Mango Alphonso

Planting and care

Choose the sunniest spot in your garden and dig a 12-inch deep hole. If the plant is slightly bigger, then dig a slightly deeper hole. Also, prepare the soil with fertilizers and plant feed before planting the tree. Plant the tree deep and then pack the soil. However, make sure that the soil is loosely packed to enhance water absorption.

Caring for Mango Alphonso

• Spray the mango tree on a cloudy day in early January to avoid sun scorch; alternatively, spray before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. when the sun is less hot.
• Avoid days when rain is likely; the tree should be dry at the time of spraying and stay dry for the remainder of the day.
• Use the spray only on healthy mango trees at least 10 years old with maturing leaves.
• Pour 7 gallons of water into a large pump sprayer.
• Add 1 pound of potassium nitrate and blend thoroughly.
• Start at the top of the tree and work your way down, spraying both sides of each leaf as well as branches and trunk.
• Spray thoroughly, but do not over-wet the foliage so that drips fall to the ground.
• Spray a second time two days after the first spray to hasten budding.
• Use the same potassium nitrate solution and the same procedures.
• Check the tree in about 12 days after spraying for buds, although budding can take up to three weeks.
• The flowers open fully a week after budding and you can expect to harvest your fruit in about 5 months.
• Repeat the process in May or June after the flowering and fruiting cycle is over.
• Some mango trees treated with potassium nitrate off-season will flower six weeks later, yielding a second crop in the same calendar year.

Typical uses of Mango Alphonso

Special features:

Culinary use: Mango fruit is utilised at all stages of its development both in its immature and mature state. Raw fruits are used for making chutney, pickles and juices. The ripe fruits besides being used for desert are also utilised for preparing several products like squashes, syrups, nectars, jams and jellies. The mango kernel also contains 8-10 percent good quality fat which can be used for soap and also as a substitute for cola in confectionery.

References

• http://srinidhifarm.com/tips_mango.php
• http://www.tropicamango.com/mangos.html#7