Mangos

Mango(Mangifera indica) trees are usually tall with a large canopy; however we have selected several varieties that are called "condo mangos" because they are much smaller and adapted to backyard gardens. There are many varieties that have been grown in Florida climates similar to the center of Houston and further south. The three varieties available for the sale are all outstanding in taste and disease resistance.

Care of Mango Trees

Care: Keep in pot until late March or early April, and bring in if there is going to be a frost or freeze. Then the tree can be planted in the ground or transplanted to a larger pot (up to 15 gallons), if that is to be its home. Full sun is best. Plant in well drained location using the existing soil only. Light fertilizer only in late spring; too much fertilizer will result in lots of growth and not much fruiting. The tree will try to fruit the first year. Pull off the fruit in order to stimulate root development.

Cold tolerance: Will start to be damaged at 26 degrees, so protect from frost and freeze for at least the first two years. Either move the tree into a garage or house during the frost or freeze, or cover with a blanket and pile mulch as high as possible on the trunk. If the tree is too tall to cover with a blanket, prune to a size that can accommodate a blanket.

Harvesting: Fruit are usually ready 4 to 5 months from flowering and when the stem will snap easily with a slight pull. Leave a 4” stem when picking to avoid spurt of sap. Use gloves to harvest and wash the fruit and your skin immediately after harvest to avoid fruit skin burn from the sap.

Disease: The tree may get powdery mildew in the spring and need spraying to avoid fruit damage. Spray with an organic fungicide or 1 part skim milk to 9 parts of water every 3 or 4 days.

Varieties of Mangos for the Houston Area Climate

Carrie is a fiberless Florida cultivar that is super sweet and delicious as can be. Its compact size makes it an excellent dooryard tree that requires minimal care. Both fruit and tree have little to no problem with fungus or disease. Lack of color and firmness are the only shortcomings of this superb variety. The fruit ripens from June to July

Cogshall This “condo mango” is an ultra compact grower that produces sweet fiberless fruit. The tree is suitable for container growing on a balcony, or planting in a suburban backyard. It can easily be maintained at just eight feet tall, and it will still produce a good size crop year after year. The fruit ripens from June to July. 8’.

Mallika is a condo mango native to India. It has become a favorite here at PIN due to its superb flavor, unparalleled disease resistance, and small but extremely productive habit. But there is a catch. The fruit must be picked mature green and ripened in camel dung or a cardboard box (whichever is handy). This typically takes ten to fourteen days. The fruit ripens from June to July. 10’. Mid season.

Nam Doc Mai is a premium cultivar introduced to Florida from Thailand in 1973. It is hands down the most sought after of the Asian mangos and for good reason. The fruit is firm, sweet, aromatic, completely fiberless, and is born on a tree suitable to a small backyard. The fruit ripens from June to July. Mid season.