Tips for Growing and Caring for Mango Trees
The Edison & Ford Winter Estates is dotted with so many mango trees, that Henry Ford named his estate “The Mangoes.” In the rainforests, they’ve been known to grow up to 120 feet high. Not only do they provide excellent shade but some of the tastiest and most popular fruit in the world.
Mangoes are evergreen trees that are drought tolerant and love sunshine. Here are some great tips for growing and caring for Mango Trees:
- Are accustomed to hot and dry climates so plant in full sun and do not over water. A good rule is to water a newly planted tree every three days for the first month, once a week for the next two months, and only during extended dry spells after that.
- Be careful of over watering while fruit is developing as this can cause the fruit to burst.
- Tropical plant that can become temporarily dormant at temperatures of 40 degrees or below and will be damaged or die at 32 degrees or below. Be sure to cover during frost with coverings staked to the ground as this allows the heat from the ground to keep the tree warm.
- Pruning is not recommended for amateurs and should only be done with sterilized blades.
- Mango seeds do not produce the same quality fruit as the tree they originate from. If you eat a particularly flavorful mango, its seed will not produce the same delicious fruit. For this reason, many mango trees are grafted.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Mango leaves are poisonous. They should be kept away from animals that might nibble on them and should never be burned.
Please visit our Garden Shoppe at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates to see our great selection of fruit and spice trees. Learn more about our gardens or submit questions to our staff on our web site at: http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/about/whats-blooming/.
Related Posts: Mango Salsa Recipe, Mango Smoothie Recipe, Are All Mangoes Created Equal? Delicious Mango Varieties, Tropical Fruit Trees That Grow Best in Southwest Florida
Tropical Fruit Trees That Grow Best in SW Florida | Tropical Gardens of the Edison & Ford Winter Estates Says:
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Posted on May 24th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
Katheryn Says:
Someone gave me a mago tree and I watered it every day thinking i needed to while it got established, i watered more as the leaves looked like the were drying out and not getting enough water up to them now it has been a week and the tree looks like it is dying help what do I do? I also fertilized it and i think I should have ask the person who gave it to me first in case they had already fertilized it. will the tree be ok if I stop watering it?
Posted on March 7th, 2013 at 3:16 pm
Edison Ford Winter Estates Says:
Sounds to me like the roots are rotting. Sorry, but sometimes when something is so young you can’t bring it back. Take your finger and scrape a little off the bark and if it is green below you could try repotting into new soil aerating the roots. Then leave it alone. If it is going to come back then it will. When a tree is so young and until the roots have really established you can’t help with fertilizer. The tree is able to make it’s own food by the process of photosynthesis. The elements in fertilizer improve the plants ability to photosynthesize during normal processes, but if it is struggling it just makes matters worse.
It is like you eating a steak dinner when you have just gotten over the flu.
Debbie Hughes, Senior Horticulturist
Posted on March 13th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
Carol ferrelli Says:
Plenty of mango on one stem….to heavy what do I do?
Posted on April 11th, 2013 at 8:01 am
Edison Ford Winter Estates Says:
You can take a few of the mangoes off of the cluster if you want. Sometimes the tree will do it for you because the tree can’t support all of the fruit (not just the weight being a problem), but it takes much energy from the tree to produce all of that fruit.
Some people in Asian countries will prop up a branch with a stake or a board to give support to the heavy laden branches.
If the stem has too many fruits, pluck off a few and see if that helps. If you don’t, you may lose all of the fruit on the one stem. Better to be safe than sorry.
Debbie Hughes, Senior Horticulturist
Posted on April 17th, 2013 at 1:30 pm