The mango is known as the king of tropical fruits. It has an intense flavor that may or may not be to everyone's taste. But there's no doubt that it's one of the tastiest fruits in the world. However, to obtain sweet, juicy, aromatic pulp and large pieces, you need to know how to care for a mango tree. And that's exactly what we want to teach you below.
Sometimes, you just need to know what it takes to grow a healthy mango tree. How about we give you the key steps, from planting to harvesting? Shall we begin?
What you should keep in mind when having a mango tree
Image - Wikimedia / Michael Hermann
The first thing you should know about mango trees is that there are over a thousand different varieties. This means that, among the many varieties, there will be one that suits your climate. However, you need to know which one it is in order to choose it. And this is often not easy.
Don't be fooled by any variety you find, whether at a nursery or a supermarket (especially the latter, because sometimes they don't survive and attention is not paid to specimens adapted to the climates where they are sold).
The most popular varieties and those that are easiest to grow are:
- Tommy Atkins, which is hardy and productive. It won't cause you any problems in warm climates, but be careful in colder ones.
- Ataulfo, which has a very sweet taste.
- Kent, which is ideal for the texture of the mangoes, which feels like butter when you chew them.
- Haden, which has a taste that is neither sweet nor sour.
In general, mango trees need an ideal temperature between 24 and 35°C . This means that if it's a few degrees above that, it won't be a problem. But be aware that, as a native of tropical and subtropical regions, mango trees don't tolerate frost or cold weather well. In those situations, you'll have to protect it a lot to prevent it from dying. And we're warning you now, that can happen more easily than you think.
Once you've chosen the variety, the next step is where you're going to plant it. And here you should follow the same guidelines as above. In other words, the mango tree needs full sun, ideally for most of the day. This means you need a sunny spot.
But if the climate where you live is cold, it may be more advisable to place it in a greenhouse or in a place where it receives sun most of the day.
However, be careful not to plant it near houses, swimming pools, fences, or similar structures. It's a tree that needs space to grow because it can easily reach 10 meters in height.
How to plant it
You've already chosen your mango tree. And also the location where you're going to plant it. Now you need to figure out how you're going to plant it. And here you have two options:
- mallet. We recommend that you plant it in a long and wide pot, so that the roots can develop easily without overcrowding the space in a short time.
- I usually. Here, depending on the size of the mango tree, you'll need to dig at least a 60 x 60 cm hole. However, if the soil is quite hard, we recommend digging a deeper hole. Then, add some organic compost to the soil and finally, plant the tree.
You may be wondering why not plant a mango tree from seed. It's possible, yes, but you should know that, if you do, it will take, if you're lucky, about seven years to bear fruit. Furthermore, it's harder for it to reach that age, and the fruit often isn't as rich as it is with grafted or mature trees.
Basic care of the mango tree
Once you've planted your mango tree, it's time to pay attention to its needs. To do this, beyond location and temperature, which we've already discussed, we'll focus on watering, fertilizing, pruning, and pest and disease management.
Irrigation
The mango tree isn't a tree that tolerates a lot of water. In fact, it's usually better off if you let it go thirsty than if you soak it.
We recommend that if the tree is not yet producing fruit, you water it once a week , depending on the weather. If it is already bearing fruit, water it every 3-5 days.
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The mango tree needs three essential nutrients: nitrogen , which helps the foliage grow; phosphorus , which makes the roots strong; and potassium , which is for flowering, fruit set and flavor.
Does that mean you have to apply all of them from the moment you plant it? No. You see, until the third year, or fifth year if you plant it from seed, you'll need to apply fertilizers that are very rich in nitrogen and phosphorus. And, from that age on, a balanced one, one that has all three nutrients, but especially potassium.
Pruning
Since we're talking about a tree, it's normal to have to prune it, especially when it's young, to control its size, improve air circulation, and give it the shape you want.
Training pruning of the mango tree is done during the first 2-3 years . After that, maintenance pruning is carried out to keep the tree healthy. Finally, a post-harvest pruning is done. Considering that the harvest usually occurs between years five and seven, you'll understand why the earlier prunings are so important.
Plagues and diseases
We're not going to tell you that the mango tree is 100% resistant, because it isn't. In reality, it's affected by many pests and diseases. But the truth is, it's more resistant than other fruit trees.
In the case of pests, the ones you should be most concerned about are fruit flies, mites and thrips, and mealybugs and aphids . And, of all of them, the last two are the worst, because they can kill the tree.
Diseases are also important. Anthracnose, powdery mildew, or floral malformation can affect the tree's development, preventing it from bearing fruit or producing fruit of less than expected quality.
With these basic care tips, you'll be closer to having a mango tree with delicious fruit.