Mango Sprouts, Mangifera indica L.

From a distance my big mango tree in Deltona looks completely dead from the repeated frost and two hard freezes this winter.  Closer inspection (below) reveals sprouts at every leaf scar and at every joint.

If all of these sprouts survive the mango will be much larger with a more symmetrical canopy this summer.

To induce sprouting I applied 10# of 6-6-6 fertilizer 2 weeks ago. . .and watered it in good every day since.

The sprouts are very sweet, attracting many flies, wasps, bees and ants.

Despite the tree's sprouting, if it does not flower again soon it will bear no fruit this year.  Mangos require a dry heat for setting fruit (read below). . .

Some misconceptions about mangos include that they will die at a temperature of 40-F.  This tree is proof that they have adapted somewhat more tolerance to cold.  Another misconception is that it is necessary to have two trees in close proximity to produce fruit.

MANGO ADAPTATIONS:  In general mangos prefer a frost-free climate. Flowers and small fruit can be killed if temperatures drop below 40° F, even for a short period. Young trees may be seriously damaged if the temperature drops below 30° F, but mature trees may withstand very short periods of temperatures as low as 25° F. The mango must have warm, dry weather to set fruit.  Wet, humid weather favors anthracnose and poor fruit set. Dwarf cultivars are suitable for culture in large containers or in a greenhouse.

MANGO FLOWERING AND FRUITING: The yellowish or reddish flowers are borne in inflorescences which appear at branch terminals, in dense panicles of up to 2000 minute flowers. These flowers respire a volatile substance, causing allergic and respiratory problems for some persons. Pollinators are flies, hoverflies, rarely bees. Few of the flowers in each inflorescence are perfect, so most do not produce pollen and are incapable of producing fruit. Pollen cannot be shed in high humidity or rain. Fertilization is also ineffective when night temperatures are below 55° F. Mangos are monoecious and self-fertile, so a single tree will produce fruit without cross pollination. Polyembryonic types may not require pollination at all. Branches may be ringed to induce flowering, but the results are mixed.

Fruits: The fruits grow at the end of a long, stringlike stem (the former panicle), with sometimes two or more fruits to a stem. The fruits are 2 to 9 inches long and may be kidney shaped, ovate or (rarely) round. They range in size from 8 ounces to around 24 ounces. The flower scar at the apex is prominent, in some cultivars bulging from the fruit. The leathery skin is waxy and smooth, and when ripe entirely pale green or yellow marked with red, according to cultivar. It is inedible and contains a sap that is irritating to some people. The quality of the fruit is based on the scarcity of fiber and minimal turpentine taste.