Mangoes can be grown in a wide variety of climates from tropical to arid. The bulk of South African mangoes come from the Hoedspruit area in the Limpopo Province.
Although mangoes have been planted in South Africa for centuries, planting of mangoes have only been established in the Western Cape Province during the 21st century. This helped to extend the mango season to the end of May as the Western Cape is known for its later fruit seasons in comparison to other fruit-producing provinces like the Northern Cape.
Mangoes are available during the South African summer, which begins in November and peaks in January and February. Mango season starts with the red-skinned Tommy Atkins cultivar and ends with the green-skinned Keitt. The skin colour is not an indication of ripeness. Smelling the stem end of a mango will be a better indication of whether it is ripe. A ripe mango will have a fruity aroma.
This section on mangoes looks at mango production, farming practices, handling and uses of mangoes and wishes to inspire the consumption and cultivation of this nutritious and versatile fruit.
By Marinda Louw
Mangoes are an alternate-bearing crop which means that crops vary in size from one year to the next. Good orchard management practices, such...
Mangoes are an alternate bearing crop, that can deliver a large harvest one year, reducing its yield by about 25% the next year. Trees take ...
For the mango farmer, choosing a mango cultivar to plant will depend on factors such as climate, time of ripening (i.e. late or early-season...
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