OT: Mango Farm that ships!

[SarinaP]

Since we're all fruit nuts around here-- In case you're looking for a hard-to-find variety of mango, I finally found a Florida grower that ships lots of different varieties at a reasonable rate. I grew up in Haiti and I'm super-excited that they're shipping me a variety I haven't had since childhood.

If anyone else knows of mango orchards with SE Asian or island varieties, let me know!

https://www.facebook.com/TropicalAcresFarms/

[Figfanatic57]

I've bought few trees off of eBay from tropicaltreasure-us of Fort Meyers,FL that seemed very reasonable.

[SarinaP]

Cool, thanks! Sorry, I should clarify--this mango farm ships the fruit--I'm not sure if they sell plants as well. Up here, you can only get the standard grocery store mangoes and Ataulfos. These guys have TONS of varieties.

[lilfiggy]

sarina I will be on the lookout for you down here let me know what varieties you are searching for. You can grow mango from seed but don't know how true they are you eat the mango scrap pulp off crack seed hull open by prying open with knife (be careful) plant the seed and just maybe I had a golden mango from thailand that I had just received the seed and voila like magic the USDA appear on door step and poof golden mango gone. never order anything off ebay they rat you out to USDA who are nice but firm.

[SarinaP]

I'm just looking for fruit--the varieties are: Baptiste, Alphonso, and Kesar. Try them if you can find them!

[eboone]

Sarina, how do they differ from the usual variety/varieties you get at most grocery stores?

[SarinaP]

Baptiste and Alphonso are both very floral and green tasting... it's hard to describe. Ataulfo mangoes that we can get here, when ripened perfectly, are just nice and sweet with a pleasant flavor. The others are BOOM in-your-face mango flavor... you can buy Alphonso or Kesar mango puree in Indian grocery stores; try it in a smoothie and you'll see what I mean.

[Inkfin]

If you haven't tried, try Himsagar mango. You will not want any other variety. I am trying to find the plant, but can't find anywhere.

[SarinaP]

Thank you for the tip!

[COGardener]

No Himsagar, yet they have a lot of varieties.

http://tropicalfruitnursery.com/mango/index.shtml

[SarinaP]

Got the mangoes yesterday--pure bliss. The Baptiste mango was exactly how I remembered it. They only ship until the end of July based on availability, if you're considering ordering from them. It was $45 for a 10-lb. box which got me 12 mangoes. Shipping is included in that, and they came 2-day priority.

[Claymango]

I Wish I knew of some place that also sold some of the top tier varieties besides your local grocery store bland tasting Atauflo, Tommy Atkins, and Kents....

The Indian varieties you named are really good, however I would say Florida has the throne on top varieties, mainly the ones selected by Walter and Gary Zill... Lemon Zest, Sweet Tart, Fruit Punch, Carrie, Coconut Cream are just a few to name. Ive tryed a few of them and they give a shock to your tastebuds on first bite....especially Sweet Tart!

[SarinaP]

I'm learning all about them! Msg Tropical Acres and they will give you an idea of what is ripe on any given day. He will do a mixed "custom" box for 45 or send you a mix for 40. Of the ones you've listed I've only tried Carrie and you're right--there is absolutely no comparison! This is what they had last week: "A lot. Edward, carabao, Duncan, Wester, young, Zill, Ataulfo, Florigon, Mulgoba, rosigold, Cac, Dot, emerald, lily, ruby, torbert, others." I think their biggest drawback is that they don't do a regular "what's ripe" post like some of the other farms, but they seem to have quite a bit of variety!

[SarinaP]

Got another box today, Sweet Tart definitely lived up to its name! Trying to hold myself back and only have one at a time. Cac, a Vietnamese variety, was amazingly rich and sweet, reminded me of maple syrup almost!

[COGardener]

I've been wondering if you were germinating the seeds Sarina... Grow your own!

[SarinaP]

From what I'm reading, only polyembryonic seeds are true to type. I'm trying to germinate the PE seeds I'm getting but will have to keep them at about 6' tall. Fingers crossed!

[COGardener]

Hopefully all goes well and you get some to play with.

[danw]

Ahhhhhh..... I tried to order a box, and have worked myself into a slobbering mess in anticipation, only to learn they can't ship to California and have issued a refund.

Now I have to try and be happy again with my grocery store mangos

[danw]

It's OK, now I'm all "Time to grow my own!" Having no idea if they will grow in my area or how long they take to start bearing fruit. I need some distraction from figs! Well more than apples, plums, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, garlic, tomatoes, other veggies ... well you get the idea.

[SarinaP]

Pickering is a really good variety--very sweet and creamy. It produces young and can be kept at a small size. I went ahead and researched California mango growers who might ship, here's one: https://www.facebook.com/WongFarms/

[danw]

How sweet, See what I did there? Thanks, I will check them out.

That Pickering does sound like a good one for home growers

[Claymango]

Top tropicals is one of the few nurseries who sell all of the rare mango trees such as Zills line of mangos.....sweet tart LZ Coconut Cream etc....i purchased 12 trees from them and all thrived really well.... They ship on Monday and arrive by Friday..... YOU MUST GIVE THEM PARTIAL SUNLIGHT or morning sun FOR A FEW WEEKS!!! Afterwards slowly introduce them yo full sun or you will kill the tree easily... Sad to say my military relocation to VA ended my mango dreams for now.

[watagarasu]

What varieties mango you looking sarina ?