Ataulfo Mango in Northern California

[fruitfruit]

I’m in Los Gatos bordering Saratoga and Campbell. More than the cold I think they hate being transplanted, even with minimal disruption. They germinate in my compost and I pot them, or put them in ground. I think I have about 3 of the fifteen or so I germinated still alive. They survive in the shade, but only put leaves out when it’s hot and sunny. They burn in the direct sun… odd.

My uncle bought a mango orchard few years ago and those darned things absolutely love intense sun. They are almost like weeds.

Here’s a three year old that’s in ground and still alive not doing much.

Most recent transplant death, roots were fully intact (or so I think) when moved. Still died almost right away…

Here’s a potted one, with volunteer tomatoes growing from compost.

[jujubemulberry]

Growing them as seedlings and in direct sun should harden them as youngsters. Growing them in shade then situating them in a hot sunny spot may result in leaf damage as foliage grown under shade is a bit different from those that were exposed to blazing sun at the leaf bud stage. Mangos will need a lot of sun to produce fruits

[510stan]

Too dry. Plus- this is the law on them. Hottest sun. Even reflected off a hot wall…if anything,thats better. WATER DEEP. Build a well around them…for small seedlings fill and let sink in.
They are only dying on you from lack of water. Seedling Mangoes should- but not always- be easier to grow than grafted plants.
For the Bay Area? Try Baileys Marvel, Glenn,Valencia Pride. All of them are larger fruit that the Asians and the tree’s have a better record in mild summer areas. Baileys Marvel is a fast grower,Valenica Pride also.
Manila is very good here too. What Home Depot has right about now for $25

[510stan]

Very true. Mangoes bought growing under shade cloth should NEVER be planted in full sun when you get home…acclimate them to sun and eventually hottest sun.
Compost piles have warm soils…so the whole shock of that and full sun…lack of water is slowing you down Fruit fruit.

[510stan]

I should have said yes,they grow true. The Manila from 2 weeks ago or so.
About 12’.

[jujubemulberry]

Those blooms are oozing with optimism, keep us posted!

[fruitfruit]

Heartening to see such success in the bay. Motivates me to take better care of the little ones. Looks like I had a negative bias against them working out here.

[510stan]

This is from yesterday. The Ataulfo with pea sized fruits and the larger Manila in back the size of pecans- about.

[fruitgrower]

@510stan, your mangoes look great, looks like you will for sure have fruit this fall! How awesome is that! We discovered we really like mangoes a lot here, I have bought 4 grafted trees, not supposed to do good here in Orangevale, but we have decided to put up a greenhouse and try them out. We are growing so many fruits and vegetables here, and the climate is warming, so Mangoes are possible here. I have many seedlings started and hope to graft them over in 5 or 6 years. I have plans to graft 4 varieties to each Mango tree, and have many varieties! We wish we tried good Mangoes earlier, most of the ones here have been just OK, but the later ones from California here have been excellent! The reason we have started growing them here! The hot water bath may have something to do with it. Seems to degrade quality. Thanks for sharing your success story, really cool, actually awesome!! Congrats!

[510stan]

THANKS FG. I was told by all “the experts” on tropical fruit forum that Mangoes would never grow here. They also told me Avocados wont either and they are huge tree’s here. So much for what they know about growing outside their front yard-lol.
Try them outside,inside…I tell people in nor cal- plant a group of them. Because one tree can take a decade to give many fruits. With five plants that fruit early or even the same year you plant them (grafted) you can pick a bowlful early. They will never be large tree’s here…so go with numbers to make up for that. If you have the room,thats the way to go.
The last time we had Mango killing cold was 2007. Ok,every 13 years you have to cover and heat them. Not that hard!
With climate change…it might never get even 2007 cold again let alone the big freeze of 1992.

[californicus]

It is exciting that Nor.Cal folks are trying to grow mangoes. Not to discourage anyone, but all the personal experiences I see on tropical fruit growers groups say its a really hard one to pull off. Except for that one producing mango tree in Fremont (which is the topic of many youtube videos), I don’t see any success stories. I hope @510stan, @fruitgrower and others can change that.

@fruitgrower, I really like California-grown Keitt mangoes. They are huge and surprisingly green when ripe (atleast the ones I got my hands on) and very tasty. Another source for good mangoes is to check out some of the Indian grocery stores around end of May (There is one Reliance Indian store near you, but may not happen this year due to Covid) and they sell them in boxes. I really like “malgova”, “alphonso” and “banganapalli” varieties, but I haven’t tasted all of them. I heard the supplier also has an online option (https://mangozz.com), but I haven’t tried it so far. The mangoes available in these stores outside of this window are not even worth the trip.

[fruitfruit]

Two thumbs up on the avocados. I see them everywhere around here. All sizes and ages. Including my neighbors who sprouted them from seed (i.e. not so cold hardy hass seedlings). So many that squirrels leave half eaten fruit in my yard from who knows where.

Funnily enough, I had a much harder time growing them in Socal, where I was maybe 30 minutes north of Fallbrook, the avocado capital.

[ammoun]

@510stan do you have an idea on the salinity of your irrigation water please?

[Calron]

Well, I’ll be damned. How did I miss this thread? This is so cool you’re having this kind of success here in the Bay Area. I’d love to find one that could take our chillier winters (but hotter summers) here in Livermore.

Keep us posted!

[ammoun]

Also, how far are the fruits now? I’m very curious to see the shape of the new variety.

[510stan]

Been so long,I forgot I was posting about Mangoes. It was a bumper Manila crop and the Ataulfo? Sweeter,but smaller do to the fact its just 5’ …when its about 10f,the fruit will be full sized. Photos of both…Manila on top of a few Ataulfo with Monstera fruit. Variegated.

[510stan]

ATAULFO.

[510stan]

Manila and Ataulfo.

!

[ammoun]

Are they related?

[510stan]

Yes, Ataulfo is a sport of Manila that got its own fame for being golden yellow and I think,a little sweeter. Some think too sweet.
But both are southeast Asian Mangoes of smaller fruit and more cold tolerance as has been proven over and over in California’s Med climate.
We ALWAYS have a winter.