Alphonso Mango Tree
The Alphonso mango is a classic Indian dessert mango with a distinctive flavor that’s irresistible to almost everyone. This mango variety has a smooth texture and is sweet with a citrus-like fragrance. The deep orange flesh of an Alphonso has no fiber and is a creamy consistency, with notes of peach, apricot, and melon. The mango is ideal for eating out of hand or making into smoothies, sorbets, and ice creams. Alphonso mangoes also make an excellent addition to savory dishes, including curries and salads.
The best way to identify an Alphonso Mango tree is to look for the ripe fruit. The mangoes will have a greenish yellow to yellow skin that has a pink blush on the sun-exposed shoulders, and they will be soft to the touch. The mangoes will also have a strong aroma that will fill the air with a pleasant fruity scent. If you smell the distinct Alphonso aroma, then you know that the mango is ripe and ready to enjoy!
Mango trees require full sunlight to grow and produce the delicious fruit. You can grow an Alphonso mango tree either in the ground or in a container, depending on your climate and growing conditions. However, it’s important to choose a spot that receives a lot of sunlight and has well-draining soil. This will ensure that the plant is healthy and able to grow healthy fruit.
How Do I Identify an Alphonso Mango Tree?
If you want to grow an Alphonso mango tree, it’s important to choose a variety that is resistant to diseases. You can find a wide range of Alphonso varieties at most greenhouses and nurseries, but it’s a good idea to ask about the disease resistance of any variety you’re considering purchasing. It’s also a good idea to look for a variety that is self-fertile. This will reduce the number of trees you need to plant to ensure that you have enough pollinators for successful fruit production.
You can propagate an Alphonso mango plant by using the air layering method or grafting. Both methods will result in a high success rate and a healthy plant that will be able to bear fruit. The air layering process is done during February to July, and involves taking a semi hardwood branch and removing the ring of bark along with the cambium layer. This branch is then wrapped in sphagnum moss to induce rooting. Once the roots have developed, the branch can be removed from the parent plant and transplanted to another area.
Both air layering and grafting can take up to 8 years to produce fruit, but they’re well worth the wait because the resulting plants will have the same characteristics as the parent tree. If you grow an Alphonso mango plant from a seed, it can take much longer to produce fruit.
The Alphonso mango has a unique quality that allows it to adapt to different weather conditions. This phenomenon, called phenotypic plasticity, is what makes the Alphonso mango so special and coveted around the world. The experts at Sun Impex have perfected the art of growing this iconic mango, and their attention to detail ensures that the mango pulp, puree, concentrate, IQF slices, and dices they produce are as fresh as those plucked directly from the farm.