skip to main content

Gardening in Oz

mango trees

12 years ago

Hi everyone, hope you can help. Just bought a home with an orchard that has about 6 approx. 8 foot high mango trees with large fruit ready to ripen. Problem is that the fruit is dropping off the trees before it is fully ripe, while they are green but quite a good size. I have no idea why and am a real novice. Not sure what to do and what the previous owners did in relation to feeding etc. We have had no rain, would that be an issue. The trees look quite weell established though. Any ideas out there?? Thank you in advance!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

tropicbreezent
12 years ago
Where abouts in Qld are you? It's normal for mangos to drop lots of very small fruit, they couldn't carry the load if all the small ones survived. But it's not normal for larger, healthy-looking fruit to fall before ripening. Are there signs of animals getting at them? Lack of rain won't do it to fruit that size. They actually do better with hot dry weather when fruit's developing. For fertilising, they like a fair bit of calcium and zinc (trace) but not too much nitrogen. They'll respond to nitrogen, but with a lot of leaf and (weak) branch growth, not fruit.
renez
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you for your reply. I am in north brisbane. The trees look healthy and the mangos havr not been eaten by animals. Can't work it out. There is a lot of fruit that has been wasted.
Related Discussions
Okrung Mango Tree--how fast do these trees grow?
Q
Comments (0)
We planted an okrung mango tree last October that is a little less than 6 feet in height. I was curious to know how fast these trees grow provided that they are healthy. Back in October, the nursery where I bought the tree informed me that I should see a significant growth in a year. I wanted to see how accurate this is. Thank you in advance for any information.
...See More
Are Your Mango Trees YAY or NAY This Year?
Q
Comments (132)
Yes Jane, obviously a critter. As long as you're happy with your tree, now time to turn your attention to the ruthless bandit(s). My story : Had the same problem around 4 1/2 years ago,..my foes were squirrels, birds and a few rabbits. I had gotten in over my head with a couple of small avocado trees, a couple of smallish but fast growing peach trees and six young mango trees ! The birds were only interested in the peaches, so they're ( hopefully ) not a concern for you. The voracious attacks were almost daily so had to something ! After using " The Old Craigslist Trick " twice, I quickly got rid of both of the avocado and peach trees, and one mango tree. That left me with five mango trees, was not eliminating any more !! Critters ( except for the birds ) were still mauling, so that's when I bought one of those Havahart spring loaded metal traps. Using the appropriate baits, within the next five ( 5 ) weeks trapped six ( 6 ) squirrels and two ( 2 ) rabbits. After disposing of them ( no comment ) my critter problem disappeared ! Since then have only had to deal with an isolated sneak attack,...nothing like it was ! I think they communicate with each other, " Hey, stay away from that guy's yard, he's a whacko !! " ( smile ) Just my 2 cents ! Good luck !
...See More
Growing Mangoes in northern California - My Mango Tree in Zone 10A
Q
Comments (5)
Although it is fruiting otherwise your plant does not look very happy. And with trees in general distressed specimens may load up with fruits, as though trying to compensate for a likely impending future absence from the local production pool. Mango – California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. (crfg.org)
...See More
Should I be worried about my mango tree?
Q
Comments (0)
Hello, My adolfo mango tree hasn't been looking too good lately. And it hasn't grown taller in the past 3-4 years (I think it's about 7 or 8 years old now). I live in the Brentwood/Oakley/Antioch/Pittsburg, California area. There's a lot of brown/shrively leaves, and a lot of holes in the leaves. I assume this isn't good/normal? Thank you, Jamie
...See More
tropicbreezent
12 years ago
The only other thing I can think of is storm damage. Fruit will drop in very strong winds.

Related Stories

TREE HOUSES Houzz Call: Show Us Your Well-Designed Treehouse or Tree Fort!

By Mitchell Parker

Got a great treehouse or tree fort? We want to see it! Post yours in the Comments and we’ll feature the best in a future article

FARM YOUR YARD If You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...

Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate

GARDENING GUIDES How to Keep Your Citrus Trees Well Fed and Healthy

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Ripe for some citrus fertilizer know-how? This mini guide will help your lemon, orange and grapefruit trees flourish

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Recipe for Tropical Edible Garden Style

Appeal to exotic good taste with fruit trees, palms and tropical look-alikes in your temperate-climate garden

EDIBLE GARDENS Great Design Plant: Persimmon

Combining beautiful fruit, vivid fall leaves and low maintenance, this tree is a winner in the garden

DECORATING GUIDES Take Your Home Tropical With Caribbean Chic

By Nicole White Designs Interiors LLC

Give winter the boot with the colors, fabrics and furniture of sophisticated island style — not a palm tree in sight

INSPIRING GARDENS Lawn Gives Way to a More Natural Lakeside Garden

By Bonnie Monte

Meadow grasses, beach pebbles and driftwood replace turfgrass in a nature-friendly landscape on Lake Washington’s shore

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Pushing Boundaries in a Sydney Cottage

By Mitchell Parker

Expanding and adding on give an Australian family an extra bedroom, an office and — at long last — an indoor bathroom

ART The Beauty of Bonsai — Living Art, Rooted in Harmony

By creative jewish mom.com

Create your own emblem of nature's balance with an art form dating back 1,000 years

COLOR The Logic of Brights: Jazzing Up Neutrals With Shots of Color

By Melissa Alvarado Sierra

Sponsored