Mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree Mangifera indica. Mango is a nutritious fruit loaded with healthy nutrients that can help support your skin and overall health. Rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Origin of is from India and from there it has been spread to South and South east Asia. There are 283 types of Mango in India, among those some 30 varieties are well known and cultivated. Each mango variety has a distinct flavor and unique texture. The taste of Mango will never fade away. Everyone some how should plant a Mango in their backyard.
Tree
Mango, is an evergreen tree in the family Anacardiaceae grown for its edible fruit. The mango tree is erect and branching with a thick trunk and broad, rounded canopy.
Leaves
The leaves of the tree are are shiny and dark green. They are either elliptical or lanceolate with long petioles and a leathery texture.
The tree produces dense clusters of flowers with cream petals on branched panicles. Flowers are greenish-white or pinkish in color and produced in terminal panicles about 10 to 40cm long. Each flower is only about 5 to 10mm long with five petals. The flowers have a mild, sweet fragrance.
Fruit
The mango fruit is roughly oval in shape, with uneven sides. The fruit is a drupe, with an outer flesh surrounding a stone. The flesh is soft and bright yellow-orange in color. The skin of the fruit is yellow-green to red. The fruit is an irregularly-shaped drupe about 8 to 15cm long. It is attached to the stalk at the broadest end. The flesh is a yellow-orange color and is soft, sweet, and juicy. It may sometimes have a sour tinge when eaten before it is fully ripe. Mangoes also produce a strong sweet smell when ripe. It contains a single seed that is fibrous on the surface. It is hard to separate the seed from the pulp.
Mango trees are easy to maintain once established. They are tolerant of drought but will perform best if irrigated during dry spells. Mango planted in the home garden does not generally require regular fertilization. if leaves are beginning to look pale or yellow, a balanced fertilizer may be applied once or twice every year. When grown commercially, mango trees require regular pruning to open up the canopy. Pruning keep the canopy at a manageable size and also promotes good air circulation around the leaves and fruit, reducing the incidence of disease.
Harvesting
Mango fruits are usually ready for harvest 4-5 months after flowering. Fruits that are ready for harvesting will snap easily from the tree. If the fruit does not dislodge with a slight pull then it is not fully mature and should be left to ripen fully. Fruits can be harvested by hand or, in commercial plantations, with the aid of special fruit picking devices. Mango fruit is delicate and easily bruised and must be handled carefully. Mango sap is very caustic and additional care must be taken during harvest to prevent sap coming into contact with the skin of the fruit or it will result in dark blemishes.
Mango fruits are usually ready for harvest 4-5 months after flowering. Fruits that are ready for harvesting will snap easily from the tree. If the fruit does not dislodge with a slight pull then it is not fully mature and should be left to ripen fully. Fruits can be harvested by hand or, in commercial plantations, with the aid of special fruit picking devices. Mango fruit is delicate and easily bruised and must be handled carefully. Mango sap is very caustic and additional care must be taken during harvest to prevent sap coming into contact with the skin of the fruit or it will result in dark blemishes.
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