Leslie Massey
Mangoes are a beloved tropical fruit, enjoyed worldwide for their sweet and juicy flesh. They are native to the Indian subcontinent, but did you know that they also thrive in Australia? The history of mangoes in Australia dates back to the 19th century, when they were first introduced by colonial forces and keen horticulturalists. Today, Australia has a thriving mango industry, with the fruit being grown in various states, including Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. In this article, we will explore the journey of mangoes in Australia, from their introduction to becoming a beloved summer staple. We will also provide a guide on how to grow your own mango tree and enjoy the taste of summer all year round.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Australia | John Bidwill, a keen horticulturalist, is widely credited with introducing the mango to Australia in the late 1840s. |
| Initial Cultivation | Bidwill started an orchard in Queensland that included mangoes, with trees surviving into the 1930s. |
| Historical Presence | Mangoes have been in Australia for over 53,000 years, with "wild mango" or "green plum" being consumed by First Nation people in East Arnhem Land, NT. |
| Commercial Cultivation | Mangoes are now cultivated commercially in tropical and subtropical regions across Australia, with Queensland and the Northern Territory being the major producers. |
| Seasonality | The mango season in Australia typically spreads from September to February, with the earliest fruit coming from Kununurra in Western Australia. |
| Popular Varieties | Kensington Pride, also known as Bowen mango, is the most common and best-tasting variety in Australia, known for its sweet, tangy flavour and aroma. Other varieties include Keitt, Kent, and Palmer. |
| Tree Characteristics | Mango trees are densely foliaged evergreens, with some varieties growing up to 20m tall and living for over 400 years. They provide shade and ornamental value with perfumed flowers. |
| Fruit Characteristics | Mangoes have golden yellow to orange flesh, are rich in vitamins A and C, fibre, and potassium, and are used in various culinary preparations. |
| Global Presence | Mangoes are native to northeast India and Burma and have been cultivated for over 4000 years. They have spread worldwide, including to the Middle East, East Africa, South America, and beyond. |
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What You'll Learn
How to grow a mango tree in Australia
Mango trees are an attractive addition to any backyard, with their lush green leaves and delicious fruit. In Australia, the most common variety is the Kensington Pride, also known as the Bowen mango, which is popular for its sweet, tangy flavour and strong aroma.
If you want to grow a mango tree in Australia, the first step is to choose a variety suited to your climate. Mango trees grow best in frost-free, temperate, tropical, and subtropical climates, and some varieties are more tolerant of cooler conditions. The Kensington Pride, for example, can be productive in frost-free temperate climates, while the Keitt mango, a late-season variety, is propagated in subtropical and tropical regions.
The best time to plant a mango tree is during spring and early autumn when the conditions are mild, giving your new plant the best chance to establish itself. Choose a spot with at least six hours of direct sunlight a day, in well-drained, moist, and slightly acidic soil. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and to the same depth. Remove the tree from its container, gently tease the roots, and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Enrich the soil with a specialised fruit fertiliser or organic fertiliser.
Keep the soil moist as the tree establishes, and apply a mulch around the root zone to retain moisture. Keep the mulch away from the trunk. Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on the weather. Feed the tree with fertiliser every eight weeks from spring to autumn.
Mango trees can grow up to 10 metres tall, but there are also dwarf varieties that grow to 3-4 metres if space is limited. You can train saplings to produce a single trunk, removing the tip of the leader to encourage multiple side shoots and fruiting nearer the ground. Pruning is generally only necessary to improve the shape or remove damaged stems.
Grafted mango trees typically fruit within three to four years, while non-grafted and seed-grown trees take much longer, sometimes up to ten years. Mangoes are usually ready to harvest in summer when they give slightly when squeezed. Wear gloves and use secateurs to cut the stems, taking care to avoid the sap, which can be a skin irritant.
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History of mangoes in Australia
Mangoes, often considered a summer fruit in Australia, have an extensive history that dates back thousands of years. According to legend, the Buddha was offered a mango grove to rest in its shade in ancient India. Fossil evidence suggests that mangoes first appeared 25 to 30 million years ago in northeast India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Over time, the fruit gained popularity, and by the 15th century, with the arrival of the Portuguese in India, mangoes were introduced to various regions, including South America, the Philippines, and West Africa.
In the 1800s, mangoes made their way to Australia. It is believed that John Bidwill, a horticulturalist, played a significant role in introducing mangoes to the country. In the late 1840s, Bidwill moved north from Sydney and was appointed Commissioner of Lands in Wide Bay. He started an orchard that included mango trees, some of which survived well into the 1930s.
During the colonial era, Queensland experienced rapid growth and transformation. In 1862, the Governor founded the Queensland Acclimatization Society, which aimed to import, test, and introduce exotic plants for economic and ornamental purposes. Bowen Park in Brisbane was chosen as the test ground, and the society experimented with various plants, including mangoes. The society's efforts bore fruit, with the first successful mango trees bearing fruit in December 1868.
Today, mangoes are cultivated commercially throughout tropical and subtropical regions of Australia. Queensland and the Northern Territory are the major producers, with the Kensington Pride variety being the most widely grown and best-tasting mango in the country. This variety is known for its sweet, tangy flavour and strong mango aroma. Other popular varieties include the Keitt, Kent, and Palmer mangoes, which have been introduced from Florida, Puerto Rico, and Mauritius, respectively. The mango season in Australia typically spreads southward from September through to February, with the first mangoes arriving from Darwin, Kununurra, and Katherine.
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Best climate and soil for growing mangoes
Mangoes can be grown in a wide range of soils, from light sands to heavy clays. However, they grow best in areas with soils that are 1 to 2 metres deep, well-drained, and slightly acidic. In Western Australia, most commercial mangoes are grown on neutral to alkaline soils, while in the Northern Territory and Queensland, they are grown mostly on acidic soils.
Mango trees grown in a nursery are usually grafted and should fruit within three to four years. Seedling trees may take five to eight years to bear fruit. Mangoes grow well in sunny environments, but young trees benefit from regular watering and fertilizing until they are established. Overwatering can kill a mango tree, especially if the soil is heavy. As the tree ages, it requires less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium.
Mango trees respond well to pruning and can be cut back to encourage branching, which improves the crop yield. They can also be pruned to maintain a manageable size and shape. Mango trees grown in lighter soils tend to grow more vigorously than those in heavy clay soils, which have a slight dwarfing effect. However, heavy clay soils may be preferable due to the absence of pests like the giant termite, which can be challenging to control on lighter soils.
In Australia, mangoes are primarily grown in Queensland, with the Kensington Pride variety being the most common and best-tasting. This variety is known for its sweet, tangy flavour and strong mango aroma. Other varieties grown in Australia include the Keitt, Kent, and Palmer mangoes. The Keitt mango, originating from Florida, is a late-season variety propagated in subtropical and tropical regions of Australia. The Kent mango, also from Florida, is adaptable and disease-resistant, with dark green skin that turns reddish-pink when ripe. The Palmer mango, originating from Puerto Rico, is commercially propagated in Queensland and known for its elongated shape and deep purple or red skin.
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Mango tree care and maintenance
Mango trees are native to tropical southern Asia and can be grown in tropical to subtropical climates. They are deep-rooted, evergreen trees that bear fruit in about three years. They can grow quite tall, with some varieties reaching up to 8 meters in height.
If you're planning to grow a mango tree, here are some essential care and maintenance tips:
Planting:
Choose a sunny location with good drainage and protection from strong winds and frost. Mango trees prefer well-drained, loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (around 6.0 to 7.5). The soil should be fertile, so add organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure.
The best time to plant a mango tree is during the warm season, preferably in spring or early summer. Dig a hole that is wider and deeper than the root ball of the tree. Plant the young tree with the graft scar at the soil surface, and water it thoroughly.
Watering:
Young mango trees require frequent and deep watering to establish their roots. Water the trees deeply to saturate the long taproot, and allow the top surface of the soil to dry to a depth of several inches before watering again. Mango trees are susceptible to root rot, so avoid waterlogging.
Once the tree is established, you can reduce watering, and mature trees are drought-tolerant. However, they still need water during dry spells or fruit development.
Fertilization:
Mango trees benefit from regular fertilization. Use a balanced fertilizer with a higher potassium content to promote flowering and fruiting. Fertilize the tree with nitrogen fertilizer three times per year, spacing out the feedings. Apply 1 pound (0.45 kg) per year of tree growth.
Pruning:
Pruning is necessary to shape the tree and remove weak or diseased branches. Prune young mango trees to encourage a strong and well-structured canopy. Prune mature trees in late summer to remove any dead or crossing branches and thin the canopy as needed to allow air and sunlight to reach the remaining branches.
Pest and Disease Control:
Mango trees are susceptible to various diseases and pests. Monitor your tree regularly and deal with any issues as they arise using organic pesticides, cultural and biological controls, or horticultural oils.
Harvesting:
Mangoes typically take a few years to reach full fruit-bearing maturity. Harvest the mangoes when they are fully mature but still firm. The colour and aroma can indicate ripeness. To pick the fruit, use a gentle twist or cutting motion to avoid damaging the tree or the fruit.
With proper care and maintenance, your mango tree will provide you with delicious fruit for years to come!
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Harvesting and using mangoes
Mangoes are now one of Australia's major horticultural crops, with commercial farming occurring in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, and northern New South Wales. Mangoes can be harvested from September through to April in Western Australia, with the season beginning in the north and spreading southward. In the Northern Territory, mangoes are usually harvested between September and December.
Mango trees start fruiting within two years and can grow up to 20 meters tall. Young trees need to be watered regularly, and fruit-bearing trees need to be watered from flowering until the end of fruit development. Mango trees need dry, cool conditions for flowering and warm, rainless conditions when fruiting. They do not tolerate frost and are susceptible to several diseases and pests. Backyard mango trees can be harvested using secateurs and picking poles, and the fruit must be washed in detergent soon after picking. Mangoes should be stored between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius.
Mangoes can be picked when mature but are still hard when green. Fruit size, stalk-end shape, and change in fruit colour can be used to check if the fruit is ripe. Immature fruit can be pickled or made into chutney, while ripe fruit is popular fresh and can be canned, preserved as nectar or juice, or dried. Mango pulp is used in milkshakes, ice creams, yoghurts, breakfast cereals, and liqueurs.
The most popular variety of mango in Australia is the Kensington Pride, accounting for over 80% of the country's annual commercial mango market. It is grown widely in the tropical and subtropical regions of the country and is popular for its sweet, tangy flavour and strong mango aroma. Other varieties include the Keitt Mango, a late-season variety available from January to March, and the Brooks mango, which is a relatively smaller tree.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, mangoes are grown commercially in Australia, with dramatic growth in production over the past 15 years.
Mangoes were introduced to Australia in the 1800s. John Bidwill, a horticulturalist, is widely credited with introducing the mango to Australia when he moved from Sydney to Queensland in the late 1840s.
Mangoes are grown in the tropical and subtropical regions of Australia, including Queensland, Northern Territory, and Western Australia.
Some of the popular varieties of mangoes grown in Australia include Kensington Pride (also known as Bowen mango), Kent, Keitt, and Palmer.
The mango season in Australia typically spreads southward from September through to February or March, depending on the region. The first mangoes arrive in September and October from Darwin, Kununurra, and Katherine, while the last fruits of the season come from Carnarvon in Western Australia.
