🥠Mango
Mangifera indica
South Florida's summer religion.
Sun
Full sun, 8+ hrs
Days to harvest
3–5 years from grafted tree
Spacing
20–25 feet apart
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
How to grow
Plant grafted trees (never seedlings unless you enjoy surprises) in the sunniest, breeziest spot available — airflow is your best defense against anthracnose, the fungal scourge of mango blooms. 'Valencia Pride,' 'Kent,' and 'Pickering' (for small yards) are Florida-proven. Prune after harvest to keep the canopy open and reachable.
Water & feeding
Deep watering while young; mature trees need water mainly during flowering and fruit set — wet blooms invite fungus.
Common problems
- Anthracnose on flowers and fruit
- Powdery mildew
- Cold damage north of zone 10
Harvest
Pick when the fruit gives slightly and smells fragrant at the stem end; color alone lies — some ripe mangoes stay green.
Nerdy fact: Mango is in the cashew family alongside poison ivy — they share irritating compounds, which is why some people react to mango skin while devouring the flesh. Know thyself.