Mango tree planting is suitable in zones where temperatures do not usually dip below 40 F (4 C.). If you’re lucky enough to live in a part of Kenya that meets the basic requirements, take these tips for mango tree care and enjoy the fruits of your labors in just a few years.

Mango trees are mostly sold as grafted saplings but some varieties can be grown from the seed. Mango seeds usually take around eight years to produce fruit while grafted saplings take three to five.

Climate

Mangoes prefer tropical and subtropical climates including Makueni county, Meru County, Murang’a County, Nairobi County, Nakuru County, Siaya County, Taita Taveta County, Tana River County, Tharaka Nithi County, Bungoma County, Kitui County, Embu County, Machakos County, Kiambu County among other regions

Aspect

Choose an open, sunny position, sheltered from strong winds.

Soil

Mango trees will grow in almost any soil whether sandy, loam or clay, but they require good depth and drainage.

Planting

You can plant mango trees year-round, start by digging a hole and incorporating added organic matter such as compost or manure. After planting the sapling to the same depth as its original container, form a mound around it to improve drainage and encourage establishment. Water it well and mulch with hay.

“Many mango trees grow quite large (10 meters tall or more) so it is important to consider their sheer size when deciding where to plant it within a small are.

Water

While your mango tree is young it will require regular watering, depending on its growth and your climate. Start by watering it every other day before gradually increasing the time between irrigation to once or twice a week for the first year.

It’s important to keep mango trees well-watered from spring to autumn but water sparingly in late winter, before the onset of flowering. Established trees don’t require much watering.

Applying Fertilizer

Give them a good feed with a potassium enriched complete fertilizer during the warmer months to encourage healthy stem and leaf growth, as well as promote flowering and fruiting. Sandy soils require more fertilizer than loam or clay but keep in mind that young trees are sensitive to over-fertilizing. Mulch the base of the tree with grass or any other vegetation that can retain water.

Problems you might encounter on your mango growing journey

Mango trees often attract fruit flies so cover each fruit with a fruit fly bag after they form. They're also susceptible to fungal diseases causing black spots on leaves and fruit. Plant where there is good air circulation and avoid wetting the foliage. Prune off affected parts, bag them and put them in the garbage bin to prevent the spread of the fungal spores.

Pruning

No pruning is usually needed. Train the tree to have a single main stem, with side branching within its first years of growth. Remove dead, damaged or diseased wood as seen.

Harvest

Mangoes are ready to be harvested when the color of the skin turns from green to yellow, orange or red. Fruit are usually ripe around 100 to 150 days after flowering.

Propagation

Propagation by seed is only recommended for poly-embryonic mango varieties such as Kensington Pride. To do so, carefully slit the husk of the mango, remove the seed and plant it in a large pot with seed starter mix with the seed slightly protruding from above the soil surface. It's important that it remains at a consistent temperature of at least 21 degrees. Sprouting will usually occur within three weeks.

Before Trimming Mango Trees

On a cautionary note, mangos contain urushiol, the same chemical that poison ivy, poison oak and sumac contain. This chemical causes contact dermatitis in some people. Since uroshiol is also present in the mango leaves, care should be taken to completely cover exposed body parts when pruning mango trees. Also, if you have a mango that’s in dire need of pruning because it has been left to run amok, say it’s 30 feet (9 m.) or taller, a trained arborist who is licensed and insured should be called upon to do the job. If you decide to do the work yourself, the following information will give you a rudimentary mango pruning guide.

Mango Pruning Guide

About 25-30% of moderate pruning is done on commercially grown mangos to reduce the canopy height and width of large mango trees. Ideally, the tree will be shaped to have three and not more than four main trunks, have ample interior canopy space and is 12-15 feet (3.5-4.5 m.) tall. All this is true for the home gardener as well. Moderate, and even severe pruning, will not damage the tree, but it will reduce production for one to several seasons, though is worth it in the long run. Spreading branches are more fruitful than erect branches, so pruning seeks to remove them. Lower branches are also pruned to four feet from ground level to ease the tasks of weed removal, fertilizer application and watering. The basic idea is to maintain a modest height and improve flowering, thus fruit set. Mangoes do not need to be pruned every year. Mango trees are terminal bearers, which means they flower from the tips of the branches and will only flower on mature wood (shoots that are 6 weeks or older). You want to avoid pruning when the tree has vegetative flushes near flowering time around the end of May and into June. The best time to prune a mango tree is after harvest and should be done immediately, at the very least completed by the end of December.

How Do You Prune a Mango Tree?

Most of trimming mango trees is common sense. Keep in mind the goals to remove diseased or dead wood, open the canopy and reduce height for ease of harvest. Pruning to maintain height should begin when the tree is in its infancy. First, a heading cut (a cut made in the middle of a branch of shoot) should be made at about 3 inches (7.5 cm.). This will encourage the mango to develop the main three branches which form the scaffold of the tree. When those scaffold branches grow to 20 inches (50 cm.) long, a heading cut should again be made. Each time the branches reach 20 (50 cm.) inches in length, repeat the heading cut to encourage branching. Remove vertical branches in favor of horizontal branches, which help the tree to maintain its height. Keep pruning in this manner for 2-3 years until the tree has a strong scaffold and open frame. Once the tree is at a workable height for you, you should only need to make one to two thinning cuts per year just to help control growth. Keep the tree rejuvenated and fruitful by removing any woody branches. Mangoes will begin fruiting in their second or third year after planting. Once the tree is fruiting, it uses less energy to grow and more to blossom and fruit, effectively reducing its vertical and horizontal growth. This will reduce the amount of pruning you need to focus on. Just maintenance pruning or pinching should keep the tree in good shape.