Mango Tree Care and Maintenance: How To Grow a Mango Tree

Many gardeners dream of growing their own mango fruit, and with the right mango tree care, this dream can become a reality.

Mango trees, while exotic, are not exceptionally hard to maintain, especially in suitable climates.

They require full sun, well-draining soil, and consistent care, including periodic pruning, routine fertilization, and protection from pests. They can even do well in pots in colder regions.

With regular attention and understanding of their needs, maintaining a healthy mango tree is achievable for most gardeners.

Choosing the Right Location

Choosing the right location is paramount when growing a mango tree, as this tropical and subtropical fruit tree thrives under specific conditions.

The national fruit of India, mangoes have been cultivated for over 4,000 years.

A well-chosen spot ensures better fruit production, healthier tree growth, and less susceptibility to diseases such as anthracnose and black spot.

One must consider the Growing Zone, sunlight requirements, and soil conditions to ensure the mango tree flourishes.

Mango Tree Growing Zone

Mango trees thrive in both tropical and subtropical climates. They are best suited for USDA Zones 10-12. These zones provide the warmth and humidity that mango trees need to flourish.

In areas that experience frost or colder temperatures, mango trees will grow best when planted in pots that can be moved indoors or to a sheltered location during the cold months.

A mango tree may suffer or even die in temperatures below 30°F (-1°C).

Sunlight Requirements

Full sun is non-negotiable for mango trees to produce luscious fruit. They require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

If you’re planning on growing a mango tree indoors, ensure it is placed in a location that receives bright but indirect light.

Using grow lights can also be beneficial, especially during the winter months when days are shorter. Sunlight ensures the tree flowers adequately, leading to a better fruit set and healthier mango fruit.

Soil Conditions & Drainage

Mango trees grow best in well-draining soil. Poor drainage can lead to root rot, a condition that can weaken a plant and eventually kill it.

When choosing a spot in your garden, look for an elevated area, or ensure the planting site is amended with plenty of compost to improve drainage.

If you’re planting a mango tree in a pot, choose a pot that has drainage holes. This will promote healthy root growth and prevent waterlogged conditions.

Regularly check to keep the soil slightly moist but not soggy. Sandy loam soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5 is ideal.

Incorporate organic compost into the soil. This not only aids in drainage but also supplies the young tree with essential nutrients.

Selecting the Right Variety

The rich diversity of mango varieties offers a palette of flavors, textures, and colors for every mango enthusiast.

Depending on your region and purpose—whether for fresh consumption, juicing, or ornamental appeal—selecting the right variety can greatly influence your mango-growing success.

Here are some popular mango varieties that home gardeners prefer:

• Alphonso: Hailing as the “King of Mangoes” this Indian mango boasts a rich, creamy texture with a delightful sweet taste. Its vibrant golden hue and fragrant aroma make it a top pick for many gardeners.
• Haden: Recognized by its vibrant red skin with green overtones, Haden has a mildly sweet flavor. It’s an excellent variety for those new to growing mango trees, given its robust nature.
• Tommy Atkins: This variety is the most widely cultivated mango in the United States. It’s known for its long shelf life and striking multicolored skin. Its flesh is golden-yellow and has a mildly sweet flavor with a hint of tartness.
• Ataulfo: This smaller variety has a buttery texture and a sweet taste with hints of citrus. Its skin is thin, and its bright yellow flesh is devoid of fibrous strings.
• Kent: Often considered one of the best mango varieties for its lack of strings, smooth texture, and sweet flavor, Kent mangoes are large and have dark green skin with occasional red blush.

How To Plant a Mango Tree

Follow these simple steps to get your tree off to the best possible start.

1. Ensure your chosen location receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Mango trees planted in the garden require ample room to grow as mature mango trees can become quite large.
2. Begin by digging a hole that’s twice the width of the mango’s root ball and of the same depth. Amend the extracted soil with compost, ensuring good drainage and fertility.
3. Before planting, examine the root ball of your mango tree. Gently untangle any circling roots to encourage outward growth.
4. Place the mango tree in the hole, ensuring that the top of the root ball is level with the ground surface. Backfill with the amended soil.
5. After planting, water the mango tree thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots. Keep the soil around young mango trees consistently moist but not waterlogged.
6. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the tree, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk. This aids in retaining soil moisture and suppressing weeds.
7. Young mango trees may need support. Stake the tree if it’s leaning or exposed to strong winds, but ensure the stake doesn’t damage the trunk.
8. Protect the young tree from strong winds and extreme temperatures. Ensure frequent watering, especially during dry spells, but always avoid overwatering.

Watering & Moisture Management

For the mango tree to produce its delectable fruit, maintaining the right moisture level is imperative.

While mango trees grow best in humid conditions, their roots demand a fine balance — they dislike sitting in waterlogged soil, but they cannot withstand prolonged dry spells.

Striking this balance promotes healthy root growth, ensuring your mango tree thrives and yields luscious fruit.

Moisture Preferences

Mango trees, being tropical fruit trees, enjoy humidity. This humidity helps in the flowering and fruiting processes, ensuring a good fruit set.

Yet, while the atmosphere can be humid, the soil should be on the drier side between waterings.

Watering should be deep enough that moisture reaches the deeper roots but infrequent enough that the top layer of soil dries out between sessions.

This balance prevents the roots from becoming waterlogged while ensuring they remain hydrated.

The Importance of Mulch

Mulch plays a dual role in mango tree care. Firstly, it helps retain soil moisture, reducing the need for frequent watering. This is especially crucial during hot summers when the soil can dry out rapidly.

Organic mulch, like bark or compost, decomposes over time, adding nutrients back to the soil.

Secondly, mulch suppresses weed growth that can compete with your mango tree for water and nutrients.

A 2-3 inch layer of mulch around your mango tree is ideal, but keep it a few inches away from the trunk.

Watering Throughout the Seasons

The mango tree’s water requirements vary across seasons:

• Growing Season (late winter to early spring): This is when your mango tree may experience new growth and require more water. Ensure the soil remains consistently moist but not soggy. If the tree is young, its water needs might be higher.
• Flowering and Fruit Set: As flowers or fruit begin to develop, continue with deep watering sessions, but let the top layer of soil dry out between waterings. This is crucial for fruit development.
• After Fruiting: Cut back on watering. The tree requires less moisture during this time. Water only when the top few inches of soil become dry.

Pruning & Shaping

Pruning is an essential aspect of mango tree care, particularly if you desire a tree that’s not only productive but also aesthetically pleasing.

By removing unnecessary growth, you encourage the mango tree to focus its energy on producing fruit and flowers.

Proper pruning also aids in air circulation, reducing the risk of fungal disease, and allows sunlight to reach the remaining branches, promoting flowering and fruiting.

When & How To Prune

Timing: The best time to prune a mango tree is after the fruiting season ends. Intense pruning at other times of the year can negatively affect fruit production.

In the early years, focus on shaping the tree. Remove the central stem when the mango tree is young (around 3 feet tall) to encourage lateral growth and achieve a bushier structure.

This will provide a strong foundation as the tree matures. As the tree grows, pruning becomes more about maintenance.

Remove any dead or diseased branches, branches that cross over one another, and any growth that appears too dense, restricting sunlight and air circulation.

Always use sharp, clean pruning tools. Dull blades can cause damage, and dirty tools can introduce diseases.

Pruning Goals

• Size Management: If you’re growing a mango tree in a smaller space or a pot, pruning helps in size management, ensuring the tree doesn’t outgrow its space.
• Productivity: Pruning helps in rejuvenating older branches and stimulating new growth, which can be more productive in terms of flowers and fruit. Regularly removing older, unproductive stems can lead to better fruit yield.
• Aesthetic: Pruning ensures a balanced and beautiful tree structure, which is particularly important if the tree is part of a landscaped garden.

Cautions

Trees don’t respond well to severe pruning. Never remove more than one-third of the tree’s total canopy in one session. Over-pruning can stress the tree and reduce its fruit production.

When pruning larger trees, ensure you’re using proper safety equipment. Always wear gloves and safety glasses, and avoid working on windy days.

Know that the mango tree sap can be highly irritating to some people.

Pruning creates open wounds on the tree, making them susceptible to diseases like anthracnose, a fungal disease causing black spots on leaves and fruit.

After pruning, ensure the tree is well cared for and the conditions around it aren’t conducive to fungal growth.

Fertilization

Providing your mango tree with the right nutrients isn’t just about ensuring it bears fruit; it’s about the tree’s overall health.

The correct fertilizer promotes growth, boosts fruit production, and strengthens the tree against diseases and pests.

Selecting the Right Fertilizer

Mango trees need a balanced fertilizer that provides a mix of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K).

Fertilizers labeled as 10-10-10 or 14-14-14 are typically suitable as are formulations designed specifically for mango trees, like this one.

A fertilizer higher in nitrogen can help promote growth in younger trees.

As the tree matures and starts to produce fruit, higher amounts of phosphorous and potassium are needed to support fruit production.

Organic options like compost or well-decomposed manure can be beneficial, gradually releasing nutrients and improving soil structure.

Timing & Frequency

It is generally best to fertilize mango trees three times a year — once right before the flowering phase, once in the midst of the fruiting season, and once right after harvest to replenish depleted nutrients.

Young mango trees benefit from three to four applications spaced evenly throughout the year.

Pest and Disease Issues

While mango trees are relatively resilient, they aren’t immune to pests and diseases.

Recognizing early signs and addressing them promptly can save your tree from significant damage and ensure a healthy yield of mango fruit.

Common Pests

• Mango Fruit Fly: These pests infest ripening mangoes, laying eggs inside the fruit. Infested fruits drop prematurely. To control, remove infested fruits, and use fruit fly traps.
• Scale: These are tiny, flat insects that suck sap from the mango tree, weakening it. They often appear as small brown spots on leaves and stems. Neem oil or insecticidal soap can be effective treatments.
• Aphids: These small insects can cluster on the underside of young leaves, causing them to curl and distort. They can be washed off with water or controlled with natural predators like ladybugs.

Common Diseases

• Anthracnose: This fungal disease causes black spots on leaves and fruit. Ensuring proper air circulation by pruning and treating with fungicides can manage anthracnose.
• Powdery Mildew: Appearing as a white powdery substance on leaves and flowers, this disease can reduce fruit set. Treat with fungicides, and ensure the tree is well-ventilated.
• Black Spot: Another fungal disease, this causes dark spots on leaves, which eventually fall off. Regularly check your tree, remove and dispose of infected leaves, and consider using fungicides.

Preventative Measures

• Using compost can boost soil health, providing trees with the nutrients they need to fend off diseases.
• Periodically check your tree for signs of pests or diseases.
• Overhead watering can create a humid environment favored by fungal diseases. Water at the base of the tree instead.
• Regularly clear fallen leaves or fruit around the tree to reduce disease risks.

Harvesting

Harvesting is one of the most anticipated steps in the mango tree care journey. Recognizing the right time to pick your mango fruit ensures optimal flavor and texture.

Typically, it takes 100 to 150 days for mango fruit to mature after flowering.

Mango varieties can differ significantly in color when ripe, but a general sign across most types is a slight change in color, usually a deepening or brightening of the shade.

The mango fruit should yield slightly to gentle pressure when squeezed.

A ripe mango often emits a sweet aroma from the stem end. If you’re unsure, you can always pick one mango and taste it. If it’s sweet and juicy, the others might be ready too.

Once harvested, mangoes can continue to ripen at room temperature. To speed up the ripening, you can place them in a paper bag with an apple or banana.

Caution: When harvesting, be careful of the sap from the stem, which can be irritating to some people. It’s advisable to use gloves or wash hands immediately after picking.

Overwintering Potted Mango Trees

Mango trees thrive in tropical and subtropical climates.

If you’re growing a mango tree in a pot in an area with colder winters, it’s essential to prepare the tree for the colder months to ensure it remains healthy and ready to produce fruit the following season.

Before the first frost, move your potted mango tree indoors. Ideally, place it in a location where it receives bright but indirect light, such as a south-facing window.

If adequate natural light isn’t available, consider using grow lights.

During the colder months, the mango tree will enter a dormant phase. Its water requirements will decrease. Water when the top few inches of the soil are dry. Overwatering in winter can lead to root rot.

Mango trees prefer higher humidity. If your indoor air is dry, consider placing a humidity tray under the pot or using a humidifier in the room (I use this humidifier for my indoor plants).

Maintain an indoor temperature of around 60-70°F (15-21°C). Sudden cold drafts can stress the tree.

Before bringing your mango tree indoors, check for pests. Plants are less likely to defend against pests like aphids, scale, or spider mites in the dormant state.

Late winter, just before the growing season, is a good time to repot your mango tree if needed. Ensure the new pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogged soil.

Reduce the frequency of fertilizing during winter. If the tree shows signs of growth, you can provide a diluted half-strength liquid fertilizer.

Propagation

Propagation is a gardener’s delight, offering a means to multiply their beloved plants.

With mango trees, there are several methods to consider, each with its own advantages and nuances.

Grafting

Grafting is one of the most common methods used for mango tree propagation.

It ensures that the new tree will bear fruit in fewer years compared to those grown from seeds.

• Choose a healthy branch from a mature mango tree that has already produced fruit. This branch, called a scion, should have several buds.
• On the mango seedling being used as the rootstock, make a T-shaped cut, and gently pull apart the bark to create a flap.
• Place the scion’s cut end inside the T-cut of the rootstock, ensuring the cambium layers touch.
• Wrap the graft joint tightly with grafting tape, and seal it with grafting wax to prevent it from drying out.
• Keep the grafted plant in indirect light and maintain high humidity. The graft should take in a few weeks, and once established, you can plant it as you would any young mango tree.

Growing From Seed

Growing a mango tree from seed can be a fun experiment, but it may take several years to bear fruit and might not reproduce true to the parent.

• After eating a ripe mango fruit, extract the seed and remove any remaining pulp.
• Open the hard husk gently to retrieve the actual seed.
• Place the seed flat in a pot with drainage holes filled with a well-draining potting mix. Cover it lightly with soil.
• Keep the soil moist, and place the pot in a warm, humid spot. The seed should germinate in a few weeks.

Air Layering

This method involves inducing root growth on a branch while it’s still attached to the parent tree.

• Choose a healthy, pencil-thick branch on the mango tree.
• About 12-15 inches from the tip, strip a 1-inch section of bark from the branch.
• Apply rooting hormone. This encourages root development.
• Wrap the stripped section with moist sphagnum moss, followed by plastic wrap. Secure both ends.
• Over a few months, roots should develop inside the moss. Once substantial, you can cut the branch below the rooted section and plant it.

Cuttings

Growing mango trees from cuttings is challenging and less commonly used, but it is possible.

• Choose a healthy, young branch that’s free of flowers or fruit.
• Make a clean cut at the base, dip in rooting hormone, and plant it in a pot with drainage holes and well-draining soil.
• Keep the cutting in high humidity and indirect light. Roots may develop in a few months.

Final Thoughts on Mango Tree Care

Growing and caring for a mango tree is a gratifying journey. From selecting the right location to understanding the intricacies of propagation, each step is important.

With the right techniques, patience, and passion, anyone can cultivate a flourishing mango tree, enjoy its delicious fruit, and take pride in its majestic presence.