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Mango tree from seed to fruit


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.

The Spruce / K. Dave The Spruce / K. Dave The Spruce / K. Dave The Spruce / K. Dave

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:

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

How to Grow Mango from Seed (Easy Method)

This easy method shows how to grow a mango tree from seed using a mango from the grocery store. Eat the mango, save the seed, and follow these simple steps to grow it into a plant.

You can also grow an avocado from seed using the same method.

Growing a Grocery Store Mango Seed

Did you know the husk inside mango fruit contains a seed? And it’s a nice big seed! And that’s what we sow to grow a new mango plant.

If you live in a cold climate, without outdoor tropical growing conditions, you can still grow mangos indoors as houseplants, beginning with a mango fruit.

I’ll show you a simple way to prepare the seed, make it sprout, and grow it as a houseplant. These are tropical plants, so you’ll want a sunny, warm place in your home to provide the best growing conditions.

So, what makes this method easy?

By starting the mango seed in damp paper towel (see below), we can first determine if the seed is viable (will grow).

You could also plant it directly in damp potting mix, but that means waiting to see if there is growth (for several weeks).

The easy method reveals which seeds are good ones so we don’t waste time on the duds.

Will it grow fruit?

Probably not, unless you manage to provide exceptional, tropical-like growing conditions for many years that eventually trigger flowering and fruiting. Grafted mango trees can produce fruit.

How long does it take to grow a mango tree?

A mango tree grown from seed indoors can take 5 to 8 years to mature.

A grafted mango tree may take 3 to 4 years to reach fruit-bearing age.

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How To Grow Mango From Seed

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Related: How to Grow Ginger Root from the Grocery Store

How to Grow a Mango from Seed

Supplies

To get started, gather your supplies. In addition to a ripe mango fruit, you will need these items.

Organic Potting Mix | Amazon

Flower Pots with Saucers | Amazon

Reusable Paper Towels | Amazon
or regular paper towels

Fiskars PowerCut Scissors | Amazon

Steps

1Buy a Ripe Mango

Every mango has a seed inside. It’s protected by that thick, husk-like thing you set aside when preparing the fruit for eating.

You have to start with a ripe mango because otherwise the seed within the husk may not be mature enough to grow into a plant.

2Remove the Husk/Seed from the Mango

Use the edible fruit (yum!) and set aside the husk. They tend to have stringy pieces of fruit attached to them and we’ll take care of that in the next step.

If you like propagating stuff like this, get my Kitchen Propagation Handbook here for more projects.

Want more propagation tutorials? Get the ebook here.

3Clean and Dry the Husk

Next you want to gently scrub off the pulp/stringy bits of mango fruit from the husk. The purpose of this step is simply to help the husk dry faster and make it easier to cut open.

You can hold the husk under tap water and use a soft scrub brush to push the pulp off.

Or, very carefully scrape it off with a small knife, always aiming away from yourself!

When the husk is fairly pulp-free, dry it off with a towel and set it somewhere to further dry for a day or two (not much more).

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4Remove Seed from Husk

After 2 days, the mango seed husk is dry enough to cut open.

This is the part that amazed me the first time I did it. I have eaten a lot of mangos over the years, and I had no idea there was a great big seed in there!

5Clean Off the Seed

This is a mango seed found within the husk of the fruit.

Pretty cool! It’s like some sort of giant bean seed. And no two mango seeds look the same.

Some mangos produce polyembryonic seeds, but the ones shown here are singles (monoembryonic). Plants from polyembryonic seeds produce fruit true to the parent (like grafted plants do since they are created from vegetative cuttings). Our grocery stores have very little variety so I’ve only ever seen two types of mango seeds here and they are always singles.

If the seed appears shriveled or rotten, start again with another mango.

6Sprout Seed

The mango seed is wrapped in moist towel and placed in a plastic bag.

I use this method for sprouting all sorts of the things including avocado seeds and ginger. I like this method because it shows me I have a viable seed before I go to the trouble of planting it in soil.

There is no need to buy plastic bags for this step. Just use any plastic bags or wrap you have.

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7Check for Sprouting

After 3 weeks, the seed is sprouting.

The mango seed pictured above (after 3-weeks) is growing a red sprout!

I wait until any new growth is 2 to 3-inches long before planting in potting mix.

My mango seed split open during germination. Is this normal?

Yes, some seeds will split open during germination. It happens when parts inside grow or swell, pushing open the shell. It’s fine.

Related: How to Grow an Apple Tree From Seed

8Keep Checking for Growth

After 5 weeks, there is enough new growth to plant the seed in potting mix.

At this point you can see how the red sprout is also growing roots, and there is another sprout on top. This took 5 weeks to grow.

That new sprout on top (right) is pale in color because it is growing without light. It will turn green when exposed to sunlight.

Now it’s time to plant the seed in potting mix.

9Plant the Sprouted Mango Seed

At week five (or when there is a few inches of new growth), we plant the seed in potting mix.

Some of the new growth will become roots and the other parts are shoots, but it’s very hard to tell what’s-what at this stage.

Because of this, it’s fine to plant the seed flat in the pot (the way it is in the photo, above). The plant will sort itself out just fine.

Your pot should be a few inches wider than the seed and have room for several inches of root growth. The pot I used is 8-inches deep total, but 6-inches would be fine too.

Also, be sure the pot has drainage holes and a drip saucer to avoid water-logging the plant.

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10Grow Your Plant

At six weeks, a shoot has emerged from the potting mix and leaves are forming.

Mangos are tropical plants and enjoy warmth and humidity.

The mango plant in the photo (above, 6-weeks old) decided to send its shoot up at the side of the pot. That’s fine! It’s approximately 4-inches tall and nice and healthy.

11Don’t Worry About Limp Leaves

During the early growth stage, the leaves may be limp. It’s normal.

Limp leaves! I’ve had this several times and I’ve seen others mention it so I’m confident it’s normal.

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12Grow as Houseplant

Just a week later, my mango plant perked up:

After 9 weeks, the leaves have perked up and the plant is approximately 9-inches tall.

At this point the mango plant is approximately 9-weeks old (from the day we put it in paper towel) and it’s nine inches tall.

The five main leaves formed early (week 3) and no additional leaves have appeared since then.

It’s fairly cool in our home (just below 20°C / 68°F), so growth will be slower than you’d get in a warmer space with better humidity.

After 18 months, the main stem is starting to die off at the top of the plant but a lot of new side shoots with leaves have formed.

Basic Indoor Mango Plant Care Tips

Ideally, you will mimic tropical conditions in your home, or as close to it as you can manage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you grow a mango tree inside?

Yes, indeed. You can start a mango tree from the seed inside the fruit or buy a grafted tree, which is much more likely to grow fruit, although it does take several years and the right growing conditions.

How long does it take to grow a mango seed?

With the method listed above, it took 9 weeks from the day I started the germination process to having a 9-inch tall plant.

How do you germinate a mango seed quickly?

Most seeds germinate fastest within certain temperature ranges but it varies for each plant. This is usually a bit warmer than the plant’s comfort zone.

Because mango plants grow best in when the ambient temperature is between 21º to 24ºC (70º to 75ºF), it’s a fair assumption that the seed would sprout fastest at temperatures just above that.

How big will an indoor mango tree grow?

Outdoor mango trees growing in tropical climates can reach 35 meters tall if not pruned.
Growing indoors, both because conditions are not optimal and the plant is restricted to a container, will limit growth.
I realize that didn’t answer the question with a specific measurement, but that’s because I’m not sure. I have seen a few indoor ones that appear to be about 6-feet tall. The more tropical the conditions, the bigger they will get.

Will my indoor mango tree grow fruit?

It’s highly unlikely. If you want fruit, start with a grafted mango tree (from a nursery that specializes in them). These are intended for growing fruit, although the quantity will be small.

Provide optimum growing conditions including intense heat without drying out the soil.

Grafted mango trees are reported to take 3-5 years to flower and fruit.

Some say mango seedlings (like we’re germinating here) can grow into fruit-producing trees after 5-8 years, but I have not yet found anyone to confirm this.

The fruit, if you do get some, will vary depending on the source. Mango seedlings cannot produce fruit true to the parent plant (because they are hybrids). But grafted mango plants can (because they are clones). But really, it’s such a cool achievement to grow the plant to produce fruit, either way I’d be happy.

Resources

Buy Grafted Mango Trees

If you want much better odds of eventually getting fruit, buy a grafted mango tree.

More Information

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Learn how to grow houseplants from avocado, oranges, lemons, ginger, and more using leftover pits, seeds, and roots.

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How to Grow Mango From Seed

Use these step-by-step instructions to use the seed inside any ripe mango fruit to grow into a new houseplant.

Total Time30 mins

Author: Melissa J. Will

Cost: $10

Prepare Husk
Prepare Seed
Sprout Seed
Check for Growth
Plant Sprouted Seed
Grow Your Mango Plant

See additional mango plant care tips here.

how to grow fruit from the stone at home

Heading: Other fruit

Mango is a very sweet exotic fruit that tastes like a peach. There is an opinion that it grows only in hot countries and the tropics. But every housewife, cutting a juicy fruit in the kitchen, thinks about how good it would be to grow it at home. And it's real. Growing a mango tree from a stone is absolutely easy if you properly care for it. Another issue is fruition. There may be problems associated with the vegetative characteristics of this plant.

Maintenance

  1. Preparing for planting
  2. Planting and growing
  3. Caring for a mango tree
  4. Is it possible to get fruit?

Landing preparation

Planting and growing mangoes at home is easy. But first the seed must be sown. To do this, you will need the following items:

Landing preparation:

  1. The first step is to select a ripe fruit with the correct shape. It should be free of damage and wormholes. Ideally, fruit brought from a tropical country, and not bought in a store.
  2. Next, you need to cut off all the pulp and rinse the stone with water.
  3. Place a clean bone in a sunny place where it will dry for 1-2 days. Turn it over when one side is dry.
  4. With a blunt knife, cut open the bone from the sharp tip. This should be done as carefully as possible, trying not to touch the seed, and break the rest with your hands.
  5. Detach the seed from the shell, it is not necessary to remove the skin. The seed is shaped like a bean or bean.
  6. Wrap it in a piece of paper towel, moisten slightly. There should not be much moisture, from an overabundance it will simply rot.
  7. Put the seed wrapped in a towel into a plastic bag, then into a container and close the lid. It will serve as a mini-greenhouse in which the grain will germinate.
  8. Move the container to a dark place.
  9. Check it periodically to ensure that the seed does not dry out and is always moist.
Mango seeds before sproutingMango Seed

Mango trees are very vulnerable in the early stages of growth, so it is recommended to plant the seed immediately in a permanent place and avoid multiple transplants.

Planting and growing

After the mango seed has germinated, it must be planted in a pot. This is done in the following way.

We need:

Planting and growing step by step:

1 Pour drainage into the bottom of the pot. It is necessary, since the mango does not tolerate stagnant water, and excess moisture will harm the roots.
2 Fill the pot 2/3 full with soil, dampen it and let the water drain. Drainage will help remove excess moisture.
3 Place the germinated seed in the container with the smooth side down, cover with soil and lightly press down, being careful not to damage the stone.
4 Cover the pot with a plastic bag and place it in a sunny place.
5 Ventilate regularly, if necessary, moisten the soil, avoiding drying out. If the surface is dry, it's time to water.
6 The first leaves begin to appear within 2-4 weeks. Their color ranges from light green to purple. You should not be afraid, this is due to the peculiarity of the culture of this plant.
7 After 2 months after germination, you can gradually accustom the plant to the environment by slightly opening the plastic bag and leave it in the sun.

Mango tree maintenance

Planting and growing a mango tree is easy. But in order for it to grow healthy and beautiful, full care is needed. You need to plant it in a bright place, under direct sunlight, and in summer you can take it out to the balcony or to the street. But in unstable weather conditions, it is better not to do this. A sharp cold snap or long-term rains will harm the plant. In winter, it is desirable to highlight it with a fluorescent lamp.

The following conditions are required to maintain the tree:

Is it possible to get fruits?

Is it possible to get home grown mangoes? Some gardeners argue that the germination of this prolific tree is unrealistic. Others think it's entirely possible.

Treating yourself to homemade mangoes is not easy. After all, the mango tree has special vegetative properties and it is quite difficult to create conditions for its pollination at home. Therefore, a plant grown from a seed will not bear fruit. In order for this to happen, you need to purchase a mango seedling from a nursery and graft it onto your home tree. If this is done, then in 2-3 years after grafting, flowers will appear on the mango tree, and in 3-4 months the first tasty and juicy fruit will ripen.

Home grown mangoes

It is not difficult to grow a mango tree at home, the main thing is to observe all the conditions and fertilize it in time. A mandatory rule for obtaining fruits is the grafting of a plant with a seedling grown in a nursery. You can also buy and plant an already grafted plant, so you will save a lot of time and effort.

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Mango: long-lived tree and "Stakhanovite" producer

Mango belongs to the extensive Anacardiaceae or Sumac family, Pistachio (Anacardiaceae) , Mango (Mangifera) genus, which includes 69 plant species. The most popular representative of the genus is Indian Mango (Magnifera indica) is a tree that has been cultivated for over 8 thousand years. During this time, it has become the most important agricultural crop in the tropical zone of our planet.

The border zone of India and Myanmar is considered to be the birthplace of mango. In the 7th century BC. mango first left its homeland with the Chinese traveler Hwen Sang and began to develop other territories, three centuries later, Buddhist monks brought mango to Malaysia and East Asia. It was brought to the Middle East and East Africa by Persian merchants in the 10th century. In 1742, with Spanish sailors, the mango crossed to about. Barbados and on to Brazil. In 1833 mango appears in the USA, Mexico, South Africa, Australia and the Middle East. Throughout the 19th century, Americans adapted the tree to the conditions of the Yucatan and Florida, until in 1900, the persistence of agronomists was not rewarded: the first fruits grown in North America went on sale.

Europe learned about the mango thanks to the Indian campaign of Alexander the Great, whose companions described the outlandish fruits. However, their delivery to regions remote from their places of growth remained problematic until the advent of steamboats.

Mango fruits appeared in Russia only in the middle of the 20th century. Until recently, this extremely beautiful and useful plant remained aloof from the attentive eyes of exotic lovers. At present, a technique for growing small mango trees at home has been developed and described.

Growing only in warm tropical climates, the mango never sheds its leaves. The tree reaches 10-45 m in height and 10 m in crown diameter. Varieties with small trees are considered more practical for cultivation on plantations. Note that juicy sweet fruits were obtained as a result of crossing two species - Mangifera indica and Mangifera sylvanica , the fruits of wild species are fibrous, small, dryish, with a pronounced smell of turpentine.

Young mango leaves are reddish in color, ranging in color from yellowish pink to brownish red. Growing up, they become glossy and dark green, with a lighter underside. The leaves are simple, with a pronounced central vein, hanging on petioles thickened at the base, 3-12 cm long. The shape of the leaf varies from oval to elongated-lanceolate, the length of the leaf is 15-45 cm with a width of up to 10 cm. The foliage smells of turpentine.

The plant loves light and develops quickly. The tap root goes into the ground to a depth of 6 m. Since it is difficult to hold a huge crown with a single tap root, a wide root system with additional deep roots is formed in the tree. Thus, the root system of a young 18-year-old tree reaches a depth of 1-2 m with a radius of up to 7.5 m.

Mango can grow and bear fruit for up to 300 years. In India, there is an old-timer tree with a trunk diameter of 3. 5 m and branches with a diameter of 75 cm - this tree covers an area of ​​\u200b\u200bmore than 2250 square meters. m and produces about 16,000 fruits annually.

The bark of the tree is dark grey, brown or black, smooth, fissured with age. The branches are smooth, shiny, dark green.

During the year, the plant has several periods of active growth. Having reached the age of 6 years, the tree enters the time of maturity, begins to bloom and bear fruit. At home, in India, mango blooms from December in the south of the country to April in the north. When flowering, it produces many panicles of a conical shape, each of which contains from several hundred to several thousand small yellowish or pink flowers with a sweet smell, similar to the aroma of lilies. The size of each flower is 5-7 mm in diameter. Among the thousands of flowers, most are male (their number can reach up to 90%), the rest are bisexual. Such an abundance attracts all lovers of pollen and nectar: ​​bats and a wide variety of insects, both flying and crawling, because mango is the best honey plant in the tropics. Despite all the efforts of pollinators, only 1-2 fruits are tied from each panicle, and unpollinated flowers fall off. People do not remain indifferent to such a floral abundance: Otto essential oil is obtained from mango flowers.

In nature, mangoes produce only one crop per year, but in cultivated gardens, agronomists achieve two crops. Here it is worth paying attention to one feature of the mango: each individual branch bears fruit in nature in a year, alternating with neighboring ones, so that agronomists force the whole tree to bear fruit, doing it in two passes.

After the unpollinated flowers fly around, 1-2 ovaries with a smooth dense green skin, which ripen for 3-6 months, remain hanging on long petioles in place of the panicles, as if on ribbons.

The size of ripe fruits, depending on the variety, varies from 6 to 25 cm and can reach a weight of 2 kg. A normal fruit weighs about 200-400 g. The shape of the fruit is one of the characteristics of the variety, it can be round, oval, ovoid, but almost always asymmetrical when viewed from the side.

The most valuable thing in a mango is the sweet pulp. It can be whitish to intense yellow and orange, slightly fibrous or homogeneous. Unripe mango fruits contain pectin and a large amount of acids - citric, oxalic, malic and succinic and are used to make sour seasonings. The color and smell of ripe fruits are also characteristics of the variety. They are extremely diverse: green, yellow, pink fruits, or with all the listed colors at once; reminiscent of apricot, melon, lemon, even a rose, or have their own unique pleasant taste and aroma. The stalk of a ripe fruit, when broken, releases juice, which smells sharply of turpentine and thickens with a darkening drop. Some varieties have a peculiar coniferous flavor and a slight smell of turpentine.

All mango fruits have one obligatory feature in their structure - a beak. Not the same, of course, as in parrots, but in the form of a small protrusion above the edge of the bone. Given the asymmetry of the fetus, the beak is located diametrically opposite to the stalk. The prominence of the beak is different in different varieties, from a small outgrowth to a point on the skin.

Inside the fruit is hidden a flat, elongated, ribbed, hard, white-yellow bone, similar to the shell of a familiar freshwater mollusk - barley, often found in the rivers of the middle zone.

The shell and stone are even similar in size - about 10 cm, only the stone is flatter. It is usually densely fibrous and has a characteristic "beard" along the rib to which the flesh attaches.

In some varieties, it is smooth and easily detaches from the pulp. Inside the stone is a dicotyledonous flat seed, which can be mono- or polyembryonic, giving, respectively, one or more seedlings. The size of the seeds is from 5 to 10 cm. Inside the seed, the seed is partially covered with a dense brown membrane similar to parchment paper.

The part of the seed that is not covered by the membrane is white. If we make a thin longitudinal section of the part under the membrane, we will find an oval gray-brown spot with dark veins.

The ripeness of the fruit is determined by the ease of removal of the stalk and the specific fruity smell of its break. In order to avoid birds pecking at ripe fruits, the crop is usually harvested slightly unripe and left to ripen in a dark place. The removed fruits must be washed, removing traces of juice from the stalk or damaged peel, because. the juice, drying up, leaves blackening traces and damages the peel, after which the fruit rots in the places of blackening. It should be remembered that fresh juice from the incised peel of the fruit has an irritating effect on human skin. Contact with a fresh incision may result in a chemical burn. People who are prone to allergies should be especially careful.

Seeds of ripe fruits are suitable for propagation, but in the conditions of cultivation of varietal crops, mangoes are usually propagated by grafting, which allows you to keep all the characteristics of the variety. Trees grown from seeds are used as rootstock. Grafted trees begin to bear fruit in the 1st-2nd year, while in nature the first fruits appear in the 6th year, and the tree reaches its full yield only after 15 years. The average mango yield is 40-70 centners per hectare.

Choose a planting site with good drainage, vital for mangoes. Fat soil for a tree is not needed, because. it stimulates continuous vegetative growth at the expense of flowering and yield. Mango adapts perfectly to various soils: sandy (as in Thailand, Egypt and Pakistan), rocky (as in India, Spain and Mexico) and even saline limestone, as in Israel.

An unpretentious attitude to the composition of the soil allowed the plant to expand its distribution area, which eventually occupied the entire tropical zone of the Earth. Now mangoes are grown even in Australia, but India is still the main supplier of mangoes to the world market. The basis of mango production in India was laid in the second half of the 16th century by the ruler of the Mughal dynasty, Jalal ad-din Akbar (1556-1605). He planted a Lag Bah garden of 100,000 mango trees on the Ganges plain. Now mango occupies 70% of the area of ​​all orchards in India and its annual harvest is more than 2 million tons.

For 8000 years of cultivation, the breadwinner tree has acquired legends and has become sacred to people who practice Buddhism and Hinduism. In Hinduism, mango is considered one of the incarnations of the god Prajayati - the Creator of All That Is. Buddhist legend says that Buddha, having received a mango fruit as a gift from the god Amradarika, ordered his disciple to plant a stone and watered it, washing his hands over it. At this place, the sacred mango tree grew and began to bear fruit, generously endowing others with its fruits.

In Hinduism and Buddhism, a ripe mango is a symbol of achievement, love and prosperity. Often the mango fruit is depicted in the hands of the god Ganesh, and the goddess Ambika is sitting under a mango tree. It is believed that Shiva grew and gave the mango to his beloved wife Parvati, so the mango fruit, as a guarantee of prosperity and protection of the gods, is usually nailed to the foundation of a newly built house.

Mangoes are also grown as an agricultural crop in Brazil, Mexico, Florida and Hawaii, China, Vietnam, Burma, Thailand, Egypt and Pakistan. Thailand is next in terms of mango exports after India, followed by Brazil, Pakistan and other countries.

What is the difference between a mango and a fruit of the middle lane? Mango pulp consists of 76-80% water, contains 11-20% sugars, 0.2-0.5% acids, 0.5% protein. Nutritionists note the usefulness of the fruit as a dietary product: 100 g contains only 70 kcal, but the fruit is unusually rich in carotene, which is 5 times more in mangoes than in oranges. In addition, mango contains a whole complex of vitamins - C, B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , B 6, B 9 , D, E - and trace elements - K, Ca, Mg, P .

Over many years of use, people have learned to extract the maximum benefit from any part of the plant and mango fruit.

The leaves and bark contain mangiferin, a substance known as "Indian yellow" used in the pharmaceutical and paint industries. When eating a small amount of mango leaves, the urine of sacred cows becomes bright yellow, it is used to dye fabrics. But it is impossible to use mango leaves as feed. This leads to the death of the animal.

Recently, another product that can be obtained from seeds has been discovered - mango butter, which is similar in consistency to cocoa butter and shea butter. It is used in the confectionery industry as a substitute for cocoa butter. The only difficulty at present is its small amount and high cost, due to manual collection and pitting. While this promising direction of use is in its infancy.

Mango laminated wood may be gray to greenish brown. Despite moisture resistance and ease of processing, furniture is not made from it, since it contains substances that irritate the respiratory tract. For the same reason, wood is never used for firewood, because. smoke is also irritating. The culprit behind all these limitations is the essential oil containing mangiferol and mangiferin. From mango wood, parts of the supporting structures of the roofs of wooden houses, boats, plywood and containers for transporting tin cans with canned food are made.

In India, they have learned to use mangoes at any stage of their development. Unripe go to salads and stews, beginners use it as vegetables and a side dish for fish and meat, somewhat unripe - for pickles, marinades and sauces, and ripe ones - as fruits and for making jams, marmalade and drinks.

There is another important use: mango powder is used in well-known seasonings such as chutney, curry and amchur. Dried mango slice powder is widely used in Indian cuisine. It is added to dishes for a peculiarly sour taste. When using mango powder, you need to remember that it is highly flammable, and do not scatter it near open flames.

Mango Recipes: Fruit Skewers with Honey Sauce, Amba Mango Sauce, Mango Iced Tea, Original Mango Cucumber Salad, Mango Sauce, Brazilian Mango Pumpkin Ginger Shrimp Soup, Fruit Soup with mint, Mango and cardamom lassi with yogurt, Festive carrot and mango salad, Mango and avocado salad, Green mango salad, Picanta mango sauce, Mango with tomatoes in orange sauce, Exotic salad with tequila.

Lacking modern medicines, for centuries people have thoroughly studied all the beneficial properties of mango and learned how to use it as a medicinal plant

A decoction of the leaves is used to treat diabetes and increase blood clotting.

Juice and pulp of the fruit help increase resistance to viral infections, reduce the rate of skin keratinization and cure "night blindness", when a person does not see at dusk, due to the high content of carotenoids. The complex of vitamins with carotene helps prevent the development of cancer of the digestive system and improves immunity.

Freshly squeezed juice treats dermatitis, bronchitis and cleanses the liver. The peel of the fruit has an astringent and tonic effect on the stomach.

Mango as a medicinal plant can serve as a panacea for many diseases, if you know how and what parts of the plant should be used to obtain antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, anti-asthmatic, antiviral and anthelmintic effects.

Now there are about 600 mango varieties adapted to different conditions, of which only about 35 are widely grown. Each variety is characterized by the shape and size of the tree, the length and time of ripening, the shape, color, size and taste of the fruit. The most famous varieties in India are Alphons (Alphons) and Bombay with large, sweet, fragrant fruits without a specific aftertaste. In South India, the harvest is from January to May. From here we get varieties: Pairi (Pairi), nilam (Neelam), Totapuri (Totapuri), Bangapally (Banganpalli), etc. Later - from June to August - mangoes bear fruit in the northern states of India.

Let us give an example of the characteristics of several varieties.

  • Baileys Marvel: A fast growing, cold tolerant tree with a round, dense crown. The fruit is bright yellow with a peach side, large, ripens in July-September. The flesh of the fruit is firm, sweet, practically devoid of fibers.
  • Julie: Popular in Jamaica, introduced to Florida from Thailand. Dwarf tree suitable for growing in a container. The fruit is yellow-green with a pink barrel, medium, flattened laterally, ripens in July-August. The pulp is tender, creamy.
  • Malika: One of the finest Indian varieties. Fast growing compact tree suitable for container growing. The fruit is bright yellow, medium, ripens in July-August. The pulp of the fruit is orange, firm, juicy, with a pronounced aroma.

Since 1987, the annual International Mango Festival has been held in the capital of India at the end of summer. At the festival, more than 50 mango producers exhibit their products in search of new contracts with processors and exporters from 80 countries. The festival presents more than 550 different varieties of mangoes from all over the world. Songs and poems about mangoes are heard here, they are treated to delicious mango dishes and fresh fruits, they entertain the audience with competitions and shows with the indispensable use of mangoes.

Mango is a fruit tree known to man for 8000 years.

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