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 Mango fruits are, believe it or not, the most widely eaten fresh fruit in the world. They have been known to exist for more than 4,000 years and number some 1,000 varieties. The mango (Mangifera indica linn) originated in south-east Asia but is now widely grown in all areas free from frost. During the last few years, even China has been busy planting over 40 different varieties of mangoes in their island province of Hanian.
Mangoes are an excellent source of Vitamins A and C, are high in fibre and also contain potassium and beta carotene, but are low in calories, making them an excellent staple food.
 A recently conducted survey suggested that only 1% of UK households buy mangoes regularly. With more than a dozen countries supplying the UK market, we are, therefore, considered to be virgin territory, with tremendous potential for increasing consumption and sales.
Mangoes are related to poison ivy and poison oak and you should not eat the skin of the fruit as it may cause an irritation in the mouth. A first encounter with mango fruits may leave you with an after taste of turpentine; this is common in the wild varieties such as the common mango, the black mango and the hairy mango, but if this has also been your experience, then give mangoes a second chance.
Peach-flavoured
 The range of taste, flavour, colour and size is infinite, but the best-flavoured fruit have a yellow tinge when ripe; the colour, however, may be red, yellow, green, orange or any combination. The nearest description of the flavour of mangoes would be to liken them to peaches. The larger mango, Alphonse, is very popular with the Asian community and a special variety to look out for is the Benishan mango marketed under the name of 'Vijaya Sungold'. A delicious sweet and juicy golden-yellow mango with a smooth skin and fibreless pulp, it is grown extensively in Andhra Pradesh in India, and bears fruits which can weigh as much as 450g (16oz) each.
 Fruits from the Caribbean are generally smaller, with varieties such as 'Tommy Atkins' or 'Julie', both with a yellowy-orange pulp colour, weighing in at 250g (9oz), or 'Graham', with similar colouring but weighing in at 350g (12oz).
But if you want a real treat, look for the large juicy, fleshy Bombay mango which is dark yellow, or the St Julian mango which has an orange pulp.
Western Australia has vast plantations of mangoes and can harvest fruits for seven-to eight months of the year. The main varieties of mangoes grown in this region are 'Kensington Pride', 'R2E2', 'Keitt', 'Kent', 'Palmer' and 'Brooks'.
Fruiting
Mango trees are dome-shaped, evergreen trees that have deep roots and grow to 18m (60ft) tall. They are often grafted for agricultural production, but will fruit from seed after four to six years.
 As tropical fruits, they require hot, dry periods to set fruit and produce a good crop. Ideal for your conservatory or greenhouse, they will need to be pruned annually to keep them under control, and to a manageable size.
The flower stalks are usually bright red, sporting yellow flowers along the full length of the stalk. Each flower is a potential fruit. The flowers smell rather like vanilla.
As the fruit develops, the flower stalk will start to bend over under the weight of fruit; it does not require support.
The tree will shed any fruit it cannot hold, and in the early years you may only get two or three fruits, with the numbers increasing with the maturity of the tree.
The fruit develops from flower to maturity over a period of four to five months and the fruits themselves are kidney shaped, rather flattened, with a smooth skin. Each fruit contains one large flattened seed.
Growing from seed
 To germinate your seed, plant - placing the end of the seed that was attached to the stalk downwards - into a John Innes No.3 with plenty of bark chippings added to improve drainage and to absorb any excess nitrogen from the fertiliser.
Because mango seeds are very large, plant in a 25cm (10in) pot. Water, then cover the pot with polythene and place into the airing cupboard until the seed has germinated. Move into a frost-free conservatory - preferably with a winter temperature of no less than 10øC - remove the polythene, water well in the summer, but keep dryer in the winter and feed with citrus fertiliser, which is suitable or all fruiting trees grown in containers.
When the tree has started to fruit, prune back after harvesting to encourage strong new shoots which will then bear fruit the following year. Increase the size of the pot as the root ball increases, remembering that mango trees have deep roots. |
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