Tropical Florida Gardens

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/.

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