Make It with Mangos
Summertime in South Florida means mangos! Here are some of the best ways to put those backyard mangos to work.
Tropical Fruit Season Outlook: Dismal for Mangos
Wet winter weather and powdery mildew mean a disappointing mango crop
First, the good news: Lots of lychees this June, a plethora of passionfruit, jillions of jackfruit. But mounds of mangos? Nope.
Tropical fruit expert Dr. Richard Campbell is predicting the third worst season for mango production in South Florida since 1977. Blame it on unseasonably wet weather that led to powdery mildew and disease that kept fruits from developing.
“Mangos were blooming like crazy until the rains came,” says Karim Rossy of the Rare Fruit and Vegetable Council of Broward. Powdery mildew came in, and fruit did not set.
Rossy says among his 20 backyard mango trees, only a few varieties have fruit: Valencia Pride, Mallika and Glenn. “We’re gonna cherish those few mangos and hope for the best next year,” he says.
Photo 1: Abundant mango blooms in January
Photo 2: Fruit on a Madame Francis tree
Photo 3: Karim Rossy of Rare Fruit and Vegetable Council
Last year produced a bumper crop of mangos, but this summer's slim pickings will be limited to a few weeks. Campbell, who runs Mango Men Homestead with his sons, expects the mango season to run from mid-June through mid-July. But other seasonal tropical fruits, like avocado, lychee, longan and passionfruit, are expected to flourish, he says.
Jeff Wasielewski of UF/IFAS and our Extension Connection columnist, says homeowners can check their mango trees now to get a handle on yield. “It’s all in the fruit. It is as simple as looking up at the trees and seeing what held on,” he says. “Fruit should be about the size of an old-school silver dollar or slightly bigger right now. There may still be some fruit drop, but what held on so far is in good shape.”
The good news? “We should still get some fruit this year, and we can certainly dream of a bumper crop for next year,” says Wasielweski. If you plan to buy mango trees, he recommends cultivars like Fairchild, Rosigold, Glenn, Angie and Orange Sherbet.
As for the nonproductive mango trees, maybe this is a year to get a head start on pruning them instead of waiting until after the harvest, says Rossy. “We’ll hope for the best for next year.”
Tropical Fruit Events in South Florida
Mango Men Homestead will open in May. Find out opening dates on their Facebook page.
The Summer Fruit Festival at Fruit and Spice Park is slated for Sat., June 23 and Sun., June 24. More info here.
The Tropical Fruit and Vegetable Society will host Mango Mania at Fruit and Spice Park on June 30. Follow them here.
Make It with Mangos
Summertime in South Florida means mangos! Here are some of the best ways to put those backyard mangos to work.
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