Mango (Kitsu Mango)

We had a typhoon last week and lost a Mango. It is hard as a rock, but I'm going to keep it on the counter in hopes it ripens. 

Mango (Kitsu Mango)

Finally, I have been able to produce Mango. These are Kitsu Mango, which are large green Mango and supposed to be the sweetest of all Mango verities. 

They are growing quickly, but do not mature until late August or mid-September, so many challenges to deal with. 

The Mango are already starting to pull down the branches, so I've used cord to suspend them. I know it looks crazy, but each fruit must be uniquely suspended. 

To prevent birds and bats from damaging them, I covered the tree with a net.

Typhoon season is coming soon, so hope this makes it through. I have the poles connected to metal stakes in the ground, so confident it will not blow away, but it might collapse. I have more poles, so plan to place them inside to strengthen the structure. 

Now that I know I can successfully grow these Mango, I will rebuild the structure next year using metal. Perhaps even make a greenhouse. 

Mango

 

This Mango tree has been in full bloom for over a week and I can start to see the tiny peddles fall.

This year I sprayed the flower blooms with honey water and it seemed to have drawn a lot of black flies and some beetles. I'm starting to see some small fruit growing. I do not know if they will survive, but I sure hope I get a few. Last year a few fruit grew to the size of a marble and then fell off. I hope I have better luck this year.

Mango (Kitsu) Blossoms

I can see a few buds on the Mango tree, but not sure if the flowers were pollinated. I will have to keep an eye on them so can remove some fruit in the event many due mature.

Mango Tree (Kitsu or Keitt)

This Mango tree is starting to flower. I cut off all the flowers two years ago to allow the tree to grow and last year the tree did not flower, so I expect a good season this year and hope I get many delicious Mangos.

Mango (Kitsu)

This Kitsu Mango tree is growing well and so healthy. I am now training some of the branches. The branches will grow quite long and I want them to grow up about 6 feet and then straight and level with the ground, which will require me to add supports as they grow. This vision is many years away, but preparing the groundwork now. 

Mango Tree (Apple Mango)

 

I was thinking this tree was done growing for the season, but just noticed a new branch. I plan to trim this tree once it creates a new node. 

Mango Tree (Apple Mango)

 

I planted this Apple Mango seed on 5 July and during the summer it grew well. It has since seemed to have stopped. I want to cut the tip off once it gets to about a foot tall or has three or four nodes. At the moment it has three nodes, but less than a foot; therefore, I will wait for a forth node the develop and cut it above that.

Mango

 

I visited a local market a few days ago and took this picture. Mango season is over and the farmers are trying to sell the last of their produce. This package costs roughly $63 (6,600 JYN) and contains three Mango types. The right (green) is called a Kitsu Mango and is perhaps the sweetest type. The middle (red) is an Apple Mango and the left (yellow) is a hybrid between the two. I am growing both the Apply and Kitsu Mango.

Mango (Apple Mango)

Apple Mango

(6/22) I planted the seed from an Apple Mango today. I have attempted to grow Mango from seed several times, but have always failed. Unfortunately, Mango grown from seed take 5-8 years to bear fruit, so this is going to be a long term investment.

Mango Tree (Kitsu or Keitt)

Well, I finally did it. I got a Mango tree. This is a Keitt Mango (also known as, Kitsu in Japanese). Most people are familiar with the small reddish Haden, Irwin, Tommy Atkins or Palmer Mango fruit which are esthetically pleasing and taste good, but the sweetest Mango verities are the green one's, not to mention they are typically much larger. 

This tree is two or three years old and will most likely start fruiting in two or three more years, if I take care of it well. 

Many Mango verities require a green house to control the temperature, moisture and pests, but Kitsu Mango do just fine without a green house and are fairly drought resistant when not fruiting. 

However, as with most fruit trees, abundant watering is necessary when fruit are developing. But, just before harvesting stop watering the tree. This will encourage the tree to push all the nutrients to the fruit making the fruit sweeter.

Typhoon season is not quite over yet, so I am waiting to plant the tree in the ground, which I plan to do in late October or early November. More to come.

Mango Tree

My Mango started to sprout the beginning of August and it is still growing.  

Mango Tree

Bought a Red Mango in mid-July and planted the seed a few days later.

This is the seed pod.

One side of the pod has a seam where the pod can be opened. Be careful not to damage the seed. Normally there is an umbilical cord connected to the pod. Gently separate it.

Mango seeds are quite large.

I lay the seed on its side and cover with about a half inch of potting soil. It sprouted about two weeks later on 1 August. I've tried to grow Mango four times, but failed each time.

Now remember that Mangoes, like many other fruits grown from seed do not grow true to the mother due to cross-pollination, but it's still fun to try.