Description of Alfonso mango variety, propagation and care at home

Alphonso mango is becoming increasingly popular among gardeners. The fruit is famous for its soft, sweet and unusual taste. The pulp is juicy and tender. Mangoes are used to make preparations for the winter, consumed fresh, decorated with desserts and added to baked goods. It contains a large amount of minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. Mango helps improve digestive function, cardiac function, and improves immunity. To successfully grow the Alfonso variety, you should familiarize yourself with its features.

History of variety development

Mango was bred in India; the variety got its name thanks to Duke Alfonso d’Alubuquerque. He is a Portuguese adventurer who arrived in Goa in 1504. The variety is also called “king mango”. More than 130 varieties of this crop are grown in India, but this species is especially popular. It is grown for personal consumption or for sale. This is a favorite variety of residents of the UAE, India, Egypt, and Africa.

Advantages and disadvantages of culture

Although Alfonso is the “king” among his brothers, gardeners found several disadvantages in him. There are more positive features, but familiarizing yourself with the shortcomings will help you learn all the nuances about the variety.

Where is it recommended to grow

Mangoes are widely grown at home or in a greenhouse. In the first option, the plant usually does not bear fruit, but grows as an indoor crop for decoration. Trees are planted in shelters in the South and mid-latitudes.Mango will not take root in the northern regions; the exotic fruit does not tolerate frost well. Choose a place protected from drafts, well lit by the sun.

Characteristics and description of Alphonso mango

Alfonso fruits are medium-sized, about 10 cm long, weight – 300 g. The pulp is orange-saffron, easily separated from the bone. The skin is rich yellow, with an orange tint. The surface is glossy, shiny, soft to the touch, covered with a waxy coating. If the fruit is ripe, the skin yields when pressed, but is not pressed deeply. Inside there is a ribbed, yellowish-white, hard bone. It is flat, oval, slightly elongated. It contains a starchy seed; it will produce only 1 shoot.

Tree crown height and dimensions

Trees during pollen create a romantic atmosphere. They are strewn with pinkish flowers with panicles 40 cm long and emit a sweet, rich amber. Their scent is similar to that of lilies. Mango is widely used in landscape design because of its marvelous flowering in the design of parks, squares, gardens, private greenhouses, and winter gardens.

The tree grows up to 35 meters high in the tropics, but if grown in a greenhouse or at home, the height will be up to 2 meters. They live on average 300 years. The leaves reach 30 cm in length and are yellow or pinkish in color, especially when young. Mature foliage is rich green.

Pollinators, flowering and fruiting

The Alfonso variety requires nearby pollinators. These include bats that feed on pollen, beetles, butterflies, flies, wild bees, wasps, and ants. House bees do not play a role in mango pollination. The tree blooms from December to April, the petals are pale pinkish or yellow. Fruiting occurs 10 years after planting, but continues for 200-300 years.

Collection and use of fruits

Alphonso mango fruits take 4-5 months to ripen and are harvested from mid-May to July 15th. The harvest is widely exported to the CIS countries from India, Africa, the UAE, Pakistan and other eastern countries. Due to the exquisite taste of mango, it is quickly sold out. Residents of Russia rarely grow such an exotic crop, but they can make a good business from it.

Mangoes cost more than standard vegetables and fruits. Juicy fruits tolerate transportation well, are preserved for a long time and do not lose their original appearance.

Resistance to low temperatures and drought

Mango does not tolerate cold well; trees grow normally at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius. Since their homeland is warm countries, they require cultivation in a greenhouse or at home. Trees do not tolerate dry periods well, even if they are short-lived. If we are talking about prolonged drought, the plant may die out.

Susceptibility to diseases and pests

Mango has poor resistance to diseases and bugs. Exotic crops should be treated with special means for the purpose of prevention. With proper care, plant immunity increases.

How to plant mangoes on the plot

Mangoes are planted in greenhouses or at home in 2 ways:

• germination from seeds;
• cuttings.

Each method has its own pros and cons, but the first option is more popular.

Timing, suitable climate and soil

It is advisable to plant mangoes at the end of April. A climate suitable for a tropical plant is present in the South. In mid-latitudes, the landing is postponed to the end of May. It is not recommended to plant mangoes in the fall, since young mangoes will not survive frosts.

Mango prefers to grow on light, loose, sandy or clayey soils.You can use a mixture for succulents with the addition of small pebbles, expanded clay or universal soil combined with sand 2:1.

Germination from seed

Mango seedlings are quite vulnerable at the beginning of life; it is better to plant the seeds in a permanent place in a pot. This method is more suitable for home conditions.

1. The exotic culture does not tolerate stagnation of water; drainage at the bottom is required to remove excess moisture. To do this, pour a 5 cm layer of expanded clay and grated brick.
2. Fill the container 2/3 full with universal fertilizer, moisten the soil and let the water drain.
3. Sprinkle the seed, flat side down, and cover gently with soil. Lightly press the soil so as not to damage the sprouted seed.
4. After planting, water the plant generously.

Leaves will begin to set in 2-4 weeks. Some of them are purple and others are green.

We grow by cuttings

Growing mago by cuttings is usually carried out in a greenhouse. It involves the following steps.

1. Remove the mango from the container with the earthen lump. The procedure can be simplified if you water it generously 30 minutes before planting.
2. The new place is filled ½ full with soil, preparing drainage at the bottom.
3. Carefully place the cuttings, first straightening the rhizome. The base should be level with the ground surface or lower.
4. Sprinkle the tree trunk circle with soil and lightly stamp it with a spatula. Water the plant.

After planting, make sure that the plant is not exposed to sunlight and that the place is warm. Usually they place the pot on the windowsill; they try to keep the window mostly curtained. When the mango sprouts and grows leaves, you can place it in a greenhouse.

How to care for culture

If you provide the mango with the proper conditions, careful care will not be required. It is important that the adult plant receives enough heat. If there is a shortage of it, the tree weakens and its resistance to diseases and beetles decreases. Standard care involves timely watering, fertilizing, treating the tree trunk, preventing diseases and insect attacks.

Watering frequency and fertilization

Mango does not tolerate drought and dry air; you need to regularly water it with settled water and maintain a humidity level of 70-80% in the room. Do not get carried away with excessive spraying of foliage; they are susceptible to fungi and mold. It is advisable to irrigate only the soil.

In the form of fertilizers, taken vermicompost and nitrogen-containing compounds, used for growing persimmons or citrus crops.

Tree trunk care

If we are talking about a tree growing in a greenhouse, add organic matter to the tree trunk 2 times a year. It includes manure and rotten leaves. They are diluted in 5 liters of water.

Formative pruning

Mango responds positively to pruning; the procedure helps the crown to quickly regenerate. The event is carried out when the tree reaches 1.5 meters in height. Form the crown 1-2 times a year to maintain good shape and regulate size. Remove branches that thicken the bush, damaged and dried specimens. The central shoots are shortened to the desired length. Mangoes are widely shaped into a ball, pyramid or spreading bush.

Preventative treatments

Tropical plants are often susceptible to diseases and require careful preventive treatments. Mangoes are usually attacked by spider mites and thrips. Diseases include powdery mildew, anthracosis and bacteriosis.Diseases should be combated with the help of fungicides and insecticides.

How to properly cover plants for frost

Mangoes are covered in greenhouse conditions using a metal frame covered with burlap. The material must be breathable. At home, you don’t have to insulate the plant, but just place it on the windowsill, where there is a radiator underneath.

Reviews about the variety

Feedback from people growing mango indoors or in a greenhouse is mixed. Some do not recommend growing the crop, because at home, the tree does not bear fruit. Others are happy with the plant and use it as decoration.

Roman Lopyrev, 58 years old, Dnepr.

Hello! I grew mangoes at home for fun. The tree did not bear fruit, I take care of it as a houseplant. Alfonso bloomed in March with very beautiful flowers.

Ivan Morozov, 66 years old, Yalta.

Greetings to all! A neighbor recommended growing Alphonso mangoes in a greenhouse. I decided to plant 2 trees using cuttings. There has been no harvest yet, since I planted the tree in the summer of 2018. I’m waiting for pollen.