Australian-style mango planting: Tips to 'prompt' the tree to bear fruit

Leo Skliros, Chairman of the Australian Northern Territory Mango Industry Association, has the potential to help mango trees flower and bear fruit early in winter (July).

Like every country in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons in Australia are opposite to those of the Northern Hemisphere. December to February is summer, March to May is autumn, June to August is winter, and September to December is spring.

Skliros grows Kensington Pride mango - a very popular mango in Australia because of its sweet, succulent flesh, but erratic growth. So how did you make the mango fruit early in July, when this type of mango is usually harvested at the end of September?

The Kensington Pride mango is popular in Australia for its sweet, juicy flesh, but erratic growth. (Photo: ABC).

Skliros explains: "It's a bit like KFC. The dish with "eleven herbs and spices is a secret recipe and there's a lot to it." But if you dig a little deeper, the recipe doesn't. It's a complete mystery."

'Many growers have what they believe is their own secret recipe but those are just variations of what growers do around the world ,' he said.

'It's all a matter of timing. It needs to be in the right place at the right time , ' Skliros analyzed, adding that everything a mango grower does can affect the results, but the timing of fertilization and pruning is important. The process is complicated, but Skliros revealed that certain fertilizers are used to reduce nitrogen and raise calcium levels, and when it's cooler, potassium nitrate can be sprayed to encourage flowering mangoes.

Tim Elliott from Red Rich Fruits says fertilizing timing is also affected by the lunar cycle, atmospheric pressure and heat flux density, which can make the difference between flowering or leafing .

Other variables to take into account include location - especially in areas with variable microclimates - along with water, biosecurity and plant health. A tree must have enough energy to flower, keep flowers, and set quality fruit.

Surprisingly, says Elliott, some plants are suitable for growing in rocky areas. Unable to bring them outside to plant, the grower can have more control over the timing of nutrient supply with the fertilizer, and thus the plants will flower.

'Now all of these can contribute to early fruit or later fruit depending on the purpose ,' Elliott asserts.

According to Elliott, some farmers use pruning (cutting a circle around the stem) to promote flowering, even though that can affect the health of the plant.

Mr. Skliros mentioned another tactic of pruning trees. In addition to using machines, this also involves chemicals that target the roots and keep the size of the plants more manageable so they don't grow too fast, too tall or too strong.

Insects are another important variable. Insects include both beneficial and beneficial species. Sometimes, insecticides are used if there is a pest outbreak, especially when the buds begin to open. Then there are the important pollinating insects that come and do the pollination work once the plants have flowered.

The researchers found that flies tended to be the most pollinators of mango trees, followed by different species of bees, beetles, ants, butterflies and moths. With this information in mind, Elliott says test growers need to find what works best for them, with some pretty creative results.

'I was visiting one of the growers who used to work on a fishing boat , ' he said. This grower hangs dead seabass hanging from a second tree, which attracts flies and provides excellent pollination.

The process of growing mangoes to bear fruit early involves a lot of trial and error and having to learn to understand the mango tree. 'There are many ways people have figured out to make plants flower ,' explains Elliott .

Early fruiting has created a suitable market for Australian mango growers . However, will these tricks and techniques make winter mangoes, which fetch up to $70 per tray in high-end fruit stores, more accessible in the future?

Elliott hopes not g. "Early mango should always be a luxury commodity," he concludes.