Mango

By Ruvimbo Jeche

The smell of rain reminds me of an abundance of a good fruit back in my granny’s orchard. Who can resist sensation and appetite at the sight of a colorful and flavourful fruit. The aroma that arises in granny’s orchard from a bit of sunheat on the mangoes gives me enough reasons to love this season, a yellow season for me.

Mangoes have become naturalized and adopted throughout the tropical  and subtropical regions and has many varieties throughout the world including zill, peach, Atkins and Kent. Mangoes are highly nutritious containing carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamin which makes them a good fruit to enjoy. Had you decided to start Mango production? Well it’s a good thing as it is also useful for flavoring, timber and animal fodder.

No special expertise is required to establish your own Mango orchard. The trees produce best in climates that have a well defined,  relatively cool dry season with high accumulation during the flowering and fruiting stages. High humidity and rain during the flowering and fruiting period however can lead to the development of fungal diseases that causes flower and fruit drop. Temperature requirements range from 24°c to 27°c and noteably, frost will kill the mango tree and severely defoliate mature trees.

One may wonder how to start growing their own Mango trees, the propagation is simple. Seed from fully mature or ripe fruits should be selected  from the trees that are free from seed weevils. Seeds from the lager fruits generally produce the most vigorous seedlings. Best germination result are achieved when the seed skin is removed. It will only take a few years before you can have you own colorful orchard. Mangoes can be so boring some may say but oops very rare is that case. But trying out new ways of enjoying the fruit is no crime but in actual fact an awesome adventure. So how about trying a smoothie?😀🥤. Yes Mango smoothie! Then stay intrigued and watch out for a recipe this Sunday on cooking with VaMudhumeni:GHGN on Facebook.

#vaMudhumeni.

#helpingfarmersgrow.

#goodhealthalways.

#thesolutionisinyourgarden.

#vamudhumeni:goodhealthstartswithgoodnutrition.

NB* for more on Mango production follow through on our notes on Mango production from our online horticultural classes.