Mango: from sowing, flowering, harvesting to maturity

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About mango tree

Mango (Mangifera indica) is a tropical fruit native to Asia.

It is often considered the "King of Fruits" and is a summer staple around the world.

There are more than 500 mango varieties in Australia, including:

Kensington Pride Mango (also known as Bowen Mango)
Calypso® Mango
R2E2 Mango
Honey Golden Mango
Brooks Mango

Mango trees are mostly grown from saplings, but some can be grown from seeds.

Growth stages of mango tree

Mango tree flowering stage

flower bud formation

The first stage of mango flowering is flower bud formation, which occurs 8-12 months before flowering. During this stage, vegetative growth slows down. Mango trees begin producing flower primordia in branching structures called panicles. The primordia develop into tiny, swollen flower buds and are protected within leaf axils or at the ends of small branches.

Flower buds appear

As winter ends and day length increases, environmental cues trigger dormant flower buds to swell and emerge. This is called "budding" and marks the beginning of the flowering process. The tight buds will continue to expand until they bulge from the branch.

bloom

Flowering begins once the swollen buds appear and the beautiful pink or white flowers begin to open. Depending on the variety, a mature tree may produce thousands of perfectly hermaphrodite flowers. They contain male and female reproductive parts. During this stage, the tree may produce male flowers. This will happen within 1-2 weeks.

Fruit set and development

If environmental conditions are optimal and pollination is successful, some fertilized flowers will develop into small, knobby fruits. Over the next few weeks, the initial fruit gradually grows in size as it goes through several different stages of fruit development involving cell division and expansion. After 4-6 months, the fruit will be ripe and ready for harvest.

Factors affecting mango flowering and fruit setting

Photoperiod (day length)

Many studies have shown that changes in day length affect the flowering of mango trees. Shortening the photoperiod often stimulates flower initiation. From an evolutionary perspective, this makes sense. Shorter winter days coincide with favorable tropical flowering conditions.

temperature fluctuations

In some ideal tropical climates, mango trees can bloom year-round. Cooler winter temperatures elsewhere help meet flowering requirements. Night temperatures between 13 and 18 °C, combined with daytime temperatures between 21 and 27 °C, favor the emergence and development of lower buds.

Plant hormone

Internal plant hormones, such as gibberellins and auxins, also regulate flowering. High gibberellin concentrations during the active growth phase inhibit flowering. As the days shorten, the concentration decreases, allowing the stimulation of the floral scent to take over.

Pruning and tree condition

Proper pruning keeps your tree healthy and supports efficient flowering. Thinning branches and cutting back vigorous branches diverts energy to flowering. Balanced soil nutrients and adequate but not excessive moisture can also improve flowering. Understanding the factors and conditions that trigger mango flowering is critical to managing flowering time. While some factors cannot be controlled, small interventions such as pruning at the appropriate stages can help maximize yields.

Signs of Mango Blossoms

swelling buds

When buds break dormancy in response to environmental cues, they will begin growing along the branches. The swelling of the flower buds indicates that the flowering period is approaching.

bell shaped flowers open

Pink or white bell-shaped mango buds signal that bloom has begun. The flowers may also release a light, sweet fragrance.

Increase branch flow

The wind blowing through flower-laden branches creates a subtle swaying motion that is easier to see when the trees are in bloom.

hum and buzz

Pollinating insects such as bees and flies seek nectar rewards in flowers; their buzzing can be heard from the trees.

colorful floral

When the flowers first open and then drop their petals, a drizzle of pink or white petals may be seen under the tree.

swollen calyx

Once fertilized, the calyx will remain on the branch and swell into a small, green fruit about 1-2 weeks after flowering. Familiarity with these typical mango flowering cues allows growers to time key activities to maximize fruit production.

Mango fruit setting

How does flowering affect mango fruit yield?

Proper nutrition and watering

Mango trees require balanced fertilization to support vigorous flowering and full fruit.

Organic matter helps retain moisture, while excessive dryness can cause premature flowering or fruit drop.

pest management

Common pests such as mango planthoppers and mango scale, or fungal and bacterial diseases, can damage flowers or stress trees. They hinder flowering. Integrated pest management can help.

pollination aid

Isolating a single variety may result in poor pollination. Mixing compatible types and encouraging pollinator activity through native planting can increase fruit set. Hand pollination also works.

Trim to promote airflow and sunlight

Strategic pruning weakens competitive growth. It improves airflow and sunlight exposure, which are essential for healthy blooms. It also maintains an open vase shape for easier harvesting.

Stress Reduction Techniques

Avoid transplant shock, sunburn, or nutritional imbalances by following best cultural practices. Stressed trees may drop flowers or fruit before reaching maturity.

Appropriate tree age and size

Young or vigorous trees usually bear fruit, and trees of a good size, 4-10 years old, tend to bloom and harvest the most in sunny locations.

Growth and development of mango trees

Seedling stage (0-3 years)

Seed-grown trees focus their energy on establishing a strong root system during their juvenile stages. They also focus on developing trunk and major branches.

Virgin Tree Stage (3-6 years old)

Trees become larger and more vigorous. They branch outwards while maintaining an open center shape. This shape is suitable for future flowering and harvesting.

Fruiting tree stage (6-25+ years)

Mature, spaced trees enter their prime for annual crops. They don't need to support staking to do this. Nut and seed propagation is also possible.

picking mangoes

where to grow mango trees

Mango trees grow best in tropical or subtropical climates. They prefer hot, humid summers and cool, dry, frost-free winters. The ideal location for mango cultivation is in areas where the temperature does not usually drop below 4°C. Plant mango seeds or saplings in an open, sunny location sheltered from wind. Full sun exposure ensures the healthiest growth and best fruit yield.

How to care for a mango tree

watering

Initially, young trees should be watered regularly to develop roots. Once mature, they are a relatively drought-tolerant tree but benefit from deep watering during extended droughts.

fertilize

Use a balanced fertilizer to nourish your trees, especially during the growing season.

prune

Pruning mango trees requires regular removal of dead wood. This keeps the canopy open to ensure air circulation, which also helps prevent disease.

mango harvest season

The mango harvest season may vary in different regions.

How to harvest mangoes

Mangoes can and do ripen on the tree, but they are best picked when ripe but not yet fully ripe - about 100 days after flowering. The fruit is ripe when the nose (the end opposite the stem) and shoulders are plump.

The mango should feel soft and firm, not mushy. The skin begins to change from green to yellow, often with an orange or red blush. Then you can start harvesting.

How to pick mangoes from the tree

To pick a mango, grab the fruit and pull hard. If the stems break easily, they are ready for harvest. Make sure there is 5-10 cm of stem left on top of the fruit; otherwise, the juice may leak and cause sap burn. Not only will this irritate your skin, it can also cause damage to the mango and cause the fruit to rot.

Please note that ripening of mangoes does not happen all at once, the mango fruit will continue to ripen for a few days after being picked.

Diseases Affecting Mango Trees

anthrax
scab
blight
bacterial black spot

Common diseases and insect pests of mango trees

Mango Funnel
scale
Mites
Mealybugs
Caterpillar
fruit fly

Methods to control mango pests and diseases

cultural control

Prune, choose disease-resistant varieties, plant appropriately in sunny, exposed areas, and have good drainage to reduce pest and disease habitat.

physical control

Removing insects, larvae or diseased material by hand can help limit the spread. Traps capture flies, while nets exclude birds that eat fallen fruit containing larvae.

biological control

Ladybugs and other beneficial insects help control pests without the need for chemicals. Selective spraying is less disruptive to these allies.

Mechanical control

Horticultural oils, soaps and summer oils kill soft-bodied pests such as scale, whiteflies and mites. Grease strips also prevent beetle borers from climbing tree trunks.

Legal chemical control

Rotate approved, labeled pesticides only where required. Systemic insecticides are applied to the soil to control sucking pests . Careful spraying can protect pollinators .

health

Removal of fallen infected fruit and pruning of diseased wood limits the survival of the pathogen inoculum during the winter.

By adopting a balanced, prevention-focused strategy rather than reactive treatments, healthy mango trees will be less affected by pests and diseases.

Can it be eaten?

Ideally, you should store mangoes after harvest so that they have time to ripen properly.

You can tell if a mango is ripe by its skin color, which is a beautiful pale yellow to yellow-orange, sometimes tinged with rose. The skin (and flesh underneath) is slightly soft when held - not too hard, but not too soft either. The fruit also has a lovely sweet flavor, while the pulp has a delightful tropical flavour.

Small blemishes or uneven color are completely normal for ripe mangoes. Bruises or marks may be caused by fruits rubbing against each other or improper handling during harvest.

Guide to Mango Ripening

ripe fruit

The fruit must be ripe to ripen properly. Unripe fruits will soften slowly and have poor skin color and flavor.

Keep fruit temperature between 18 and 22°C
Use forced air cooling or air-stacked trays to pre-cool fruit and preserve pulp
The temperature is between 18 and 22°C.
Keep the fruit at this temperature until it reaches color stage 3.
Before introducing ethylene, make sure the fruit temperature is below 22°C.

Temperature above 24°C during ripening: rot, skin blemishes and greenish color of skin when ripe.
Temperature below 18°C during ripening: acidity, rot, green peel when ripe.

Set room temperature between 18 and 20°C, as the pulp temperature may be 1 to 2°C higher than room temperature during ripening.

Expose fruit to ethylene for two to three days

Set ethylene concentration

Trickle system: 10 ppm continuous ethylene.
Injection system: Inject 100ppm ethylene every 8 to 12 hours.

Maintain room humidity

Design the relative humidity of the room to be higher than 85%.

Ventilate the room regularly

Ventilate the room to prevent carbon dioxide buildup. High concentrations can affect peel color and fruit flavor.
Trickle system: Continuously ventilates a room to allow at least one room volume change per hour.
Spray system: Ventilate the room by opening the door for at least 5 minutes every 8 to 12 hours.