Mango, Mangifera indica, is the sweet tropical fruit of the mango tree. The tree grows large and can top out at 130 feet tall. The mango fruit is in the stone fruit (drupe) category of fruits, and is eaten both in its green stage and fully ripened stage. Mango goes by other names: mangga (Southeast Asia), mamuang (Thai), and manguier (French). While it is native to India and Southeast Asia tropical regions, with new grafting techniques the mango tree is grown to be cold-hearty, too.
Mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan, and the Philippines, and is the national tree of Bangladesh.
Mango Varieties
- Kent - Originated in Coconut Grove, FL, in the mid-1940s, this fruit is sweet and yellow with very little fiber. Excellent eating fruit. Late season crop and heavy producer.
- Tommy Atkins - Another FL mango. This type is the most common many grown commercially in the U.S. - not for its flavor, but its firm flesh and long shelf life. Midseason crop.
- Ataulfo or Honey Mango - A Mexico cultivar. While this is a much smaller mango fruit, the seed is also smaller, and thin, which gives it a higher ratio of fruit to seed than other mangos. High sugar content and low fiber.
- Florigon - This mango tree is disease resistant with high fruit production. Early season crop.
- Haden/Hayden - Widely cultivated and parent to many other mango cultivars in Florida, such as the Kent and the Tommy Atkins. Since the tree is not disease resistant it is unsuitable for commercial production. Early to mid season crop.
- Kensington Pride - Australia's number one commercial cultivar. With its bright color, juicy fruit, and sweet aroma, this mango is a favorite for many. Midseason crop.
Cultivation
The mango is a medium to large evergreen tree, growing anywhere (and on average) from 30 to 100 feet. The leaves are a slight pink, golden, or light green color when young, and change to a darker green when mature. Mango trees need full sun and unless they are cold hardy, require a warm area to grow.
Pruning is essential when growing a mango tree. They can grow very large if left unpruned. Mangos are adaptable to many different soils. Once they are established in the garden, water if prolonged drought exists in your area, once a week. Fruiting is encouraged with regular fertilizer feedings.
Harvesting and Eating Mango
Mango fruit is typically picked green commercially and treated with ethylene for ripening. Unripened, a green mango can be made into chutneys and relishes, or used in jellies and pies. Sweet and ripened, a mango is eaten fresh plain (whole, around the seed like a lollipop), chopped and used in salads and cold dishes, or pureed and added to smoothies and cooked sauces.
Sources:
"Mango." Mango. Purdue University, 24 Aug 2013. Web. 24 Aug 2013. <http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/mango_ars.html>.
"Mango." Mango: World Crops Database. World Crops Database, 5 Oct. 2012. Web. 24 Aug. 2013. <http://world-crops.com/mango/>.
"Mango Growing in the Florida Home Landscape." HS2/MG216: Mango Growing in the Florida Landscape. University of Florida, May 2003. Web. 24 Aug 2013. <http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg216>.
"Mango tree, national tree." BDNews24: Bangladesh's First Internet Newspaper. BDNews24.com, 15 Novemeber 2010. Web. 24 Aug 2013. <http://ns.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=179003&cid=2>.
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