Germination: seed remains viable for only about 4 weeks after removal from the
ripe fruit, but ideally the seed is sown soon after removal. For this reason, mangoes
were not widely and rapidly spread around the world. The husk should be removed
to reveal any weevil larvae.
Soil: optimum pH is 5.5–7.5 (classified as “tolerant” to soil acidity), but not adapted
to a much wider range. Should be deep and free-draining, and not too fertile because
in very fertile soil they tend to grow very large but with few fruits. Fertiliser is
beneficial for the first 3–4 years, and Nitrogen can be applied when the trees are
bearing a heavy crop, to encourage a good subsequent crop.
Spacing: 6–12 m apart. Large planting holes should be dug, incorporating plenty of
organic manure and/or compost.
Intercropping: very common, especially under young trees, with legumes,
vegetables, pineapples and other annual crops.
GROWTH CONDITIONS
Growth period: the first mango fruit appears after 4–5 years in grafted or budded
trees, and in 7–8 years when grown from seed. Fruit matures 2–4 months after
flower fertilisation.
Temperature: optimum is about 24–27°C. Sensitive to frost.
Rainfall: 500–2500 mm per year. A marked period of dry weather is needed for
pollination and fruiting, so mangoes are generally not well suited to the humid
tropics, though recently some varieties have been developed for these conditions.
Pests: not normally a big problem; the Mango Weevil (Sternocochetus mangiferae)
is the worst; larvae enter the fruit, leaving no mark on the skin, and attack the seed;
young fruit falls off and older fruit rots. The Mango Hopper (Jassid), various fruit
flies, thrips, scale insects, mites and mealy bugs also live on mangoes. Fruit flies are
most easily controlled by destroying fallen fruit.
Diseases: also not normally a big problem; Anthracnose can cause significant
damage, causing discoloured fruit, leaf spot, blossom blight and fruit rot. Partial
control with copper fungicides, but hard to control. Powdery Mildew (Oidium
mangiferae) can also infect flowers and young fruit, and can be controlled with
fungicides. Both diseases spread fastest in warm, wet weather.
YIELD
Ten year old mango trees can produce 400–600 fruits in their “on” year, increasing
until about their 20th year, when they can produce around 2000 fruits, and declining
after they are about 40 years old.
Many varieties produce fruit erratically, one good year often followed by 2–3
poor years.
Best conditions are normally below 600 m.
Altitude: 0–1300 m in the tropics, though some varieties can grow at 1800 m.