Tropical Fruits in Southern California (Sapodillas, Sugar Apples or custard apples, StarFruit, Mangoes, Lychees and more)

[SoCalBackyard]

@Richard Wanted to invite you to this thread to share your thoughts and advice if you get a chance. I saw from some other threads that you have a beautiful Mango in your yard.

Rooting Mango Cuttings - Advice needed

In the nursery trade, Mango is grafted to the central leader of 3’ - 4’ saplings at about 32" above the soil. A banana graft or similar is used. The grafting is usually performed in the late Spring / early Summer growth flush. Branches on the saplings below the graft are left on the plants until at least 18" of vigorous growth develops above the graft. The most common rootstock saplings in the U.S. are Manilla - which are available in bundles from production nursery and orchard suppliers. This “…

Mango "Timotayo"

Here’s a shot of my Timotayo Mango that I obtained from LaVerne Nursery about 5 years ago. I’m hoping to get it in the ground this week . [image]

Also I saw your comment that Manilla “root stock” from the nurseries is not actually a great mango. That was super interesting. I got my 2 Mangos (about 3 ft and 4 ft tall) from a local CRFG chapter - they do a bunch of grafts each year and then sell the results the next year if they take. One of the mangos, I think the Lemon Zest, has another branch where there was another variety grafted but that didn’t take and fell off, and now the Manilla is starting to grow. I was originally thinking of letting that grow and then when it’s bigger, maybe grafting more on there. Or maybe trying to keep it to try the fruit. But am wondering if that’s a bad idea now.

Would love any other advice you have for us around Tropical Fruit growing, especially in CA/SoCal.

Thanks!