How to Grow a Mango Tree

Mango trees prefer warm, frost-free climates, so are suitable for growing in tropical, subtropical, or warm temperate zones.

Position in full sun with protection from strong winds.

Plant a Mango tree in fertile, moist, deep and well-draining soil. 

For fertile soil that holds onto moisture better, enrich the soil with with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser and compost.

To test if your soil is deep enough, dig a 40 cm deep hole in the ground and if you hit clay or rock before reaching 40 cm, choose a different spot in the garden with deeper soil where the top 40 cm is brown and crumbly.

If the soil in your garden isn't suited for a Mango, or you don't have the space, choose a dwarf variety and plant in a pot filled with quality potting mix, like Yates Premium Potting Mix.

Feed Mango trees from late spring to autumn with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver and Plant Fertiliser. When the tree starts to product fruit – normally in it's third or fourth year – supplement feeding with Yates Thrive Natural Fruit & Citrus Pelletised Plant Food.

Water regularly until established. Once established, Mangoes are rather tolerant of dry conditions and can typically rely on seasonal rainfall for water. Mulch to help retain moisture (see How to Mulch a Mango Tree). If there are extended dry periods, especially when flowering or fruiting, water deeply to help reduce drought stress.

Like most plants, Mangoes don't take in water through their leaves. Water the soil near the trunk and underneath where the leaves are growing. If you are installing irrigation use drippers or sprayers, and avoid overhead watering to conserve water.

If you are using bore water or recycled water, if the tips of the leaves start to go brown, you might need to use a different water source with lower salinity.

Heavy and prolonged rain, or over-watering can make Mangoes prone to various diseases, so good drainage and correct watering is key to disease prevention.

Keep mulch away from the base of trunk to help keep it dry. Otherwise, the trunk will stay to wet and make it prone to diseases like Root Rot.

Depending on the variety, Mango fruiting season is between spring and autumn. Mangoes are generally ready for harvest when the skin changes from green to a dull yellow or orange and the red blush intensifies. Wear gloves and use a pair of secateurs to cut the stems holding the fruit, taking care to avoid the sap from dripping onto the Mango skin or contacting your skin. The sap can be a skin irritant and can cause mild dermatitis or severe burning sensations. Wash off any sap immediately under running water and seek further medical advice, if necessary.

Once the tree reaches over 1 m tall, cut it back to 0.6–0.7 m. Do this in spring or summer and this will help encourage multiple branching and a strong, open framework for a healthy tree. As the branches develop from the main stem, choose four-to-five strong branches, ensuring they fan out like an open vase and remove the rest. This will ensure sunlight and air is well-circulated within the canopy. 

Over the next couple of years, tip prune each of the main limbs in summer to encourage branching. Once the tree starts to produce fruit – normally in its third or fourth year – wait until after fruiting finishes before pruning the tips, cutting away dead or dying branches, and removing any upward growth.

After pruning, spread compost and Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser around the base of the tree and water in well.

You may occasionally find Leafhoppers on Mango trees. If control is necessary, spray with Yates Nature’s Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray. If a concentrate is preferred, use Yates Pyrethrum Insect Pest Killer Concentrate.

Fruit Fly also find Mangoes attractive. Control Fruit Fly early in the fruiting season by spraying the branches and foliage with Yates Nature’s Way Fruit Fly Control – do not spray the fruit.

If the ripening fruit has fallen off too soon and now has small wipe legless pests inside, then see How to Stop Fruit Fly Attacking Mango Fruits.

Poor fruiting, or not fruiting at all, can be for various reasons: the tree is too young to fruit, poor plant stock, seed grown fruit (see How to Grow a Mango from Seed), incorrect feeding (see How to Feed a Mango Tree), low temperature, and poor pollination.

Spray leaves with Yates Waterwise DroughtShield and cover with a shade cloth (up to 50 per cent) in summer to help reduce sun burn.

The most common Mango diseases are Anthracnose and Bacterial Black Spot. Both diseases are prevalent in wet conditions but can be managed with preventative sprays of Yates Liquid Copper Fungicide. Timing of treatments with this spray are critical to prevent the spread of the disease. For Anthracnose, spray from the end of flowering until harvest, spraying every 4 weeks. For Bacterial Black Spot spray after fruit set until harvest, spraying every 2-4 weeks.

The most common causes of spots on Mango leaves are Anthracnose and Bacterial Black Spot.

Anthracnose on Mango leaves causes sunken, circular ,dark brown spots with darker edges and mostly affecting the leaf edges (margin). As the disease progresses, spots enlarge and come together, and the centre of the spots the leaf dies causing tiny holes - like a shot hole.

Bacterial Leaf Spot on Mango leaves causes raised, irregular, black spots that sometimes have a yellow around the edges.

See Best Treatment for Anthracnose & Bacterial Black Spot for how to get rid of these common diseases of Mango.

Premature leaf drop can be caused by incorrect watering (see How to Water a Mango Tree), diseases (see Best Treatment for Anthracnose & Bacterial Black Spot)  and sap-sucking pests (such as Leaf hoppers - see How to Get Rid of Leaf Hoppers).

Under-watering and/or poor water source (see How to Water a Mango Tree).

Mangoes can be prone to various Root & Collar Rots, but most of these are caused by planting in the wrong soil, poor mulching technique, or over-watering.

Anthracnose can cause the branch tips to die off (see Best Treatment for Anthracnose & Bacterial Black Spot).

If it's too cold, too wet, if there are frosts, all of these can cause sudden tree death.

Although Mango tree roots are not "invasive", it is best to avoid planting trees near a driveway or pathway, or near water services where roots might go.

Mangoes are very large trees and are best planted in medium or large sized gardens where their roots are free to spread. With pruning (see How to Prune a Mango Tree) plants can be kept smaller which will also help to keep their roots more contained.

Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well.

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the tree from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Form a raised ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it’s needed most. Water in well.

Mulch around the base with organic mulch like sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.

Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.

Feed the Mango tree with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser at least three times a year, in spring, summer and in autumn after harvest.

When the tree starts to produce fruit (normally in it's third or fourth year), supplement feeding with Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Pelletised Plant Food.

Harvest Mangoes when the skin turns from green to yellow or orange.

If planting in a Mango tree in a pot, look for dwarf varieties like 'Palmer' or 'Sensation'. 

Choose a pot at least 500 mm diameter.

Choose a pot at least 500 mm wide. Fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.

Remove the tree from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Water in well.

Water deeply, two or three times during the week, depending on weather conditions.

Feed the Mango tree with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser at least three times a year, in spring, summer and in autumn after harvest.

When the tree starts to produce fruit (normally in its third or fourth year), supplement feeding with Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Liquid Plant Food.

Harvest Mangoes when the skin turns from green to yellow or orange.

Looking to grow a Mango from seed? It’s a fun project, but bear in mind that it can take between 5–10 years to reach fruiting maturity. If you’re going to try, use seed from Kensington Pride or Bowen Mango as these will grow into a tree with the same characteristics as the parent tree.

For best results, collect seed as soon as the fruit has been removed from the tree. Here is a step-by-step guide to growing a Mango tree from seed.

Remove the flesh from around the husk – this is the large hard ‘seed’ in the centre of the fruit that protects the embryo. You can use a knife or soft brush to gently remove as much of the flesh as possible. Pat dry.

Cut a slit into the pointy end of the husk and gently pry it open, taking care not to damage the embryo. Carefully remove the embryo.

Fill a tray or pot with Yates Seed Raising Mix. Insert the embryo into the mix, with the concave edge facing down, and leave the top edge slightly exposed. If planting multiple embryos, space them 10 mm apart in the tray or pot. Position in a bright spot, out of direct sunlight and water as needed to keep the soil evenly moist.

After a few days, if the top edge turns green, the seed is viable and will grow. Germination usually occurs within 10–14 days. If the edge turns black, discard the seed and start again.

Repot seedlings into individual pots after a few weeks and water in well. Continue to nurse the seedlings as indoor plants on a brightly lit windowsill, or move outside into a well-let spot, out of direct sunlight. After a few years, consider planting the young tree into the garden or large pot. See How to Grow a Mango Tree in a Garden or How to Grow a Mango Tree in a Pot.