Growing Mango Trees: Information On Planting And Caring For A Mango Tree IMG_3672 Image by Ewen Roberts By Bonnie L. Grant The juicy, ripe mango fruit has a rich, tropical aroma and flavor that summons thoughts of sunny climates and sultry breezes. The home gardener in warmer zones can bring that taste out of the garden. However, how do you grow a mango tree? Mango tree planting is suitable in zones where temperatures do not usually dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are lucky enough to live in a tropical to sub-tropical climate, take these tips for mango tree care and enjoy the fruits of your labors in just a few years. How Do You Grow a Mango Tree? Mango trees (Mangifera indica) are deep-rooted plants that may become large specimens in the landscape. They are evergreen and generally produced off rootstocks that increase the hardiness of the plants. Mango trees begin fruit production in three years and form fruit quickly. Choose a variety that is best suited for your zone. The plant can thrive in almost any soil but requires well-drained soil in a site with protection from cold. Position your tree where it will receive full sun for best fruit production. New mango tree planting is done in late winter to early spring when the plant is not actively growing. Mango Tree Planting Prepare the site by digging a hole that is twice as wide and deep as the root ball. Check the drainage by filling the hole with water and watching how fast it drains. Mango trees can survive some periods of flooding, but the healthiest plants are produced where soils percolate well. Plant the young tree with the graft scar just at the soil surface. You don’t need to prune the young plant but watch for suckers from the graft and prune them off. Young mango tree care must include frequent watering as the plant establishes. Growing Mango Trees from Seed Mango trees grow easily from seed. Get a fresh mango pit and slit the hard husk. Remove the seed inside and plant it in seed starter mix in a large pot. Situate the seed with ¼ inch protruding above the soil surface when growing mango trees. Keep the soil evenly moist and place the pot where temperatures remain at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Sprouting may occur as early as 8 to 14 days, but may take up to three weeks. Keep in mind that your new mango tree seedling will not produce fruit for at least six years. Caring for a Mango Tree Mango tree care is similar to that of any fruit tree. Water the trees deeply to saturate the long taproot. Allow the top surface of the soil to dry to a depth of several inches before watering again. Withhold irrigation for two months prior to flowering and then resume once fruits begin to produce. Fertilize the tree with nitrogen fertilizer three times per year. Space the feedings and apply one pound per year of tree growth. Prune when the tree is four years old to remove any weak stems and produce a strong scaffold of branches. Thereafter, prune only to remove broken or diseased plant material. Caring for mango trees must also include watching for pests and diseases. Deal with these as they occur with organic pesticides, cultural and biological controls or horticultural oils. Growing mango trees in the home landscape will give you a lifetime of fresh pungent fruit from an attractive shade tree.Reasons for No Mango Fruit on Tree From the family Anacardiaceae and related to cashews and pistachio, the most common mango tree problems are those related to the mango tree not producing. Becoming familiar with its causes is the first step in how to get mango fruit on your tree. Below are the most common reasons for non fruiting mango trees: Diseases The most detrimental disease affecting non fruiting mango trees is called anthracnose, which attacks all parts of the tree but does the most damage to the flower panicles. Symptoms of anthracnose appear as black irregularly shaped lesions that gradually become larger and cause leaf spot, bloom blight, fruit staining and rot – resulting in non fruiting mango trees. It is best to plant an anthracnose resistant variety of mango tree in full sun where rainfall will quickly evaporate to avoid this problem. Another major contributor to the mango tree not producing fruit is another fungal pathogen, powdery mildew. Powdery mildew attacks young fruit, flowers and foliage, leaving these areas covered with a white fungal powder and often developing lesions along the undersides of the leaves. Severe infections will destroy the panicles, subsequently affecting potential fruit set and production, hence a mango tree not producing fruit. Both of these diseases are exacerbated with the onset of heavy dew and rain. Early spring applications of sulfur and copper when the panicle is half its full size and again 10-21 days later will aid in eradication of this fungal pathogen. To prevent these diseases, apply a coating of fungicide on the susceptible parts when the buds appear and begin to open and ending at harvest time. Pests Mites and scale insects can attack mango trees but generally do not result in the mango tree not producing fruit unless severe. Treating the tree with neem oil can help alleviate most pest issues. Weather Cold may be a factor in the mango tree not producing fruit. Mango trees are extremely susceptible to cold temperatures and should, therefore, be planted in the most protected area of the yard. Ideally, plant your mango tree 8-12 feet of the south or east side of the house in full sun to deter the issue of no mango fruit on trees. Fertilization Another stressor which may affect the non fruiting mango tree is over fertilizing. Heavy fertilization of the lawn near the mango tree may reduce fruiting since the mango tree’s root system spreads well beyond the drip line of the tree. Oftentimes, this results in an abundance of nitrogen in the soil. You can offset this by adding a phosphorus rich fertilizer or bone meal to the soil around your mango tree. Similarly, overwatering, as with the use of lawn sprinklers, may reduce fruiting or fruit quality. Pruning Severe pruning may be done to reduce the canopy height of very large trees, enabling an easier harvest and does not injure the tree; however, it may reduce fruit production from one to several cycles. Therefore, pruning should only take place whenever absolutely necessary for shaping or maintenance purposes. Otherwise, prune only to remove broken or diseased plant material. Age Finally, the last consideration for your mango tree not producing fruit is age. Most mango trees are grafted and will not begin to bear fruit until 3-5 years after planting. If you live in a tropical to subtropical area, the mango tree is really quite easy to grow as long as you manage the above potential problems affecting your mango tree.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 15:47:57 +0000