Mango Growth

Tree Description

• Evergreen mango trees have a rapid growth rate, reaching a mature height of 30 to 100 feet with a broad to rounded form. The long-lived trees are often as old as 300 years, with full fruit production. The 4- to 12 ½-inch-long dark green, glossy foliage has lighter undersides and midribs. Younger leaves are often red. The tree roots can extend as deep as 20 feet in the ground, accounting for superior drought tolerance.

Flower and Fruit

• The tree flowers in the form of large inflorescences or panicles 2 ½ to 16 inches in length and composed of 550 to 4,000 pinkish-white small flowers. Most flowers are male while others are bisexual. The fruit or the mangoes are actually drupes with a range of shapes from round or oval to oblong. The size and color also differs by variety and could be greenish, yellow, red, orange or purple, weighing anywhere between a few ounces to over 5 lbs. The inedible yellow skin contains the sweet, light to orange yellow flesh with a large kidney-shaped seed in the center.

Climate

• Mango trees thrive best in areas with frost-free weather, as both the blooms and young fruit are intolerant of even short periods of temperatures below 40 degrees F. Younger trees are likely to be damaged at 30 degrees F or lower. Even mature trees can only survive very short periods of 25 degrees F. The trees require consistently warm and dry weather for a healthy fruit set. Fruit production is affected by wet and humid weather or cool summer fogs.

Growth Requirements

• Plant mango trees in well-ventilated areas of full sun for best growth and reduced chances of disease. Avoid planting in very windy sites. Choosing a south wall or a site near paving helps increase heat around the tree. The tree adapts well to a variety of well-drained soils including clay, loam or sand with a preferred pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Planting in poorly drained or wet soils affects growth. Fertilize with nitrogen during active growth period. Do not apply fertilizers after the middle of summer. Prune only minimally during late winter to promote new growth in spring.