Welcome to mango season in Hawaii. Here on the Big Island, we can choose from lots of tasty varieties this summer. Though some stores carry local mangoes, your best bet is to shop at one of the farmer’s markets where vendors often carry several different species. Once you find one you like, you might want to consider growing your own.
Check local nurseries to see what varieties are currently available then start taste testing. Look for fruit that is fiber free and has a good flavor. When selecting a tree, choose a variety that has some resistance to disease. Buy trees that have been grafted for the most reliable fruiting, though it may take four to five years for young trees to fruit.
Know that mangos are in the Anacardiaceae or Cashew or Sumac family. Other members of this family include poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac and, of course, cashews. Be warned that the sap of all of these plants contains urushiol, an oil that can cause an itchy rash for some people. The oil is found in the sap and skin of mangos so avoid those if you are allergic to any of these plants.
The original mango Mangifera indica is native to eastern India and Burma where it has been growing for more than 4,000 years. Today more than 1,000 cultivars are growing in that region and throughout the tropics. More than 65 different mangos are growing in Hawaii today. About 30 of those grow here on the Big Island.
Mangos arrived in Hawaii from the Philippines around 1824. By 1900, many grafted mango trees were arriving from around the world. Today, mangos are the most widely-cultivated tropical fruit on the planet and some of the best ones are grown here in Hawaii.
A dry tropical climate is favored by mangoes. They will do best if planted from sea level to 1,500 feet in elevation. They prefer full sun locations where the soil drains well. Wet weather can damage the flowers and increase the possibility of diseases. Soil that is too wet can cause a decrease in fruit production.
Though mature mango trees can grow to 80 feet tall with a 30-foot spread, they can be kept smaller by occasional pruning. Keeping them under 10 feet will make harvesting easier, also. A dwarf might be a good choice if you have limited space.
Rapoza, Fairchild and Keitt mangoes are usually available in Kona. All three are anthracnose resistant and can be grown at upper elevations or in somewhat humid areas.
Some people report that Rapoza is the juiciest mango we grow. This cultivar was developed at the Horticulture Department at UH and released in 1985. The tree puts out lots of fruit at the expense of vegetative growth. That means it can be kept low with regular pruning. The fiber-less fruit turns yellow at maturity with a red blush.
Julie is a dwarf tree that is quite popular locally, though some mango tasters prefer other varieties. The tree native to hot, dry areas of North Africa. It grows slowly and bears small fruit that are just under a pound in size. The skin is yellow with a red blush. It produces a mid-summer fruit that is fiberless, smooth and delicious.
R2E2 is a smooth-skinned, oblong golden fruit with a red blush and a small seed. The trees regularly bear a heavy crop with fruit that weighs between one and two pounds. The fruit is fiber-less with a rich, spicy, melt-in-your-mouth flavor. These trees do best in relatively dry areas.
Golden glow is a delicious cultivar from Maui. It regularly bears early in the season. The fruit often weighs about a pound and a half, has very little fiber and a thin seed. It grows into a medium-sized tree that prefers a dry location.
Several others are worth considering. To see a pictorial representation of most of the varieties that grow in Hawaii, check out the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers website to see Ken Love’s poster at htfg.org/shop
Most mango trees do best in an area that is hot and dry and gets less than 60 inches of rain a year. In particularly dry areas some additional irrigation may help increase yields. Mangos prefer soil that is rich and deep. It must drain well so that it does not retain excess moisture. Fruit production is best when the weather is dry during flowering. In humid or rainy locations, anthracnose can cause damage to flowers and fruits.
Though mangos can be grown from seed, the results are not always predictable. Most varieties are best purchased as grafted trees. When transplanting, dig a hole twice as wide as the original root ball and maintain the same soil level on the stem. Do not bury the crown.
Fertilizing mango trees three or four times a year with a 10-20-20 fertilizer will encourage healthy growth and good fruit production. When setting out new trees, wait until transplant shock has passed and then fertilize lightly after a few weeks.
Withholding water for a few months before flowering, in late winter and early spring, may help encourage healthy flowering and lower the possibility of disease. The fruit should mature within five months of flowering, usually in mid to late summer.
To be sure to harvest at the right time, research the color of the skin of your variety when it is ripe. Pick the fruit just before full ripeness to avoid it getting overripe, softening and falling off the tree. The fruit will continue to ripen once picked and kept at room temperature. Fully ripe mangos can be stored in the refrigerator for two to three weeks.
Of course, you may prefer to eat your mangos rather than storing them. One good way to make bite-sized pieces is to cut the fruit away from the seed by cutting two halves down the long side of the fruit. You can then cut a cross hatch in the fruit to make chunks that can be easily removed from the peel. Refrigerate until cold then slurp away. If you want to preserve some mango, check out the many recipes for mango chutney online.
Though several mango diseases exist in Hawaii, anthracnose is definitely the most common and can affect both flowers and fruit. A UH CTAHR publication has information on the disease and its prevention at ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/PD-48.pdf.
To read about many local varieties, go to another UH publication “Origin and Classification on Mango Varieties in Hawaii” at ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/HITAHR_04-06-93_28-33.pdf.
Mangos trees add beauty and food to a landscape. They can be used as specimen trees and are especially beautiful when laden with delicious fruit. Enjoy tasting mangoes this summer and consider growing your own for years to come.
Gardening Events
• Saturdays: “Work Day at Amy Greenwell Garden” from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Garden Visitor Center across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Come with a mask and be prepared to practice social distancing. Volunteers can help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Water and snacks provided.
• Now: CLR resistant coffee trees available for pre-order. Ungrafted $10 / Grafted $15. Email Andrea at andreak@hawaii.edu to express interest in the Catimor hybrids. Not available for propagation purposes.
Save these dates:
• Wednesday, July 17: “Brown Bag Speaker Series” 12 noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom. Part of a year-long series of webinars. To register go to bit.ly/3x4Kdd2.
• Thursday, July 18-Saturday, July 20: “Hawaii Coffee Association Conference, Trade Show and Cupping Competition” at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu. For more information go to hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/event-5652011.
• Starts July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025: “Surveying Tropical Crops” UH and HDOA collaboration to detect plant diseases to prevent major outbreaks on papaya, banana, sugar cane, coffee, cacao, potato, solanums and cucurbits. Growers interested in participating should contact Josiah Marquez at (808) 973-9528, (808) 391-7159 or email Josiah.mk.marquez@hawaii.gov.
• Thursday, August 22: “Waimea Service Center Resource Workshop” from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kuhio Hale Farmers Market, 64-756 Mamalahoa Highway, Waimea. Free workshop to learn about USDA programs and practices.
• Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 4-6: “34th Annual Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers International Conference” at the Maui Food Innovation Center plus farm visits. Talk by Dr. Johathan Crane from the Tropical Research and Education Center at the University of Florida plus workshops. For more information as the event gets closer go to htfg.org.
Farmer direct markets
(Check websites for the latest hours and online markets)
• Wednesday &Friday: “Honolulu Farmers Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sheraton Kona Resort at Keauhou Bay
• Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center. “Kamuela Farmer’s Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables. “Waimea Town Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in central Waimea. “Waimea Homestead Farmers Market” from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground
• Sunday: “Pure Kona Green Market” 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook. “Hamaoka Harvest” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hwy 19 and Mamane Street in Honokaa
Plant advice lines
Anytime: konamg@hawaii.edu
Tuesdays &Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 12 noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu, 322-4893 or walk in
Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays: 9 a.m. to 12 noon at UH CES at Konohana in Hilo, 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living part time in Kailua-Kona.