3. Plant the cutting in a small container with moistened soilless potting mix. The container should have drainage holes. 
  4. Put the container in a warm, humid spot with bright, indirect light. And keep the growing medium moist but not soggy. Adding a heat mat under the container to keep the soil between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit can help to promote root growth. It can take several weeks to have substantial root growth. 

How to Grow Mango Trees From Seed

To germinate mango seeds, carefully remove the outer hairy husk to reveal the inner seed. Polyembryonic plants, such as the mango tree, have seeds with several smaller seeds inside, while other plants have just one seed.

You can suspend a seed over water like an avocado seed to develop roots. Or you can plant it with the bulging side up about 1/2 inch deep in a container of a seed-starting mix. It should sprout within two weeks. Keep the seed in temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and keep the growing medium moist but not soggy. Wait to plant the sprouted seed in a larger container until its second growing season begins.

Potting and Repotting Mango Trees

A well-draining potting mix for citrus plants or palms is suitable for potting mangoes. Mango trees will grow into small trees fairly quickly (in about four or five years) and require repotting when they become root-bound or too top-heavy for the pot. The timing of this can vary depending on your pot size and variety of tree.

To repot, gently remove the tree from its old container, place it at the same depth it was previously growing in a larger container, and fill around it with fresh potting mix. Then, water it deeply, ensuring the excess water drains out of the container.

Overwintering

Potted mango trees should be brought indoors for the winter before the temperature dips below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Place them by a bright, south-facing window, and use grow lights if necessary. The trees should be kept warm and protected from drafts.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Mango may suffer from some common insect pests, including mealybugs, aphids, and mites. Signs of infestation include tiny webs on plants, clumps of white powdery residue, and visible insects. Treat infestations as soon as possible to prevent them from spreading to the rest of your collection. Start with the least toxic treatment option, progressing to more serious chemicals only if your initial efforts fail.

Mango plants also are susceptible to anthracnose, a fungal disease causing black lesions that gradually spread. Seriously infected trees stop producing fruit. The best preventive measure is to plant a resistant variety in full sun, where moisture will quickly evaporate.

Extreme humidity fosters anthracnose and other fungal diseases. Copper-based fungicides can sometimes be effective against anthracnose on mango trees, but you should not use fungicides within 14 days of a planned fruit harvest.

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Mango (Mangifera Indica). Children’s Health Queensland

Full Mango Tree Lifespan (And How To Grow Them)

As you probably know, mangoes are a sweet fruit that comes from a tree and is used in many dishes and desserts. But do you know anything beyond that, like how or where mango trees grow? 

Mango trees typically live well past 100 years and can produce fruit until the late stages of their life cycle. Mango trees planted from seeds will take roughly 8 years to produce fruit, while mango trees planted from saplings will take up to 5 years to produce mangoes.

Before we dive any deeper into those intricate details about mango trees, let’s take a moment to get back to the basics, shall we? To talk about how a mango tree grows, we should first give a mention to the mangoes themselves, the reason why these trees are so loved. Let’s get into it!

Just to add – when you shop using links from Tree Journey, we may earn affiliate commissions if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

What Is A Mango?

A mango is, of course, a sweet fruit that comes from a tree…but it is also so much more!

Native to South Asia, this fruit is one of the most highly cultivated tropical fruits.

The flesh of the mango (the part you eat) is typically yellow or orange, but the skin can be quite the range of colors! You can see red, yellow, orange, green, or perhaps a mixture of them all in the skin of a mango. It just depends on the stage in the ripening process and some other chemical processes that impact the outward appearance of the mango.

The type of fruit is called a ‘stone fruit’ which is exactly what it sounds like. 

Why Is A Mango A Stone Fruit?

Stone fruit is a type of fruit that contains, you guessed it, a stone (or a pit.)

Did you know, though, that the pit itself is not the seed of these sorts of fruit? 

The seed is found inside of the stone, which can be cut open to retrieve the seed. This is an important nuisance to be aware of if you are looking to grow a mango tree directly from a mango seed. 

Popular stone fruits are peaches, mangoes, apricots, cherries, nectarines, plums, and dates. 

What Type Of Tree Is A Mango Tree?

Mango trees are evergreen and their leaves last for many years at a time. 

As one of the most widely cultivated tropical fruits in the world, mangoes’ variability in color and size is not the only part of this plant that is adaptable. 

These trees can live for quite some time and can produce fruit quite late into their lifespan.  

Speaking of which, let’s finally dive into the lifespan of a mango tree.

What Is The Lifespan Of A Mango Tree?

Alright, alright- we are finally getting to the part that you are here for!

A mango tree lives for well over 100 years, producing fruit well into the late stages of its life.

Let’s dive into the different stages of a mango tree’s life, from planting to maturity to the end of it all. Here are some of the things you can expect as you work to grow and maintain a mango tree:

Early Mango Tree Lifespan And Planting

To plant a mango tree from the seed, you have to start with the pit and the rest will follow. 

Follow these easy steps to procure a mango seed and plant yourself a tree!

  1. Cut open your mango to reach the pit (aka the stone.)
  2. Clean the pit until you can see the husk without much extra mango on it.
  3. Grab a pair of heavy-duty scissors and cut the pit open.
  4. Squeeze the mango seed out of the husk of the pit.
  5. If the seed has any extra coating around it, clean this off.
  6. Wrap your seed into a wet paper towel and place it inside a bag until it sprouts. Check often to be sure that you don’t leave your seed for too long.
  7. Plant the seed in potting soil. 
  8. Watch your tree begin to grow!
  9. You’ll need to re-pot the mango tree as it grows, eventually placing the tree directly in the ground.

You will want to start by covering the roots of your not-quite-mature mango tree, especially any newly planted trees or shrubs, with a few inches of shredded mulch. 3-4 inches of this layer should do the trick to create some insulation around the base of the tree. Creating a mulch donut of sorts, pulling the mulch to about 6 inches around the trunk on every side, will ensure that any stray roots will not be subject to the freezing temperatures.

If there are any cracks in the soil around your tree as you are completing this first step, you’ll want to make sure that they are filled in with new soil before you move on. 

If you wish to grow a mango tree without having to purchase the actual fruit itself, you can look into products like these prepared Dichondra Fresh Mango Seeds.

Growing Mango Trees To Maturity

If you are planting a mango tree from the seed, you should expect to wait 5-8 years before getting any fruit. 

However, planting seeds is not the only way to go. Planting saplings will help you lower your wait time as you patiently let the tree mature long enough to bear fruit. 

A mango tree sapling will bear fruit about 4 years after it is planted, significantly less than a mango tree planted from seed. 

This is no surprise, as saplings are often already a few years old by the time of purchase, but can be an important factor to remember if getting fruit sooner is your ultimate goal.

End Of Life For Mango Trees

Information from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse tells us that the oldest living mango tree is 300 years old and still produces fruit! This tree can be found in East Khandesh, in India. 

So, that mango trees can live over 100 years feels almost like an understatement. These trees have quite a long lifespan and the ability to produce fruit until the end of the tree’s life says a lot about the vicarious nature of this tree. 

How Long Can A Mango Tree Produce Fruit?

After flowering, a mango tree takes three to five months for the fruit to ripen.

These trees can begin producing fruit as young as 5 years after being planted from the seed and can bear fruit until the very end of their lifespan as seen by the 300-year-old mango tree in India that continues to bear fruit. 

This means that mango trees produce fruit from early mature life until the very end. 

Theoretically, if every tree lived as long as the oldest tree, each plant could bear 295 years’ worth of fruit.

How To Grow A Mango Tree

As a reminder, you can plant a mango tree from the seed in a few simple steps.

  1. Cut open your mango.
  2. Clean the pit.
  3. Cut the pit open.
  4. Squeeze the mango seed out.
  5. If the seed has any extra coating, clean it.
  6. Wrap your seed into a wet paper towel and place it inside a bag until it sprouts. Check often.
  7. Plant the seed in potting soil. 
  8. Watch your tree begin to grow!
  9. You’ll need to re-pot the mango tree as it grows.

These few steps are important factors to plant a tree, but there is more that goes into growing the tree itself. 

If you want to start your mango seedlings off on the right foot, try out some good seedling mixes such as this Sun Gro 8-Quart Mix!

The basis of a healthy tree starts at its origin, so making sure to take external factors into your planting plans can make a big difference.  

Then, as your tree grows you’ll be able to make informed decisions about how you maintain it to keep a healthy mango tree with great fruit. 

Best Time Of Year For Growing And Harvesting Mangos

Mango is harvested in the warmer months of late spring and summer, but when should you plant a mango tree for best results?

Late winter to early spring is the best time to plant a mango tree. 

This is because the plant does not actively grow during this point of the year and will be better able to get situated in the soil before active growth continues in the warmer months of the year.

Best Location For Growing Mangos

Where do mangoes grow best, exactly?

Mango trees are best suited for a tropical climate, really anywhere in the USDA hardiness zone 9 and above. 

This means, essentially, that you should be planting a mango tree in an area where the temperature does not dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.  

Areas that do not tend to have a frost are the prime candidates for these trees, like warm regions of Hawaii,California, Florida, and other areas along the Gulf of Mexico. 

No matter where you plan to plant your mango tree, it is important to be aware of hardiness zones and their implications.

Fertilize Your Mangos To Maximize Their Lifespan

If you have been reading our pieces for a while now, you know that fertilizer is the name of the game. 

While this does not plant food, as it is often (and incorrectly) referred to, it does act as a way to help trees and other plants absorb more of those oh-so-important nutrients that they need.

You can fertilize your mango tree 3 times a year, during each season that is not winter, starting at a lower amount when the tree is young and increasing slightly to adjust to the larger size of the tree as it matures. 

Though mango, by definition, is not a citrus, the tree does require many of the same nutrients to grow at a healthy, stable rate.  

Balanced fertilizers, but a little high in nitrogen content, will be best for these types of trees. 

When looking for certain specific nutrients, you’ll want to keep an eye out for phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen (the big 3 of fertilizers), manganese, zinc, and iron. 

The big three will show up pretty clearly in the N/P/K ratio (standing for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) while the other types of nutrients may need to be sought after a little more. 

Speaking of the big three and ratios, if you see fertilizer with the numbers 5-5-5, 6-6-6, or 8-3-9-2 (the 2 is an add-on and refers to magnesium), you can safely bet that you’re purchasing the right type of fertilizer. 

If you are having troubles with your tree even after fertilizing, it could be a pest issue. Check out this article on 9 Different Animals And Insects That Live In Trees.

This Dr. Earth Natural Wonder Organic Fruit Tree Fertilizer is a great option, with an NPK of 5-5-2, it is a well-balanced fertilizer with extra emphasis on stimulating healthy root development.  

Ways To Use Mangos From Your Mango Tree

So, now that you know how to plant, grow, and sustain a mango tree, what can you do with the fruit? There are so many dishes to make with mango that you won’t even know where to start!

Mango Sticky Rice

This Thai classic is a favorite among locations, served as a slightly sweet dessert for those who prefer the flavors of this fruit more than a dish completely lost to the sugar content. 

If you’re looking to get kids to eat more fruit, this could be a fun start– add in some blueberries along with the sticky rice and condensed milk for a fun yet healthier dessert dish.

This warm and filling dish can be eaten at any time of year, warm or cold!

Mango Popsicles

On a similar note, if you’re looking to reap some benefits of mango without all the processing that you’ll find in store-bought popsicles, buy some mangoes and create your own!

Be sure to have a bit of lime juice, some honey for sweetness, and fresh water on hand to blend with your mango chunks. You’ll have a refreshing summer treat in the time it takes to freeze (though popsicles also pair well with a relaxing day at home, staying out of the winter cold- no judgment here!)

Mango Salsa

Looking for a fresh way to use all that produce you bought for the holiday gatherings? Whip up a quick and easy mango salsa using some peppers, onions, mangoes, tomatoes, lime juice, and whatever else you have sitting around the kitchen. 

Use as a dip with some chips or chop the veggies into larger chunks and eat it as a salad. You’ll love this dish and all of the crisp, fresh flavors that are mixed in.

Salmon With Mango Sauce

Bake some salmon and use mango salsa, or any sort of version you concoct, to top it off. You can balance the crispy edges of the fish with the softer, lighter pieces of mango to create a meal that feels as delightful to eat as it does healthy to prepare.

Shrimp Tacos With Mango Salsa

On the note of using a sauce or salsa, why stop at chips and salmon? Let’s talk tacos!

Make some shrimp tacos ( white fish tacos pair well, too) and add some purple cabbage, a spicy sauce, and mango salsa on top. This combination of textures and flavors combines to make the perfect lunch that feels balanced yet yummy.

Mango Lassi

The University of Southern California notes that a mango lassi recipe can provide 39% of the daily calcium recommendation in just a little drink. 

This creamy yogurt drink originates in India, home to the oldest mango tree currently producing fruit as well as one of the biggest consumers of mango in the world. 

Combine mango pulp, yogurt, and a dash of carbonated water with a few other ingredients to easily re-create this healthy yet tasty treat.

Mango Fruit Salad

Why go for a regular, boring fruit salad when you can add mango and elevate any version of a fruit salad immediately? 

Combine some apples, grapes, mango, raspberry, strawberries, and blueberries to make a semi-tropical fusion fruit salad that takes ‘regular’ and spins it on its head. 

The taste is great but the antioxidants and vitamins that these salad packs are more than enough reason to give this dish a try.

Mango Chutney

Another Indian dish, chutney is a gluten-free savory condiment that can be used with a whole spread of different foods. 

Mango chutney in particular is rich in vitamins A, B, and C, along with other antioxidants and heart-healthy factors.

This is also, like most other mango dishes, a great way to get some extra iron in your diet when needed. 

Mango Sorbet

Finally, one more sweet dessert dish that is easy to make, has a great taste and will leave you feeling like your final course didn’t go to waste. 

This light relative of ice cream is great after a heavier meal when you want something else, without feeling much fuller.

Wrapping Up!

Well, that’s all we’ve got for now.

If the bad pun didn’t scare you away, feel free to check out some more pieces on more trees here anytime!

Remember these important facts about mangoes as a fruit, the lifespan of the trees, how to grow them, and more!

If you ever forget, just pop back over to this piece for a refresher. We like to do all the deep-diving for information so that you don’t have to you’re welcome!

If you are ever are interested in mango trees and how their roots work, you can check out this article on the 6 Best Fruit Trees That Have Shallow Roots.

Also, keep some of these recipe ideas in mind- they might come in handy in a few years when your tree is producing plenty of mangoes and you’re trying to keep some new dishes in the rotation.

Thank you for taking the time to read, I hope you learned lots of new information about mangoes and their trees. We invite you to stop back sometime and check out a little more. 

Remember, we are always here to help you along your tree journey. 

References

Boudon, F., Persello, S., Grechi, I., Marquier, A., Soria, C., Fournier, C., … & Normand, F. (2018, August). Assessing the role of aging and light availability in leaf mortality in the mango tree. In XXX International Horticultural Congress IHC2018: International Symposium on Cultivars, Rootstocks and Management Systems of 1281 (pp. 601-608).

Wall‐Medrano, A., Olivas‐Aguirre, F. J., Ayala‐Zavala, J. F., Domínguez‐Avila, J. A., Gonzalez‐Aguilar, G. A., Herrera‐Cazares, L. A., & Gaytan‐Martinez, M. (2020). Health Benefits of Mango By‐products. Food Wastes and By‐products: Nutraceutical and Health Potential, 159-191.

Boudon, F., Persello, S., Grechi, I., Marquier, A., Soria, C., Fournier, C., … & Normand, F. (2018, August). Assessing the role of ageing and light availability in leaf mortality in the mango tree. In XXX International Horticultural Congress IHC2018: International Symposium on Cultivars, Rootstocks and Management Systems of 1281 (pp. 601-608).

How and where does mango grow in nature and at home, what does the plant and fruit look like + photo

How does a mango grow? This question was probably asked by everyone who tried an exotic tropical fruit for the first time. A plant with fleshy fruits - orange or reddish, fragrant and juicy, sour-sweet inside and greenish-red outside - is it a tree or a bush? From which countries are fruits delivered to supermarket shelves? And is it possible to grow full-fledged fruit-bearing mangifers from oblong seeds - mango fruit seeds - at home?

Contents

  • 1 Mango - fruit and ornamental plant

    • 1. 1 Countries and regions of growth

    • 1.2 Video: how a mango grows

  • 2 Long-lived tree

  • 3 Mango fruit

    • 3.1 What does mango taste like

  • 4 Mangifera at home

    • 4.1 Video: how to grow a mango from a stone at home

Mango - fruit and ornamental plant

Mango, or mangifera, is cultivated as a fruit and ornamental plant. Evergreen trees Mangifera indica (Indian mango) belong to the Sumac family (Anacardiaceae). They have glossy dark green (or tinged with reddish) foliage and grow to gigantic sizes. But with proper and regular pruning, they can be quite compact.

A mango tree in bloom is an unforgettable sight. It is strewn with large pink inflorescences-panicles exuding a unique aroma. Therefore, the plant is grown not only for the sake of obtaining fruits, but also for its use in landscape design (when decorating parks, squares, household plots, private greenhouses, winter gardens, etc. ). However, its main purpose in exporting countries is still agricultural.

This is how green (Philippine) mango grows

Countries and regions of growth

Mangifera comes from the humid tropics of Assam, India, and the forests of Myanmar. It is considered a national treasure among the Hindus and in Pakistan. It is grown in tropical Asia, in the west of Malesia, on the Solomon Islands and east of the Malay Archipelago, in California (USA) and tropical Australia, in Cuba and Bali, the Canaries and the Philippine Islands.

India is considered the largest supplier of mangoes in the world - a year it provides the market with more than thirteen and a half million tons of these fruits. Mangoes are also cultivated in Europe - in the Canary Islands and in Spain. Ideal conditions for the plant are a hot climate with not too much rainfall. Despite the fact that Armenian-made mango juice can be found on supermarket shelves, mangifera does not grow in Armenia.

She can be found:

  • in Thailand - the country's climate is perfect for tropical plants, the mango harvest season here is from April to May, and Thais love to enjoy ripe fruits;
  • in Indonesia, as well as in Bali, the mango harvesting season is autumn-winter, from October to January;
  • in Vietnam - winter-spring, from January to March;
  • in Turkey - Mangifera is not very common, but is grown and ripens in the middle or towards the end of summer;
  • in Egypt - mango ripens from early summer, June, until autumn, until September, it is even exported to other countries;
  • In Russia - in the south of Stavropol and in the Krasnodar Territory (Sochi), but rather as an ornamental plant (blooms in May, and bears fruit by the end of summer).

Indian mango on tree

The genus includes more than 300 species, some varieties were cultivated several thousand years ago. In tropical countries, you can try mangoes Alfonso, Bauno, Quini, Pajang, Blanco, fragrant, bottled and others, in Russia, Indian varieties of mangoes, with a reddish barrel, and South Asian (Philippine) varieties of green mangoes go on sale more often.

Mangifera is very sensitive to cold, which is why in the middle latitudes it can be grown only in heated rooms - winter gardens, greenhouses, greenhouses. Trees need a lot of light, but they do not need rich soil.

Even a short-term drop in air temperature below plus five degrees Celsius will negatively affect young trees - their flowers and fruits will die. Mature mangoes can withstand light frosts for short periods of time.

Video: how a mango grows

long-lived tree

Shady mango trees with a wide rounded crown grow up to twenty meters or more in height, develop very quickly (if they have enough heat and light, and the humidity is not too high) and live for a long time - there are even three-hundred-year-old specimens in the world that even in such a venerable bear fruit in age. Access to water and useful minerals in the soil for these plants is provided by long roots (rods), which grow underground to a depth of five to six, or even nine to ten meters.

Mango - evergreen and non-deciduous, very beautiful trees. They are decorative all year round. The leaves of mature mangoes are oblong, dark green above, and much lighter below, with clearly visible pale veins, dense and glossy. The young foliage of the shoots has a reddish color. Inflorescences are like panicles - pyramidal - there are up to two thousand yellow, pinkish or orange, and sometimes red flowers each. But only a few of them (two or three per inflorescence) are pollinated and bear fruit. There are varieties that do not require pollination at all.

Pyramidal Mango Buds

Mangifera does not bear fruit in conditions when the humidity is high, with a large amount of precipitation. Fruits are also not set when the air temperature (including at night) drops below plus twelve degrees Celsius. Mango trees begin to bloom and bear fruit only five to six years after they are planted. In a greenhouse or at home, you can see the flowers and fruits of the mangifera only if you buy grafted seedlings or graft them yourself. And at the same time, observe the necessary parameters of humidity and air temperature, properly care for and cut.

In the countries of growth, mangifera forms entire mango forests and is considered the same agricultural crop as, for example, wheat or corn in our country. Under natural conditions (in the wild), the plant can reach a height of thirty meters, has a crown diameter of up to eight meters, its lanceolate leaves grow up to forty centimeters in length. Fruits after pollination of flowers ripen within three months.

Mango trees only produce two harvests under cultivated conditions, in the wild mango trees bear fruit once a year.

Mangifera blooms like this

Mango

The unusual appearance of mangifera trees always attracts the attention of tourists who visit tropical countries for the first time. Their fruits ripen on long (about sixty centimeters) shoots - former panicles - two or more on each, have an oblong shape (curved, ovoid, flattened), up to twenty-two centimeters long and weighing about seven hundred grams each.

Fruit rind - glossy, like wax - colored depending on the type of plant and the degree of ripeness of the fruit - in various tones of yellow, orange, red, green. There are traces of flowers on the ends of the fruit. The peel is considered inedible because it contains substances that cause allergic reactions.

Indians and Asians use mango fruits in home medicine - they are considered an effective folk remedy that stops bleeding, strengthens the heart muscle and improves brain activity. Ripe selected mangoes have a shiny surface, without spots and bruises (the color of the peel depends on the variety), their flesh is not hard, but not too soft, juicy, fragrant, with a fibrous structure. An unripe mango can be wrapped in dark opaque paper and placed in a warm place. In about a week, it will ripen and be ready to eat.

In India, mangifera is eaten at any stage of maturity. The fruits are washed thoroughly, separated from the stone with a knife, peeled and cut into slices. Or they cut half the fruit into cubes right on the peel.

Mangoes cut into cubes or slices

Everyone in our family loves mangoes. We eat it fresh or use the pulp of the fruit in combination with other fruits to make vitamin cocktails or smoothies, soufflés, mousses, puddings, homemade cakes. It turns out very tasty. In salads, mango goes well with seafood and chicken breast. But I didn’t succeed in growing a tree from a bone, although I tried several times. The fact is that for transportation, tropical fruits are not fully ripened, and then the seeds do not always germinate.

What does mango taste like

The taste of mango, perhaps, cannot be compared with any other - it is special and unique. Sometimes fragrant-juicy-sweet, sometimes with a pleasant and refreshing sourness. It all depends on the degree of ripeness of the fruit, variety, region of growth. For example, Thai mangoes have a slight coniferous aroma. The consistency of the pulp of all fruits is thick, tender, somewhat reminiscent of apricot, but with the presence of hard plant fibers. The brighter the skin of the mango, the sweeter the flesh of the fruit.

Mango juice, if it accidentally gets on clothes, is not washed. The stone is separated from the pulp poorly. The pulp protects the seeds of the plant (the seeds inside the fruits) from damage. It contains sugars (more in ripe ones), starch and pectin (more in green ones), vitamins and minerals, organic acids and other useful things.

Unripe mangoes are high in vitamin C and sour in taste. Ripe mangoes are sweet, as they contain a lot of sugars (up to twenty percent), and less acids (only half a percent).

Mangifera at home

Mango as an ornamental plant can be grown in a house or apartment, but not in a household or summer cottage (if the site is not located in a region with a tropical or subtropical climate). For home breeding, dwarf mango varieties are purchased. Mango trees are also germinated from the stone of the purchased fruit. But the fruit must be fully ripe.

Home-grown young mango seedlings

Mangifera reproduces both by sowing seeds, and by grafting, and by vegetative means. An ungrafted indoor plant is unlikely to bloom and bear fruit, but even without that it looks very aesthetically pleasing. In fairness, it should be noted that even grafted seedlings do not always bear fruit in room, greenhouse or greenhouse conditions.

Dwarf mangoes grow as compact trees up to one and a half to two meters in height. If you plant an ordinary plant from a stone, then it will be necessary to carry out regular formative pruning of the crown. In favorable conditions, the mangifera grows very intensively, so it usually needs to be transplanted into a larger pot once a year, and pruning several times a year.

During the period of intensive growth, it is desirable to fertilize the plant, without top dressing and sufficient illumination, mango at home grows with thin stems and small leaves. In summer, the crown of the mango tree needs to be sprayed. And in winter, place the mangifer closer to the heat source.

Video: how to grow a mango from a stone at home

Mango is a tropical tree that produces delicious juicy fragrant fruits. It grows in countries with a warm, not too humid climate, does not tolerate cold weather. Mangifera is also grown as an ornamental plant at home, but rarely blooms and bears fruit - only grafted trees, and subject to the necessary climatic indicators.

  • Author: Natalya Galushko