mmm . . . Mangoes!

Mangifera indica

With over 400 mango cultivars to choose from, the flavors are so diverse it can be difficult to choose just one kind to plant.   Mango is the #1 fruit in the world!

Growth environment

Mango trees need full sun, at least 15' of space between trees, and prefer nutrient rich, loamy soils -- not pure sand or clay. 

All mangoes are sensitive to cold.  Protect young trees at 35°-40°,  teenage trees at  32°F, though mature trees are tolerant down to 25°.    Fruits and blossoms will sustain damage  at 40°F and below.

Mature heights

There are 3  general  size categories of trees:

While the true dwarfs may sound ideal, in most cases they are very slow growing and produce a lot less fruits.

Often it is more advantageous to plant a medium height tree and prune to keep at about 9-10' tall.  This will produce a lot more fruits.  Some varieties are more fruitful when pruned than others.

In their native environments, large mangoes can reach heights of nearly 100' tall.  Just not in Florida!

FRUITS

There are 2 distinct textures: fiberless & little fiber.

The most well known mango of all time, Tommy Atkins,  is a good example of a mango with fiber.   We find the most requested are the true fiberless  --- no strings.  Like Carrie.

Grafted mango trees will bear fruit in 4-5 yrs after grafting.  3 gal pots are typically 1-2yrs old, so expect fruit to start w/in 2-3 yrs.  7g should start fruiting in about 1-2 years.  15g within a year.  30g often comes in with a few fruits.

CARRIE MANGO:

medium sized tree

Carrie is a sweet, fiberless mango fruit with a hardy, compact growth habit.  It fruits profusely even when pruned, making it an excellent choice if one needs to keep a mango to about 10' tall.  Carrie is otherwise a medium sized mango tree at about 20' height.

Juicy sweet and full of flavor, Carrie has excellent fungal resistance.  Fruits weigh about a pound or a little less.

Ripens mid-June to July

Carrie was discovered in the 1940, as a seedling mango in a grove at Zill's.  Commercial use was limited only because it lacks a red blush.  It blushes yellow when ripe.

Carrie can be container grown (100g pot eventually) if needed, or does very well in the ground as well.

FRUIT PUNCH  MANGO:

medium sized tree

Newer release,  very flavorful, mid-season variety;  hardy, vigorous tree; Fruit Punch has become our #2 most requested.

Fruit is firm, fiberless, and has a complex sweet taste; beautifully blushed;

Ripens mid-July to mid-August.

VALENCIA PRIDE MANGO:

large shade  tree

Hardy producer -- quite prolific;
Another Haden seedling from 1941; Reliable, vigorous growing shade tree.

Fruit has one of the most exquisite flavors: sweet, aromatic, firm and fiberless.

Ripens July to August.

While it is a rather large tree, if you have the space Valencia Pride gives a bountiful harvest every year.

LEMON ZEST  MANGO:

medium sized tree

Excellent citrus, sweet flavor; yellow colored fruit -- well liked;  
early to mid-season fruiting;

NAM DOC MAI:

medium sized tree:   10-15' if potted;
up to 20' if planted in the ground;

Most popular variety in Thailand, Nam Doc Mai is green to yellow skin sometimes w/ a reddish blush and absolutely no fiber.

Best known dessert mango in Thailand. Fruit weighs 12-20oz, soft, sweet, and aromatic. Thrives in the Caribbean.  Ripens June / July

GLENN:

medium sized 15' tree,
can be kept trimmed to 8-10'hgt;

Glenn is a soft/fiberless Indian/Indo-Chinese hybrid that is quite disease tolerant for FL. Originated as a seedling in S. FL in the 1940's.

16-20 oz sweet fruits is oval to oblong, greenish w/ bright yellow background that develops a pale orange-red blush as it ripens.

Ripens slightly before Carrie:  June.

COCONUT CREAM:

medium sized tree

Most colorful of all:  skin is a bright red-orange over yellow when ripe. Bright orange interior.

Strong, sweet mango flavors with just a hint of coconut. Creamy texture with absolutely NO fiber.

Ripens mid-season:  about July 1

LEMON MERINGUE:

medium sized tree

This one has a unique sweet flavor with subtle tart overtones -- a favorite of all who taste it.

Fiberless fruit is oblong, weighs about 1/2 to 3/4 lbs, and is yellow with an orange blush.

Originally from Burma, the fruit is extremely fungus resistant.

Early season fruiting:  May/June.
Can be difficult to source.

KEITT  MANGO:

medium sized tree

Keitt has a large fruit, 4-5 lbs each. Fruits will still look greenish when ripe, but slightly soft to the touch.

Keitt is a Florida adaptation of an Indian variety.  Trees are disease resistant when fully grown, but difficult to propagate and establish as young trees are quite vulnerable to fungi.

Originated as a seedling in Homestead in 1939.

Ripens late:  about mid-Sept.

LEMON ZEST MANGO:

medium sized tree

Excellent citrus, sweet flavor; yellow colored fruit -- well liked;   aromatic.
early to mid-season fruiting;

Fruits are often larger than the Lemon Meringues.

Trees are  upright, vigorous growing. Originated at Zill's as a seedling Lemon Meringue.

Ripens early:  June to July.

MALLIKA:

Semi dwarf:  about 10-15' tall; can easily be kept to 8-10' tall overall.
Ideal for container growing.

Mallika is a fiberless variety.  10-18oz oblong bright yellow fruit,  with a deep orange flesh.

Heavy producer, and very disease resistant.  Ripens June - July.

A favorite for Indian desserts.

ICE CREAM:

The most popular of the dwarf mangoes,  Ice Cream can be container grown and kept at 6' tall.

A native from Trinidad, Ice Cream has fiberless,  green fruit with juicy, yellow flesh that is sweet & rich, w/ a sorbet-like texture.

Very disease tolerant.
Ripens June - July.

CARRIE MANGO:

Is our #1 semi-dwarf mango:  can be kept at 10' if needed.  Carrie still produces heavily even when pruned short, making it an ideal when small is needed.

See description at the first of this list.

PICKERING:

Another condo mango:  Pickering is naturally a semi-dwarf.  Can be container grown and kept to just 6'.

Pickering was a Carrie / Irwin cross from the 1980's  at Zill's in WPB.

Sweet and creamy,  firm flesh, fruits taste like a blend of pineapple and coconut pina colada.  Fiberless.

Highly productive trees.
Ripens mid-season:   June - July.

Please check  availability before ordering:

We typically bring in 15g mangoes,  sometimes 30g, and hardly ever 7g.  

In Central FL,  you need a 4-5" trunk to survive the occasional  28°  cold snap,  and it takes too long to grow out a 7g, unless you have a greenhouse.