Mango Tree (Kitsu)

My Mango tree started to produce flower buds in late January. 

By early March the tree was in full bloom. At this stage I begin to spray the flowers with honey water to attract pollinators. 

Once I start to see small fruit appear, I cover the tree. The flowers should be pollinated by now and the tree needs to be protected from the elements, as well as pests.

I did not trim the tree last year, so it got quite tall. The green house I built last year got destroyed in a typhoon because I built it out of plastic poles. This year I used aluminum poles and greenhouse grade plastic. It is a little more than three meters tall. 

The tree has tons of fruit, but I will only keep one or two fruit per branch. I will select the healthiest looking fruit once they get a little larger. 

I have an infestation of caterpillars, but nothing I cannot fix quickly. 

Once I select the fruit I will keep, I will remove all the other fruit and tie the branch to the frame of the greenhouse, so the branch does not move much. Kitsu Mango get very large and take a long time to mature, so there is a lot of time for something to go wrong. They mature in late August to mid-September. 

Here is a candidate. I will remove the three little fruit to the left and clean off the branch. The branch holding the fruit is nice and red, which means it is healthy. There is one more fruit at the top of the branch. It does not look like it will make it, but I'll keep an eye on it. I'm okay with two fruit per branch. 

Mango Tree (Blossoms)

Every branch on my Mango tree is full of blossoms. 

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 Cuttings

Today I decided to try and grow some new Mango trees using the cutting method. A new growth branch should be used. Cut the branch near the node and remove all the leaves.

Cuttings should be 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) long. Remember the direction of the growth before making cuttings. The bottom is the end that was connected to the tree. Take a 6-8 cutting that has two or three leaf nodes (see leaf nodes circled above). Make an angled cut about an inch (1-2 cm) below the bottom leaf node (see arrow).   

Add 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) of river sand or pores soil in a container and water well. Dip the bottom of the cutting in water and then in rooting hormone (in you have it). Use something to make a 2 inch (5 cm) deep hole in the soil and place the cutting. Once all the cuttings are planted, cover with plastic or place in a plastic bag and close. Place in a shaded, but warm location. Uncover and spray with water mist every 10 days. Once the cuttings start to grow leaves, remove the plastic and place in the sun. In a few weeks, the cuttings can be separated and transplanted in their own containers.

Mango (Kitsu, Keitt) Tree

My Kitsu Mango tree came through the typhoon without any damage. It flowered this year, but I removed the flowers to allow the tree to mature a bit more. It has been growing well and hope to get some delicious Mango next year.

 

Mango Tree Blossoms (Kitsu or Keitt)

I was advised by a Mango grower to remove the flowers to promote better root growth. Additionally, I was told the tree may not produce fruit next year if I do not remove the flowers. I hope the tree grows more and I can get Mango's next years.

Mango (Flowering)

The Mango tree I planted last October is flowering.

Mango Tree (Transplanting)

It is mid-October and I decided to transplant my Kitsu Mango tree in the ground. I was nervous, because I've not had much success in the past, so I went to speak with a professional.

I was instructed to use soil specifically for Mango, Kiwi and other similar fruit trees, as well as add a plant food with high mineral content and fertilizer; however, I was cautioned not to use too much fertilizer, because a fertilizer with a high Nitrogen content can burn the roots and stunt or kill a young Mango tree. I was recommended to use a 5-1-1 fertilize content. The numbers represent the amount of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium, respectively. As the tree matures it will need more Phosphorus and Potassium to support flower and fruit generation, something in the range of 6-6-6 to 8-8-8.

I dug a hole about two feet (60cm) deep, which is perhaps deeper than necessary, but my property has a lot of clay and want to give the tree a chance to develop a strong root system. I filled to hole with 30 litters of soil and two handfuls of fertilizer and set the tree on top. I placed a handful of mineral mix on other side of the tree and added some more dirt.

I built a frame around the tree and filled it with mulch to keep the moister in.

Finally, I covered the entire tree with a fine nylon net to protect it against the wind and pests and have a 4mm water hose on top. The net is fine so the water gathers on top and drips in like rain drops. It has been 5 days since I planted the tree and it is doing well and actually growing.

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.