So Who Here is Growing Mangos

[Kumar]

I posted a "wants" earlier for mango seeds, and wouldn't mind discussing the virtues of a few varieties, since it's that time of year. I've decided to plant maybe 20 or 30 mango trees in the garden, and thought that Nam Doc Mai would be worth a shot. Why? Well, I'm not in a hurry, I don't have money for grafted seedlings, and I have plenty of space. Plus, it sounds like the best of the polyembryonic varieties if you are determined to go that route, as I am - although I'm welcome to any cautionary advice.

I'd like to container grow them in the ground, and wondered what sort of size they will reach before fruiting, hopefully within 5 years. Can they be pruned heavily in the years before setting fruit to create a dwarf tree? Looking for options, advice, and ultimately some seeds to work with.

I can only comment on indian varieties ; almost none are grown from seed except when planted for ornamental reasons (courtyards, footpaths, etc) and these take 7-10 years to start bearing fruit when grown in good soil and climate. The grafted ones flower earlier but are naturally more costly, and have other disadvantages. But I can safely say that trees grown from seed display ten times the growth vigour of grafted trees.

When grown in the ground from seed (which is one of the easiest things to do I assure you) a good vigourous speciment will reach 20-30 feet in five years if not trimmed. Trimming must be done carefully for mangos as once they start to bear fruit, the load on the branches increases a lot and bad trimming and bad plucking can easily damage large parts of the tree. My trees fruit in a complicated cycle; on average each produces more than seven baskets of 15-20 kilos each.

The trees in commercial plantations are quite small, never more than 2-3 storeys high (25 feet) but those are all grafted.

I have two mango trees of two very different varieties at my Calcutta home - planted by me in 1989 / 90 and. The older one started fruiting in 1996 and the other in 1998. Both have been trimmed extensively once. I find that growth has slowed down a lot although the trunk continues to increase. Here are two photos taken a few months ago during the fruiting season

[Walter John]

We used to play "combat" ( yes I was Vic Morrow) with green mangoes as grenades..

Did anybody else do this ?

[ariscott]

About $2-3 a kg John during the peak of the season for normal season - cheaper by the box usually. I will let you know if you want. My husband is keen on drying them... I will let you know how the season pan out.

Regards, Ari

[John in Andalucia]

Thanks Ari, sent you a PM.

Kumar, thanks for your photos and comments. I also heard that non-grafted varieties yield more fruit. Can you climb a mango tree as easily as an avocado tree? Just curious, how do you reach the fruits at the top?

[ariscott]

You don't.... that is why you prune... and yes... you can climb mango trees...

Regards, Ari

[John in Andalucia]

My latest favourite bookmark!

http://www.virtualherbarium.org/tropicalfruit/mangotrees.html

[Kumar]

Thanks Ari, sent you a PM.

Kumar, thanks for your photos and comments. I also heard that non-grafted varieties yield more fruit. Can you climb a mango tree as easily as an avocado tree? Just curious, how do you reach the fruits at the top?

I use a bamboo pole with a 'V' crafted at the end by tying a flat long bit of wood or metal that has a sharp end. It's visible in one of the photos

And yes, non-grafted varieties do yield more fruit, usually of inferior quality. my mangos are good for chutney, pickle and raw - but not for eating ripe.

Climbing is easy though young trees have brittle branches

[John in Andalucia]

You can never have too much mango chutney Kumar, especially on a good curry!

[Kumar]

You can never have too much mango chutney Kumar, especially on a good curry!

Even better to have it by itself. I finish bowls of the stuff, chilled in the fridge.

[Walt]

I found the videos at link below, featuring Dr. Johnathan Crane of the University of Florida, to be quite interesting with regard to the different characteristics (vigor, taste, texture, aroma, etc.) of various mango varieties.

It appears (from the series of short videos) that Johnathan is somewhat of a connoisseur when it comes to judging mango qualities.

If you love mangoes and don't have any juicy ones to eat, then I wouldn't advise you to view the "putting mangoes to the taste test" at below link, as it should make your mouth water:

http://fruitscapes.blogspot.com/

[DoomsDave]

Though I don't have one in my yard, they will grow in La Habra.

There's a specimen at the corner of Whittier booley and Orange Street, on the north Side, in the yard of the Hyland Motel, next door to Salinas Tire, Wheel and Noisy Stereo . . . .

[Moose]

We have 3 mango trees here, 'Carrie', 'Keitt', and 'Ice Cream'. All flowered heavily this year . 'Carrie' and 'Keitt' are holding some fruit but 'Ice Cream' aborted all of them when they were about grape-size.

'Carrie'

'Keitt'

'Ice Cream'

Those are great cultivars Eric. Many consider the mango the King of fruit. You sure do gain alot of friends when you trees are loaded.