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Emerald Mango is a true gem, there is literally no other mango cultivar like it 💎
That is because Emerald excels where many other traditional West-Indian mango cultivars fall short: it remains compact in size, boasts high productivity, and exhibits excellent disease resistance.
All this to say, I wish more people knew more about Emerald!
Table of Contents
- Emerald Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
- Emerald Mango Flavor Profile
- Emerald Mango Season (And When To Pick)
- Emerald Mango Disease Resistance
- Emerald Mango History
- Emerald Mango Tree For Sale
- Conclusion
Emerald Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
The Emerald Mango is considered a small-sized mango tree.
Emerald Mangos have a low vigor & spreading growth habit that produces a sprawling and open canopy. As a result, Emerald can realistically be kept between 6 – 10 feet tall with annual pruning. With that being said, Emerald would do well long-term in containers and would be considered a “condo” mango.
Emerald is unique because, unlike most Indian/West Indian mango varieties (such as Jakarta, ST Maui, Sunrise, Bombay, etc.), which tend to be large and vigorous trees, it provides homeowners and mango enthusiasts with limited space an opportunity to grow a mango cultivar that produces a flavor category that may not have been possible before 😀
Emerald’s fruit production consistently ranges from good to heavy, thanks to its easy flowering and large clusters of fruit (unlike varieties like Bombay). This reliable yearly yield is a key reason why the tree remains small. The mangos themselves are small to medium-sized fruits that typically weigh between 0.75 – 1.25 lbs.
As a result, when it comes to fruit production and size, there’s really nothing negative to say about Emerald 🤷♂️
Emerald Mango Flavor Profile
Emerald Mangos are considered an Indian Flavored Mango.
When fully ripe, cutting into the fruit’s incredibly smooth and waxy skin reveals a mildly textured, yellow flesh with minimal fiber. Notably, Emerald’s flesh is slightly firmer than what one would expect from Bombay. The ripe fruit is also accompanied by a pleasant piney aroma.
From a flavor perspective, Emerald offer a deep, bold, and rich taste with prominent Indian spice notes, balanced by hints of berries, especially grapes and raspberries. Although the presence of these berry flavors may vary depending on the fruit’s ripeness and of course one’s tastebuds 😜
Additionally, Emerald Mangos are moderately sweet with no tartness. Although, it’s worth noting that they can be quite tart if not fully ripe. I have also personally observed a slightly acidic aftertaste with each bite, which may not appeal to everyone. While it’s not objectionable by any means, it is definitely noticeable.
Overall, Emerald’s flavor is well-balanced and not overpowering for a mango in the Indian Flavor Group. While it’s not an exact replica of Bombay, Emerald shares enough of the same flavor profile (along with other benefits like productivity and tree size) that I would even go so far as to call it an ‘Improved Bombay.’
Finally, it’s worth noting that Emerald Mangos produce monoembryonic seeds, which means that planting a seed from an Emerald Mango won’t yield another Emerald Mango Tree.
Emerald Mango Season (And When To Pick)
Emerald Mangos are considered a mid-season mango (June – July).
The best time to pick Emerald Mangos are when they are mature and beginning to ripen on the tree. While Emerald Mango can sometimes turn a dull yellow in specific growing conditions (especially closer to the coast), as the name suggests, the fruit will generally maintain a light green color when fully mature and ripe.
With that said, I have observed that the fruit does generally undergo a transformation from a dark emerald green, reminiscent of avocados, to a lighter green with a subtle pink or burgundy blush on its shoulders, depending on its level of sun exposure.
However, similar to other greener mangos such as Gary or Cac, color shouldn’t be the primary indicator when judging whether Emerald is ready to be harvested. Instead, we should harvest Emerald when the fruit is sufficiently plump and has a soft texture with a slight give when lightly pressed.
Furthermore, here are some additional tips to knowing when a Emerald Mango is ready to pick:
- Are there beads of sap on the fruit ?
- How does the stem look? It’s it drying up near where it connects to the fruit?
- Is the fruit’s skin beginning to stretch?
Finally, although the absence of vibrant colors can be frustrating from a harvesting perspective, this makes Emerald an excellent choice as a front yard mango tree. The fruit’s seemingly ‘unripe and not ready’ appearance tends to deter two-legged thieves from picking it prematurely 😉
Emerald Mango Disease Resistance
Emerald Mango has great resistance to Anthracnose & Powdery Mildew. As a result, Emerald would be an excellent addition to yards with less than ideal conditions, such as higher humidity levels and low winds.
Emerald Mango History
Emerald Mango was first propagated in Pine Island, Florida, where it speculated to have been a seedling of Bombay.
Emerald really got on the map when it received recognition as a “Curator’s Choice” mango at the 2010 Mango Festival held at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
Emerald Mango Tree For Sale
To be honest, I don’t know many people growing Emerald or nurseries selling this cultivar, despite its ideal growth habit, heavy harvests, and disease resistance. Whether it’s due to the lack of public awareness or the preference for Bombay, who knows. I firmly believe this cultivar should definitely be on more people’s lists 😄
With that being said, if you are unable to find one at a local nursery, your next best option is checking out Tropical Acres Farms (not sponsored). They are the only legit place online (from my experience) that you are getting exactly what you are paying for.
They have over 300 varieties of mangos available. You can either order budwood to graft yourself or submit a grafting request to have a grafted tree created for you. They do ship!
Conclusion
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If you have any questions regarding anything mentioned in this grow guide, please comment them below! This way, others can also benefit from the answer to the same question. For any other questions or growing tips that you think may be helpful, feel free to use the contact form and drop me a line.
Thank you for reading! 🙂
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