It's Raining Baby Mangoes

[KevinHunt]

I notice that my one and only mango tree is losing it's fruit before they are properly formed - an inch or two long. Every year my wife points to tha mass of flowers on the tree and tells me about the potentially bumper harvest we can expect. Invariably the flowers fall and leave not so many forming fruit, and then a lot of them fall off prematurely. Why is that? Over-watering, under-watering the weather or lack of goodness in the soil?

[Allyt]

Hi Kevin, Same here ( I mean the bit about the small fruits dropping, not about your wife telling me!)

My trees have shed loads of the small ones and yet we have been watering & feeding.

Come on experts... where are you when we need answers!

Ally

[KevinHunt]

Hi Kevin, Same here ( I mean the bit about the small fruits dropping, not about your wife telling me!)

My trees have shed loads of the small ones and yet we have been watering & feeding.

Come on experts... where are you when we need answers!

Ally

I asked about my mangoes falling, in the pub last night and was told to see the doctor on Loi Kroh Rd. He seems to be an expert. I didn't even know he had a garden , never mind a mango tree.

[cmsally]

Could be too much water. Mango trees don't like too much water and better if they have none at all before flowering.

You can see up towards Mae Jo where it is drier and the water level very deep down, they have a lot of mango trees. Other trees wouldn't like it there at all.

They can also drop fruit because they have too many or there's a wind.

In my garden I've got squirrels which are attacking everything and even breaking fruit off that they can't consume (small mangoes and jackfruit) and using them as missiles to aim at the dog

[Blinky Bill]

I notice that my one and only mango tree is losing it's fruit before they are properly formed - an inch or two long. Every year my wife points to tha mass of flowers on the tree and tells me about the potentially bumper harvest we can expect. Invariably the flowers fall and leave not so many forming fruit, and then a lot of them fall off prematurely. Why is that? Over-watering, under-watering the weather or lack of goodness in the soil?

I asked about my mangoes falling, in the pub last night and was told to see the doctor on Loi Kroh Rd. He seems to be an expert. I didn't even know he had a garden , never mind a mango tree.

This could be an hereditary problem Mr KHunt. Did your father suffer from this problem also?

Yes Dr. Tawitchai could be the man to see. Or perhaps Dr. Smith at the little clinic on Moonmuang Road just next to the intersection with Ratchamanka Rd. He specialises in problems of the nether regions.

[realthaideal]

This could be an hereditary problem Mr KHunt. Did your father suffer from this problem also?

Now there's some of your best work BB. Perhaps the 2nd compliment to throw your way...and I'm sure you've been counting.

So Big K, this question would likely get all kinds of good answers on the agricultural subforum as well. I'm betting your problem/circumstance - it could just be what always happens with every tree, in my experience this is the case - could be better sussed out and some good solutions offered. Maybe post there too as this isn't necessarily CM specific.

[Blinky Bill]

This could be an hereditary problem Mr KHunt. Did your father suffer from this problem also?

Now there's some of your best work BB. Perhaps the 2nd compliment to throw your way...and I'm sure you've been counting.

So Big K, this question would likely get all kinds of good answers on the agricultural subforum as well. I'm betting your problem/circumstance - it could just be what always happens with every tree, in my experience this is the case - could be better sussed out and some good solutions offered. Maybe post there too as this isn't necessarily CM specific.

Yes RTD, that's 2 beers I owe you, I have been counting. Please let's not be too complimentary, I can afford to give away only so many beers. You know Cheap Charlie and all that.

[p1p]

I neither feed nor water my mango trees, apart from some manure and leaf litter during the wet season, and don't suffer falling fruit. Let nature take its course.

[KevinHunt]

This could be an hereditary problem Mr KHunt. Did your father suffer from this problem also?

Now there's some of your best work BB. Perhaps the 2nd compliment to throw your way...and I'm sure you've been counting.

So Big K, this question would likely get all kinds of good answers on the agricultural subforum as well. I'm betting your problem/circumstance - it could just be what always happens with every tree, in my experience this is the case - could be better sussed out and some good solutions offered. Maybe post there too as this isn't necessarily CM specific.

My mango tree is in Chiang Mai. Local conditions could be prevailing?

[tango]

This site should prove of help.

EXCERPT FROM 'Tree Management Systems for Profitable Mango Production' at:

http://members.tripod.com/Shanthap/mb1.htm

Though mango flower panicles produce thousands of flowers and a lot of these pollinate, only a few, in some varieties one fruit per panicle while in other varieties several fruits per panicle, commence further development. Then the size of the crop a tree can bear is primarily determined by the tree reserve level. Excess fruits drop and this may happen at various stages of fruit development. Fruit drop is governed physiologically by the size of reserve food base in the tree and also by climatic condi tions prevailing during this time. Even if trees have sufficient reserves, lack of K or soil moisture deficits during fruit development phase or pest and disease attacks on flowers and developing fruits may act as limiting factors controlling the size ofthe final crop. Therefore, at this stage trees have to be managed very well providing all necessary inputs correctly.

[Crow Boy]

I have moved this thread to the Farming Subforum hoping that some one here will be able add more information

CB

[Steve2UK]

Three mango trees in my Chiang Mai Garden within about 10 yards of each other: one is producing what looks to be a light crop of good-looking fruits-to-be; one is dropping dozens of under-sized fruitlet bombs; the third has no fruit on it whatever. All three are the same size (therefore, presumably, same age) in what I believe to have been previously a major orchard area - before the houses were built about 20 years ago.

I agree about not watering them - can't imagine that the original orchard owners did anything other than other than spread fertilizer seasonally. I only moved to this rented house a few months back, but I do know that the landlord had a ring of fertilizer/manure spread around two of the trees at the end of last year - the one with good fruit and the one with zero fruit............. no pattern there then.

[meandwi]

Here is a few things that cause your trees to drop it's flowers and fruit.

Weather,,, Cool evening temps combined with early flowering can cause the formation in infertile fruit. Small fruit may form but drop. Cut off any of the early flowers, so the tree will produce better flowers when it warms up. Especially in norther Thailand.

Lots of rain and high humidity can cause two types of fungi. Black spot and anthracnose. I have a home remedy to spray my trees when I see it.

Pick casuarina needles, also known as australian pine. Thats the tall pine that grows near the shore mostly, with the tiny round cones that drop and I step on all the time! ouch! Any way, boil a large handful of the needles in a stainless steel pot. Mix with water in a sprayer and spray in the early morning. If you cant find the pines, get a copper base fungicide and spray.

hope this helps

meandwi