Mango Cultivation: A Complete Guide for Beginners

Mangoes are one of the most popular fruits worldwide. The cultivation of mango became a worldwide business. Native to South Asia, mangoes have been cultivated for over 4,000 years across tropical and subtropical regions.

Today, India is the largest producer and consumer of mangoes globally.

Mangoes can be a profitable cash crop for farmers due to high demand, especially for unique varieties like Alphonso and Kesar.

Nutritionally, mangoes are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. One cup of mango contains about 100% of your daily recommended vitamin C and A.

Before starting a mango cultivation operation, farmers must consider climate, land availability, startup costs, variety selection, and market access. Mangoes require consistent warm temperatures between 21 and 38 °C.

This introductory section provided an overview of mangoes, their importance, growth requirements, and factors to examine before starting a commercial mango cultivation business.

Mango Varieties for Cultivation

Over 1,000 different varieties of mangoes are cultivated around the world. They differ in taste, texture, size, and other traits. When establishing an orchard for mango cultivation, choosing the right mango varieties suited to local growing conditions is key.

Some globally popular varieties include:

• Alphonso, considered the “king” of mangoes from India, is acclaimed for its rich flavor and color. Alphonso Mango prefers hot and dry coastal climates.
• Francis, originally from the Philippines, is very productive and disease-resistant. Ideal for tropical lowlands. To better understand the unique qualities of this variety, you can explore Francis mango characteristics and see how they differ from other types.
• Kent: The most grown variety in the USA, shippable, and productive. Adaptable to various climates.
• Kesar: unique Indian variety with saffron color. Coveted for dense fiber-less pulp. Grown in dry parts of Gujarat.
• Tommy Atkins accounts for over 50% of global mango exports. Shippable, thick skin, and medium fiber content.

When selecting varieties for mango cultivation, farmers should consider local climate conditions, the ideal harvesting period, market preferences, disease and pest resistance, as well as production costs. For example, dwarf varieties may be suited to high-density planting but require more intensive management.

Favorable Conditions for Mango Cultivation

The ideal growing conditions for mangoes include climate, sunlight, temperature, and soil factors. While mangoes can tolerate some variation, thriving cultivation requires suitable environs.

Climate: Mangoes are native to tropical and subtropical regions. USDA zones 9–11 present long, hot growing seasons ideal for fruit production. Mango growing is more difficult but possible in zones 8 and 10 with care.

Sunlight: As a tree crop, mangoes require full sun exposure, receiving at least 6 hours of direct rays daily. Insufficient light results in spindly growth and reduced fruit yield and quality.

Temperature: Daytime highs of 75–95°F and nighttime lows of 55–75°F represent the temperature range conducive to flowering, fruit set, and ripening. Temperatures below 45°F can damage panicles, flowers, and young fruit.

Soil: Well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter is preferable. Mangoes grow best in soil with a pH of 6–7.5. Avoid drained, very sandy, or heavy clay soils, which can cause root or fruit issues.

Moisture: Trees should receive 1–1.5 inches of rainfall per week through natural means. Consistent soil moisture is important from flowering through harvest. Deficit water stress during these times reduces yields.

You can learn more about specific mango growing condition. Here is Keitt mango growing conditions explained in detail.

Land Preparation and Planting for Mango Cultivation

Once a suitable parcel is selected, intensive land preparation activities are required. This must be done prior to establishing an orchard for mango cultivation. Proper planning at this stage helps ensure healthy tree growth and higher future yields.

The key steps involved are:

• Clearing and plowing existing vegetation using tractors, bulldozers, or manual labor.
• Applying organic matter like farmyard manure or compost at 20–30 tons per acre to enrich the soil.
• Adding supplementary nutrients based on a soil test report. Common deficiencies in tropical soils include nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.
• Leveling uneven land contours to promote uniform irrigation and drainage.
• Designing the orchard layout with the best plant geometry and spacing. Most farmers space trees 10–12 meters apart, both within and between rows.
• Digging planting pits or trenches 1m wide and deep, 1-2 months before transplanting.
• Filling the pits with topsoil and well-rotted compost or manure.
• Planting mango tree saplings during the early monsoon or late winter months, when rains are frequent,. Young trees are supported with stakes.
• Applying mulch or organic residues after planting to keep moisture and suppress weeds.

Proper land preparation boosts initial tree growth and future mango cultivation yields.

Care for Young Mango Trees

The first 3–5 years after planting saplings are critical for their establishment and future productivity in mango cultivation. Several care practices are required during this young tree phase.

Watering: Frequent, shallow watering of 1-2 inches per week is required, adjusted based on rainfall. Use drip or sprinkle irrigation.

Fertilization: Apply complex fertilizers high in NPK during March–May and September–October. Young trees <3 years old need a 1/4th adult dose. Choosing the best fertilizer for mango tree is much difficult these days due to presence of numerous fertilizer in the market.

Control weeds that compete for water and nutrients through manual weeding or shallow cultivation. Mulch to suppress future weeds.

Training: Prune side shoots in the first year to develop a strong trunk. In years 2–3, select 4-5 primary branches and prune others for a modified central leader tree structure.

Propping: As the tree gains height, tie leads to strong stakes driven 1m into the soil. Use biodegradable props to avoid damaging trees when they decay.

Pest Management: Check temperature fluctuations for attacks by stemborers and leaf folders. Apply the recommended organic or chemical controls if damage is seen.

Protect young bark: shield trunks from sunburn and rodent damage using tree guards, plaster, or whitewash. This promotes healthy, thick bark formation.

Caring for Mature Mango Trees

Once mango trees reach fruiting maturity, 3-5 years after planting, a separate set of best practices is required. These practices maximize yield and quality through mango cultivation.

Watering: Apply 2-3 inches per week through drip during flowering, fruit development and set. Reduce to 1 inch per week during harvest.

Fertilization: Conduct soil tests every 2 years to identify deficiencies. Apply balanced NPK fertilizers in soluble or slow-release forms in March–June and September–October.

During drought periods, apply short, frequent irrigations instead of long, deep watering. This helps reduce foliage diseases.

Canopy management: Prune selectively to admit light and air circulation. Remove suckers, water shoots, and overlapping branches.

Use interplanting to grow short-term fruits or cover crops between trees. This boosts income and organic soil content during the 4-5-year alternation-bearing phase.

Pest and disease control: Check for trunk borers, anthracnose, and powdery mildew. Adopt cultural, biological, or minimum-risk pesticides to keep trees healthy.

For some varieties, plant strong pollenizers within 50–100 meters. This aids cross-pollination and bumper harvests.

Harvesting: Start harvesting ripe mango fruits once they detach from pedicels with a gentle twist. Stagger picking occurs three times a week.

Integrated Pest Management for Mango Cultivation

As with any crop, mangoes face potential pest and disease pressures that need monitoring and control. An integrated approach balances methods for effective yet sustainable production.

Common Pests/Diseases

• Scales, mealybugs, and thrips attack leaves and fruit. The anthracnose fungus causes leaf drop and twig dieback. It is necessary to identify pest and diseases of mango tree earlier for better yield.

Monitoring

• Regularly inspect trees, especially new growth. Identify issues in the early stages for best control.

Cultural Controls

• Prune to improve airflow and sun exposure, which reduce humidity-loving diseases.
• Weed and remove debris that harbors pests.

Biological Controls

• Ladybugs and lacewings prey on soft-body insects. Beneficial nematodes control fungus gnats.

Biorational Pesticides

• Oils, soaps, and botanical insecticides like Neem effectively treat pests with low toxicity.
• Copper-based fungicides prevent anthracnose in organic production.

Chemical Controls

• Synthetics like carbaryl or imidacloprid are applied at the onset of problems when other tactics fail.

Record-Keeping

• Document what works to refine practices. Rotate product classes to hinder resistance.

Mango Flowering and Fruit Set

For mangoes to produce fruit, flowering must occur, followed by an adequate fruit set. Several factors influence this process, which cultivators can manage for improved harvests.

Flowering Stage: Mangoes bloom in spring or summer, depending on variety and location. Cooled winter weather triggers panicles of small flowers to appear. Flowering stages of mango is most crucial stage in the life cycle of mango tree. This stage decides lower or higher fruit yield in the tree.

Pollination: Mango flowers contain both male and female parts, but many varieties need cross-pollination. Honeybees and other insects assist, while hand-pollination ensures better fruit set.

Hand Pollination: Use a soft brush or feather duster to transfer pollen from male to female flowers over 3-5 days. Begin at the crown, working outward in concentric circles daily at dawn.

Flowering Factors: Full maturity, suitable temperatures, regular watering, and pruning help induce full, consistent blooms from year to year. Stress can reduce flowering quantity.

Fruit Set: Not all flowers will become fruit, even with thorough pollination. 250–300 fruit per mature tree sets an average commercial target. Too many fruits result in small sizes.

Fruit Thinning: Removing excess young mangoes 7–10 days after petal drop leaves adequate room for the remaining fruits to fill out to a good marketable size by harvest.

Ripening and Harvesting Mango

With proper care and pollination, your mango trees should reward you with a tropical bounty come summer. Know when and how to pick mangoes for maximum flavor.

Determining Ripeness: Color is the best ripeness indicator, varying by variety. The external color change coincides with the creamy texture and sweet aroma developed inside.

The flavor of tree-ripened mangoes is often superior. These mangoes stay on branches until they are fully colored and soft. Picked mangoes can also be ripened at home.

Harvesting: Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut fruit-stem bundles from the tree, leaving a 2-3 inch stem. Handle carefully to avoid bruising or cracking the skin.

Post-Harvest Care: Store picked but unripe mangoes at room temperature (60–70°F). Ripen individual fruits on the counter until yielding to gentle pressure, which signifies readiness. Refrigerate ripened mangoes.

Avoiding Spoilage: Common issues include chilling injuries below 50°F, root rot from excess moisture, or decay from impacts or wounds. Monitor storage conditions closely for quality preservation.

Mango Propagation and Grafting

While growing mangoes from seed is possible, grafting delivers more reliable results quicker. Here are the basics of propagating mangoes through this horticultural technique:

Why Graft? Seedlings frequently fail to “come true” by producing fruit identical to the parent tree. Grafting allows cloning desirable varieties asexually for identical performance and traits.

Rootstocks: Commercial growers choose disease-resistant rootstocks like Kookaburra and Tommy Atkins for vigour. Home growers can use available mango seedling rootstocks.

Scionwood: Take 6–12″ cuttings from the current season’s new growth of the desired variety in winter while dormant. Remove all but the uppermost buds.

Grafting Methods: Common choices are cleft, whip, or tongue grafts. Use a very sharp knife and grafting tape or wax for a seamless union. Keep the joint moist until healed.

Healing Conditions: Maintain 80–85°F temperatures with high humidity for at least 4 weeks. Healthy scions show new leaf growth within 2 months.

Maturation: Young grafted mango trees may take 2+ years before fruiting as the graft catches up to the rootstock in size. Stake, prune, and train.

Benefits: On top of true-breeding fruits, grafting allows growing dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties, which increases yields per acre over the long term.

Establishing a Home Mango Orchard

With a little planning, even homeowners with smaller lots can cultivate many mango trees for ample production.

Design Considerations

• Select flat, well-draining land, avoiding low-lying areas prone to frosts or flooding.
• Include windbreaks if needed to shield young trees. Give 10–15 years to mature before expecting full harvests.

Tree Spacing

• Distance trees 15–25 feet apart within rows spaced to allow equipment access and adequate sunlight penetration as canopies expand over time.

Variety Selection

• For year-round harvests in most climates, plant early, mid, and late-season varieties ripening from May through September.
• Dwarf or semi-dwarf trees address density in limited space while yielding to standards.

Grafting Your Orchard

• Young grafted trees establish 2-3 years faster than seeds, letting you plant 30% more trees for quicker returns from your mango cultivation.

Irrigation and Fertilization

• Drip irrigation conserves water, delivering it to roots. Fertilize during growth flushes in the spring and summer.

FAQs About Growing Mangoes

Conclusion

Tropical and subtropical regions around the world present ideal climatic conditions and market potential for successful commercial mango cultivation.

To achieve success, several steps must be taken. First, choose the best type of mango tree for the area. Then, properly prepare the soil and nurture young trees.

Regular pruning, fertilizing, and irrigation maintain health and vigor for decades of produce sharing benefits with family, friends, and the community.

By following these steps and maintaining a proper setup and environment, you can start your own mango cultivation on your farm.