When you want a great shade tree that bears delicious, vitamin packed fruit and will deliver leaves that make great mulch then consider planting some Mango trees. Mangos are the apple trees of the tropics!
The mango tree is basically an evergreen and though there are people who advocate growing a mango tree from the seed of a mango (similar to recycling your avocado pits) you will get fruit that may well be bitter and stringy if it indeed produces a seedling at all.
All the best tasting mango producing trees are from grafted trees and you can tell because the young seedling will usually have a scar all around the base of the trunk.
For those of you who live in zones where the temperature never falls to 32F you may well consider planting some mangos for mango trees die or rarely recover from damage of 32F. Don't be fooled by anyone who advertises "cold weather-hardy" mango stock or trees since there is no such thing.
Should your mango trees be subjected to a sudden freeze then you will need to be prepared for that freeze and do the following:
- Cover it up well for the duration of the freeze or frost, but remember to open a vent hole or uncover once the temperature goes back up to 40 degrees or you will cook your tree.
- Keep it in a container on wheels so you can roll your mango tree inside until the threat of frost is gone.
- You can heat the trunk of the tree with an electric heat pad provided it is not raining.
For those who have several trees planted then you might want to consider small smudge pot fires for that evening chill.
For those organic gardeners who do not have to deal with an occasional chill then it is important to know that one should snip the fruit of young mango trees for 2 to 4 years of it showing fruit about the size of golf balls and this will enhance your mango trees down the road with better fruit in the future.
Once your mango trees are bearing you may experience tree branches load with heavy fruit and you will need to carefully prop up the branches with lumber and perhaps ropes. When you do use old garden hoses pieces to protect your Mango branches where you put the timbers and ropes.
Squirrels and rats are really pests for mango trees and many owners keep a dog for that purpose.
Mango trees are a nice additive to any property that can support them. Right now Mangos are selling for a dollar apiece in our local supermarket and some times go for a higher price.
Allow your mangos to ripen on the tree for the best flavor. The fruit of the mango without peel contains 1.0 grams of protein and 3 grams of dietary fiber plus potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, copper, vitamins A, C, B2, B6, niacin, folate and vitamin E.
"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with Peace, Light and Love,
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