Mango Alfonso: variety description, propagation methods, home care

Mango Alfonso is becoming increasingly popular with gardeners. Fruits are famous for their soft, sweet and unusual taste. The pulp is juicy, tender. They make preparations for the winter from mango, consume it fresh, decorate desserts with it and add it to pastries. It contains a large number of minerals, vitamins, enzymes. Mango helps to improve digestive function, heart function, and improves immunity. To successfully grow the Alfonso variety, you should familiarize yourself with its features.

History of variety breeding

Mango was bred in India, the variety got its name thanks to the Duke Alfonso d'Alubuquerque.This is a Portuguese adventurer who arrived in Goa in 1504. The variety is also called "king mango". More than 130 varieties of this crop are grown in India, but this species is especially popular. It is grown for the purpose of personal consumption or for sale. This is a favorite variety of residents of the UAE, India, Egypt, Africa.

Advantages and disadvantages of culture

Alfonso, although he is the "king" among his fellows, gardeners found several disadvantages in him. There are more positive features, but familiarization with the shortcomings will help you learn all the nuances about the variety. Cons

Taste sweet, juicy, tenderThe tree bears fruit 10 years after plantingLong shelf life of fruitsExotic culture, cultivation is possible only in the presence of a greenhouse or in a roomThe variety tolerates transportation over long distances wellDemanding soil, climatic conditions The harvest is stable, the fruits of the presentation

The plant shows poor resistance to diseases, harmful bugs

Where it is recommended to grow

Mangoes are widely grown at home or in greenhouses. In the first variant, the plant usually does not bear fruit, but grows as a room culture for decoration. Trees are planted in shelters in the South and middle latitudes. In the northern regions, mango will not take root; an exotic fruit does not tolerate frost well. Choose a place protected from drafts, well lit by the sun.

Characteristics and description of mango Alfonso

Alfonso fruits are medium in size, about 10 cm long, weight - 300 g. The flesh is orange-saffron, easily separated from the bone. The skin is rich yellow, with an orange sheen. The surface is glossy, shiny, soft to the touch, covered with a wax coating. If the fruit is ripe, the skin is pressed when pressed, but does not penetrate deeply. Inside there is a ribbed, yellowish-white, hard bone. It is flat, oval, slightly elongated.It contains a starchy seed, it will only give 1 shoot.

Height and dimensions of the tree crown

Trees during pollen create a romantic atmosphere. They are strewn with pinkish flowers with panicles 40 cm long, emit a sweet, rich amber. Their scent is similar to that of lilies. Mango is widely used in landscape design because of its wonderful flowering in the design of parks, squares, home gardens, private greenhouses, winter gardens.

The tree grows up to 35 meters high in the tropics, but if grown in a greenhouse or at home, the height will be up to 2 meters. They live an average of 300 years. Leaves reach 30 cm in length, yellow or pinkish color, especially at a young age. Mature foliage is deep green.

Pollinators, flowering and fruiting

Alfonso variety requires a number of pollinators. These include bats that feed on pollen, beetles, butterflies, flies, wild bees, wasps, and ants.Domestic bees do not play a role in mango pollination. The tree blooms from December to April, the petals are pale pinkish or yellow. Fruiting occurs 10 years after planting, but continues for 200-300 years.

Collection and application of fruits

Alfonso mango fruits ripen 4-5 months, they are harvested from mid-May to July 15th. The harvest is widely exported to the CIS countries from India, Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and other eastern countries. Due to the exquisite taste of mango, it is quickly sold out. Residents of Russia rarely grow such an exotic crop, but it can make a good business.

The cost of mango is more expensive than the standard vegetables and fruits. Juicy fruits tolerate transportation well, are stored for a long time and do not lose their original appearance.

Resistant to low temperatures and drought

Mango does not tolerate cold well, trees grow normally at temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius.Since they are native to warm countries, they require growing in a greenhouse or at home. Trees do not tolerate dry periods well, even if they are short-lived. If we are talking about a long drought, the plant may die out.

Susceptibility to diseases and pests

Mango has a weak resistance to diseases, bugs. Exotic culture should be treated with special means for the purpose of prevention. With proper care, plant immunity increases.

How to plant a mango on a plot

Plant mangoes in greenhouses or at home in 2 ways:

• germination from seed;
• cuttings.

Each of the methods has its pros and cons, but the first option is more popular.

Timing, suitable climate and soil

It is advisable to plant mangoes at the end of April. A climate suitable for a tropical plant is present in the South. In mid-latitudes, the landing is postponed to the end of May. It is not recommended to plant mangoes in autumn, as young mangoes will not survive frosts.

Mango prefers to grow on light, loose, sandy or clay soils. You can use a mixture for succulents with the addition of small pebbles, expanded clay or universal soil combined with sand 2: 1.

Growing from seed

Mango seedlings are quite vulnerable at the beginning of life, it is better to plant seeds in a permanent place in a pot. This method is more suitable for home conditions.

1. Exotic culture does not tolerate stagnant water, drainage at the bottom is required to remove excess moisture. To do this, pour a 5 cm layer of expanded clay, grated brick.
2. Fill 2/3 of the container with universal fertilizer, moisten the soil and let the water drain.
3. Pour the seed flat side down, gently cover with soil. Lightly press the ground so as not to damage the germinated seed.
4. After planting, water the plant generously.

Leaves will begin to tie in 2-4 weeks. Some are purple and others are green.

We grow by cuttings

Mago cultivation by cuttings is usually carried out in a greenhouse. It involves the following steps.

1. Remove the mango from the earthen clod. The procedure can be simplified if 30 minutes before planting, water it abundantly.
2. The new place is filled with ½ soil, preparing drainage at the bottom.
3. Carefully place the cuttings, after spreading the rhizome. The base must be level with the ground or below.
4. Sprinkle the near-trunk circle with earth, lightly trample with a spatula. Water the plant.

After planting, make sure that the sun does not fall on the plant, the place is warm. Usually they put the pot on the windowsill, they try to keep the window mostly curtained. When the mango sprouts and leaves, you can put it in a greenhouse.

How to care for a crop

If you provide the mango with proper conditions, careful care is not required. It is important that the adult plant receives enough heat. With its shortage, the tree weakens, its resistance to diseases and beetles decreases. Standard care involves timely watering, top dressing, treatment of the near-stem circle, prevention of diseases and insect attacks.

Water frequency and fertilization

Mango does not tolerate drought and dry air, you need to regularly water it with settled water, maintain a humidity level of 70-80% in the room. Do not get carried away with excessive spraying of foliage, they are prone to fungi and mold. It is advisable to irrigate only the soil.

In the form of fertilizers, biohumus and nitrogen-containing compounds used for growing persimmons or citrus crops are taken.

Caring for the trunk circle

If we are talking about a tree growing in a greenhouse, 2 times a year, add organic matter to the near-stem circle. It includes manure, rotten leaves. They are bred in 5 liters of water.

Shaping cut

Mango responds positively to pruning, the procedure helps to quickly regenerate the crown. The event is carried out when the tree reaches 1.5 meters high. Form a crown 1-2 times a year to maintain a good shape and adjust the size. Remove branches that thicken the bush, damaged and dried specimens. The central shoots are shortened to the desired length. Widely shape the mango into a ball, pyramid or sprawling shrub.

Preventive treatments

Tropical plants are often exposed to diseases and require careful preventive treatments. Mangoes are usually attacked by spider mites and thrips. Among the diseases noted powdery mildew, anthracosis and bacteriosis. Fight diseases with the help of fungicides, insecticides.

How to properly cover plants for frost

Cover a mango in greenhouse conditions with a metal frame covered with burlap. The material must be breathable. At home, you can not warm the plant, but only place it on the windowsill, where there is a battery under the bottom.

Reviews about the variety

Responses from people growing mangoes in a room or a greenhouse are divided. Some do not recommend growing a crop, because at home, the tree does not bear fruit. Others are happy with the plant and use it as a decoration.

Roman Lopyrev, 58 years old, Dnipro.

Hello! I grew mangoes at home for fun. The tree did not give fruit, I take care of it as a houseplant. Bloomed Alfonso in March, very beautiful flowers.

Ivan Morozov, 66, Y alta.

Hello everyone! A neighbor recommended growing Alfonso's mangoes in a greenhouse. I decided to plant 2 trees with cuttings. There has been no harvest yet, since I planted a tree in the summer of 2022-2023. Waiting for pollen.

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