Growing Mangoes in CA

[MattyB]

I'm growing two different types of Mangoes at my place.

Here is my Timotayo, a variety that was developed here in CA and is supposedly very well suited to our climate. This has been in the ground for 2 years and is growing steady, even flushing leaves in the winter. The graft line is quite high on this one, at about 18" up on the main stem. Those leaves at the bottom are actually from the root stock and I continually pinch back any new growth from those points to keep them from taking over. The top growth of the Timotayo is doing so good I think I'm ready to prune off the leaves fromt the root stock completely and permanently.

[MattyB]

Here is my Valencia Pride. I've had some issues with this one. It's been in the ground for 3 years and has only flushed leaves 1 time, while it's tried to flower pretty much continuously. It's just one giant flowering mess! Does anyone know how to get this thing to stop flowering and put on leaves? Someone from the rare fruit society said not to prune off the flowers, let it set fruit, and then thin the fruit off, but that didn't work as you can see. Help!!!!!!!!

[Mike Evans]

Matt, here is a link to Fairchild Mango Farm. They are the experts, here in Florida. I am sure you can use the same info for CA. There are many videos you can watch at the bottom of the page. One important thng that I learned is to fertilizer only with Potassium. The expert states that the wood in the branches holds a lot of nitrogen and they are a necessary evil to grow the fruit. Looks like your V. Pride might actually be going good for its size. When you do get fruit on the trees, arm yourself to the teeth. You thought you only had gopher problems.

http://www.fairchildgarden.org/livingcollections/tropicalfruitprogram/jackfruit/Growing-a-Mango-Tree/

[Jeff Searle]

Mike is right Matty. You thought you had varmant problems now, just wait until your close to having any ripe fruit.It's like Crack Cocaine to everything and their mother!

And once you get some fruit, if your interested in an "out of this world" Mango Salsa, Andrea makes the best. Nothing in the resturants come close. She can forward you the recipe.

[MattyB]

Thanks for the link Mike! That fertilizer regiment is very surprising. Also, the tipping technique is very valuable. Thank you so much.

[Peter]

Matty, my timatayo flowered profusely this year, after only 1 year in the ground from a 5g. I accidentally knocked half of the blooms and new growth off the tree-no problem. To my surprise, I had at least 75 mangoes form on my 4' tree. I took everyone's advice and cut them all off except 3, to promote root growth, which seems to have worked as it's much firmer in the ground now. The 3 remaining mangoes are the size of quail eggs. Seems like a good variety for California-mine went thru winter fine and came out looking dark green and healthy. And I should add that I picked up this mango after reading about it on one of your threads-thanks!

Edited July 18, 2012 by Peter

[redant]

It's been a great year in FL for mango's, my favorite fruit of all. Here are a couple I stole from the squirrels and raccoons, birds, deer and just about anything else with four Legs. The Pineapple is from the yard as well.

Edited July 18, 2012 by redant

[MattyB]

Peter,

My Timotayo looks like it wants to flower right now but I went home yesterday and tipped all of the branches, just like the guy did in the video, so promote more branching. I did the same thing with my crazy Valencia Pride and just hacked it hoping that it'll wake up and grow some leaves.

[Walter John]

Good luck with those Matty, my two "Bowen" mango trees have not fruited properly since all this rainy weather began at the time I moved in to my place, two and half years ago. Hoping for a regular weather pattern, even a dry spell or two.

[Brian Bruning]

Does anyone know about mangoes from a desert climate like Pakistan or the northwest of India or the Middle East? Which varieties do well? I want to try them in Palm Springs CA.

[MattyB]

Hi Brian,

I'd go check out the CA Rare Fruit Growers website and see if you can find some info on there.

[Xerarch]

Does anyone know about mangoes from a desert climate like Pakistan or the northwest of India or the Middle East? Which varieties do well? I want to try them in Palm Springs CA.

The "Keitt" variety is grown comercially in the Imperial valley, so, not far from Palm Springs. They have excellent flavor, are large, and the flesh is not stringy like varieties usually sold in stores. They are also unique in that the rind is green even when fully ripe. If you want to try them before planting one, keep an eye out for them around the end of summer, sometimes they sell them in Trader Joe's or even Wal-mart, if not fully ripe when you buy them, let them ripen up with some bananas.

[empireo22]

Matty, How are the mango trees doing now? Did you get any fruit this year?

Edited July 7, 2013 by empireo22

[rprimbs]

I've got a little Keitt last year -- and I already have 2 fruit on the little tree! My Mallika has been in the ground a couple of years now and still doesn't have any fruit..

I am above the frost line and I have a microclimate similar to Gary's, but my impression is that mangos are a little hardier than some people have thought. I want to try an Alphonso and a want to get a Nam Doc Mai, and a Cat Hoa Loc (Excalibur sells them ). I know they are tropical Viet varieties -- but why not try!

[MattyB]

No fruit for us yet

[Zeeth]

I tried my hand at grafting mangoes this week onto a turpentine seedling I grew from a local tree. Hopefully the graft takes!

[MattyB]

Here's an update on our Timotayo Mango. We're getting our first fullsize fruit and a good amount of them too. The tree is about half the overall size than it was this spring because all the fruit has made the branches sag to the ground. This Timotayo is of excellent quality and flavor. No fiber, super sweet, great tang, just an amazing mango.

[Zeeth]

Hey Matty, the guy who bred the Timotayo mango has released a few more varieties that he says are even better. Here's his website:

http://www.socalplantbreeders.com/#!mango-varieties-currently-avai/comb

[dalmatiansoap]

I'm still looking for Atalufo sp. seeds. Any other polyembrionic variety is also welcome.

[edric]

I got three different var. of Atalufo, but I grew them from seed, they're not grafted, are they like roses, they gotta be grafted? thanks, Ed

[dalmatiansoap]

I got three different var. of Atalufo, but I grew them from seed, they're not grafted, are they like roses, they gotta be grafted? thanks, Ed

Atalufo should be true to type from seed, well thats what I ve been said. Also they say its good for container growth.

[Really full garden]

My Ataulfo mangoes are grafted.

[Zeeth]

I got three different var. of Atalufo, but I grew them from seed, they're not grafted, are they like roses, they gotta be grafted? thanks, Ed

They're polyembryonic, meaning that all but one of the seedlings that emerge will be true to type. The one that isn't will be attached to the cotyledons and tends to grow fastest initially, so it isn't hard to cull if you know what to look for. However, Ataulfo tends to not fruit very well in Florida. I've heard that Manilita and Rosigold tend to have the same flavor as Ataulfo but perform much better in Florida.

[edric]

Thanks guys, Ante, when they come in season in late march, I will send you some seeds, Ed

[dalmatiansoap]

Thanks Ed!

[industrio7]

Matty,

What ever happened to your Valenica Pride? The the tipping technique work to force a new flush of leaves? I've had the same problem with my Valencia Pride - it's been flowering for two years but no new leaves. I've ordered another tree as I've given up on my current one.

[Palms1984]

Here's an update on our Timotayo Mango. We're getting our first fullsize fruit and a good amount of them too. The tree is about half the overall size than it was this spring because all the fruit has made the branches sag to the ground. This Timotayo is of excellent quality and flavor. No fiber, super sweet, great tang, just an amazing mango.

Your fruit look great! I noticed the mango trees around San Diego and Los Angeles (that I've seen) were loaded with ripe fruit and ready to picked since May and June. The is very impressive because most mangoes don't typically ripen until early August (in Southern California) at the earliest. It must have been due to the very warm to hot winter temps.