Fruit Cocktail Mango Grow Guide

Usually when someone refers to a fruit cocktail tree, they are referring to a multi-grafted fruit tree.

However, today we are, of course, referring to the Fruit Cocktail Mango cultivar! While there are other mango varieties with fruity flavors (I’m looking at you, Fruit Punch), Fruit Cocktail is also an excellent, and perhaps even a superior choice to consider for planting 😃

With that being said, this grow guide will cover everything that you need to know about Fruit Cocktail Mango:

Table of Contents

• Fruit Cocktail Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
• Fruit Cocktail Mango Flavor Profile
• Fruit Cocktail Mango Season (And When To Pick)
• Fruit Cocktail Mango Disease Resistance
• Fruit Cocktail Mango History
• Fruit Cocktail Mango Tree For Sale
• Conclusion

Fruit Cocktail Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production

The Fruit Cocktail Mango is considered a medium-sized mango tree.

Fruit Cocktail Mangos have a moderately vigorous & upright growth habit that produces a dense canopy. As a result, Fruit Cocktail can realistically be kept between 10 – 15 feet tall with annual pruning. Due to the tree’s natural vigor & upright limbs, Fruit Cocktail would not do well long-term in containers and would not be considered a “condo” mango.

Fruit Cocktail’s fruit production consistently ranges from fair to average. While it may not be a heavy bearer by any means, Fruit Cocktail typically yields an acceptable amount of fruit for homeowners. The mangos themselves are small to medium-sized fruits that typically weigh between 0.8 – 1.2 lbs.

Truth be told, Fruit Cocktail bears a resemblance to a plump Pickering Mango 😜

Fruit Cocktail Mango Flavor Profile

Fruit Cocktail Mangos are considered an Indian Flavored Mango.

When perfectly ripe and mature, cutting into the fruit reveals a yellow, juicy, nearly fiberless flesh with a creamy, soft texture, accompanied by a unique aroma reminiscent of canned peaches.

The name ‘Fruit Cocktail Mango’ aptly describes its flavor profile. Resembling a fruit cup, it boasts a rich taste characterized by a harmonious blend of various fruits, including citrus, pineapple, and guava. While it leans towards medium sweetness, there’s complexity in the form of a subtle resinous/spicy notes and a hint of enjoyable chalkiness in every bite.

Furthermore, though the resinous flavor intensifies when consumed closer to the skin, it remains much milder compared to other cultivars like Carrie, Jakarta, or O-15, in case you find those too overwhelming.

I often receive the question: ‘If I’m seeking a mango with a fruity flavor, should I choose Fruit Cocktail or Fruit Punch?’ Well, like many things in life, it depends. Nevertheless, I’ve noted some key differences between these two cultivars (keep in mind that tastebuds vary):

• Fruit Cocktail is an excellent choice for those who enjoy resinous flavors and appreciate complexity
• Fruit Punch is sweeter and offers a more straightforward ‘mango’ flavor
• Fruit Punch’s ‘dragon egg’ appearance makes it visually more appealing compared to Fruit Cocktail

If you value the opinion of a random guy on the internet, I personally favor Fruit Cocktail over Fruit Punch because of the subtle ‘spiciness’ element that adds an interesting dimension to the flavor without overpowering it.

Finally, it’s worth noting that Fruit Cocktail Mangos produce monoembryonic seeds, which means that planting a seed from a Fruit Cocktail Mango won’t yield another Fruit Cocktail Mango Tree.

Fruit Cocktail Mango Season (And When To Pick)

Fruit Cocktail Mangos are considered a mid-season mango (June – July).

The best time to pick Fruit Cocktail Mangos are when they are mature and beginning to ripen on the tree. From a color perspective, this is when the fruit is beginning to show signs of yellow color break. Fruit Cocktail is perfectly ripe when the majority of the fruit transitions to a greenish-yellow to dullish-yellow color.

Fruit Cocktail Mangos can also sometimes develop a pinkish blush. However, it’s important to remember that a mango’s blush has nothing to do with the fruit’s ripeness. A rule of thumb to remember is that More Sun = More Blush, Less Sun = Less Blush.

Aside from color, here are some additional tips to knowing when Fruit Cocktail Mango is ready to pick:

• Is the fruit beginning to soften ever so slightly?
• Is the fruit beginning to emit a sweet, fruity aroma?
• Is the fruit full-sized and has a plump appearance?
• How does the stem look? Is it drying up near where it connects to the fruit?

Fruit Cocktail Mango Disease Resistance

Fruit Cocktail Mango has great resistance to Bacterial Black Spot & Anthracnose. As a result, Fruit Cocktail would be an excellent addition to yards with less than ideal conditions, such as higher humidity levels and low winds.

Fruit Cocktail Mango History

The Fruit Cocktail Mango was first propagated in Boynton Beach, Florida by Gary Zill.

Fruit Cocktail was initially known as #28-18. Some in the mango community unofficially referred to this mango cultivar as ‘Sunburst,’ although this name was not officially assigned by Zill High Performance Plants.

Fruit Cocktail is a seedling of Jakarta, which is a descendant of Kent. It’s pollinating parent is unknown.

Additionally, Fruit Cocktail is also a sibling to Phoenix, Sunrise, and 0-15.

Fruit Cocktail Mango Tree For Sale

Finding a Fruit Cocktail Mango Tree for sale can be uncommon to rare. This scarcity is likely due to the growing demand for mango cultivars that offer a wider range of flavors beyond the traditional mango taste, similar to Fruit Punch.

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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