Mango

Introduction

This section has tools and information for commercial mango growers in the Northern Territory (NT).

The Australian mango industry is based primarily on the variety Kensington Pride (KP). Other important commercial varieties grown include Calypso, Honey Gold, R2E2 and Nam Dok Mai. Less commonly grown mangoes include Celebration, Keitt and Irwin.


Grower advice

Mangoes are grown throughout the Darwin and Katherine regions. 

They are drought tolerant. They need watering from fruit set, and should be pruned after harvest. 

For comprehensive guidance on managing your orchard, read the following publications .

You can also watch videos about mango cultivation and general growing tips.

Growing mangoes for market: general information

For general information on mango production get the production guide for mango growers in northern Australia PDF (3.1 MB).  

Read more about the prospects and potential profitability of mangoes in this production and market analysis PDF (347.2 KB).

Nutrition 

Check the mango plant nutrition PDF (3.3 MB) or designing a mango fertiliser program PDF (2.4 MB) presentations by Ted Winston.

Read instructions for preparing mango leaf and soil samples for laboratory testing PDF (97.3 KB)

Understand more about mango leaf and soil sample analysis PDF (61.7 KB)

Find out more about using Paclobutrazol PDF (55.7 KB) to promote flowering and fruiting. 

Irrigation

Get the guidelines for managing irrigation of mangoes PDF (59.1 KB) during the different development phases.

Pruning

Read the guide to mango pruning in the Top End PDF (79.9 KB)

Transport

Get the guide to transporting mangoes PDF (429.2 KB) in the NT. 

More advice

If you want more advice call the Plant Industries division on (08) 8999 2216. The dedicated unit offers a range of advisory services to support NT growers.


Working out when to harvest

To work out the best time to harvest your mangoes, look for signs of maturity in your fruit as well as the methods described below.

Signs of maturity

Your fruit is ready to harvest when all the following changes occur:

  • skin colour changes from dark green to light green
  • skin texture changes from rough to smooth tight appearance
  • shoulders and beak - the top and bottom of the fruit - fill out
  • inside flesh is lemon-yellow in colour, depending on variety - see flesh colour test below.

Heat sums

You can use the heat sums calculator to predict when your fruit will mature.

The calculator can be used to predict harvest dates in the following areas:

  • Darwin
  • Katherine
  • Humpty Doo and Berry Springs
  • Batchelor.

The calculator only works for stage 6 flowering. This is the first time buds can be seen.

Get the heat sums calculator XLSX (541.3 KB).

Flowering and Climate Watch

Unseasonal weather can affect your harvest date.

For information about climate outlooks and monitoring, go to the Australian Government's Bureau of Meteorology website.

Dry matter

Learn how to prepare and measure your own mango samples for maturity using the dry matter test.

For more information, read the mango dry matter instructions information sheet (2013) PDF (227.8 KB).

You should also watch video about growing tips measuring mango dry matter on the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade's YouTube.

Flesh colour test

Request a set of flesh colour cards to compare against your crop by calling 08 8999 2323 or emailing horticulture@nt.gov.au.

Near infra red (NIR) spectroscopy

Near infra-red (NIR) spectroscopy guns are a new and non-invasive way to read the colour of your fruit flesh, and determine sweetness and maturity.


Pests and diseases

This page can help you identify and manage pests and diseases common to mango crops in the Northern Territory (NT).

Integrated pest management can also help your orchard.

Diseases

Anthracnose

A major disease in wet years, this fungus causes black spots on leaves and fruit.

Read the Agnote mango anthracnose (2007) PDF (56.2 KB)

Bacterial black spot

This disease attacks mango leaves, twigs and fruit.

Read the Agnote bacterial black spot of mangoes (2006) PDF (37.9 KB).

Mango scab

This is a fungus that causes black spots on new fruit. In severe cases, numerous lesions can cause new shoots to defoliate.

Unlike anthracnose, scabs do not expand after harvest, nor develop into a rot. However, severely scarred fruit will show post-harvest anthracnose rot earlier than non-scarred fruit.

Read the Agnote mango scab and its control (2007) PDF (138.7 KB).

Mango scale

Adult false mango scale and white mango scale insects suck sap from mango plants, turning leaves yellow and leaving pink blemishes on fruit.

See the managing mango scale post PDF (457.3 KB) which illustrates this insect and its life cycle.

Insect pests

Fruit fly

When this yellow-brown fly lays eggs under the skin of the mango, its larvae introduces bacteria and causes the fruit to breakdown and rot.

Mango leafhoppers

Leafhoppers are four to five millimetre long insects that lay eggs on the underside of young mango leaves. They suck sap from plant tissue and flowers, causing withering and failure to fruit.

Read the Agnote mango leafhoppers (2014) PDF (259.7 KB).

Mango seed weevil

Weevils attack mango seeds. This can downgrade the fruit and severely reduce germination.

View the poster managing mango seed weevil PDF (3.6 MB) which illustrates the life cycle of the weevil.

Field guide

Read the detailed introduction to the identification of some common pests, beneficials, disease and disorders of mangoes in northern Australia - Field guide to pests, beneficials, diseases and disorders of mangoes 2010 PDF (7.4 MB).

Other insect pests

Visit the Northern Territory Insects Database to identify an insect pest and the damage it can cause.

Other publications and research

To find other publications and mango research results, search the online publications library.


Integrated pest management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally sensitive approach to dealing with plant pests using the following techniques:

  • introducing beneficial predators, parasites and pollinators into your orchard
  • understanding pest life-cycles and their interaction with the environment.

IPM can be used effectively in your orchard alongside any of the following common techniques: 

  • chemical pest control
  • biological pest control methods
  • host-plant resistance 
  • cultural practices.

Find out more about how to use this approach in the mango field guide PDF (7.4 MB).

IPM posters

You can get IPM posters for $20 about all of the following: 

  • beneficials on fruit trees
  • major mango pests
  • minor mango pests.

To get a poster contact Technical Publications by emailing technical.publications@nt.gov.au or phone (08) 8999 2313.


Research results

To read the results of research conducted in the Northern Territory (NT) into the mango industry search the online publications library.

General information

For general horticulture advice and information, read general advice for fruit and vegetable growers.

Industry associations

For information about the mango industry visit the websites of the Australian Mango Industry Association and NT Farmers.