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Haden is literally the Original Florida Mango.
Not only did Haden literally kickstart the Florida Mango Industry, but it also gave rise to a new generation of mango cultivars that can trace their lineage back to Haden. For instance, Coconut Cream is a seedling of Edward, which itself is a seedling of Haden 🙂
With that being said, this grow guide will cover everything that you need to know about Haden Mango:
Table of Contents
- Haden Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
- Haden Mango Flavor Profile
- Haden Mango Season (And When To Pick)
- Haden Mango Disease Resistance
- Haden Mango History
- Haden Mango Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
- Conclusion
Haden Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
The Haden Mango is considered a large-sized mango tree.
Haden Mangos have a vigorous & spreading growth habit that produces a dense canopy. As a result, Haden can realistically be kept between 20 – 25 feet tall with annual pruning. Due to the tree’s natural vigor, Haden would not do well long-term in containers and would not be considered a “condo” mango.
Haden’s fruit production consistently ranges from good to heavy. However, Hadens have occasionally been observed to be alternate bearers. Said another way, if the tree produces a particularly heavy crop one year, the next year’s crop can range from potentially no fruit at all to a very small amount of fruit.
This behavior is entirely normal. That is because the tree requires a period of rest following the substantial energy expenditure in producing a large quantity of fruit. Without this necessary rest, continuous heavy fruit production can lead to immense stress on the tree, potentially even resulting in its demise.
The mangos themselves are small to medium-sized fruits that typically weigh between 0.75 – 1.5 lbs.
Haden Mango Flavor Profile
Haden Mangos are considered a Classic Flavored Mango.
When perfectly ripe and mature, Haden Mango will give off a delightful mango aroma with subtle hints of peaches.
Slicing into the fruit will reveal firm yellow flesh containing a moderate, but not objectionable, amount of fiber.
In terms of flavor, the Haden Mango is mildly sweet with a distinctive ‘classic mango’ taste. Depending on when the fruit is harvested, a subtle tartness might also be present, occasionally accompanied by delicate notes of peach. The flavor profile is straightforward and lacks significant complexity.
Compared to newer mango cultivars, some might even label the flavor as ‘boring.’ I tend to agree with this assessment because, when compared to even the direct descendants of Haden, its flavor does come across as somewhat muted.
With that said, it’s important to note that Haden is not a bad mango. I’ve purchased Haden Mangos from the supermarket to satisfy my mango cravings when my trees are no longer producing for the season. Nonetheless, considering the fungal issues it faces and the availability of newer cultivars with richer flavor and less fiber, I personally wouldn’t choose to plant a Haden Mango Tree.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Haden Mangos produce monoembryonic seeds, which means that planting a seed from a Haden Mango won’t yield another Haden Mango Tree.
Haden Mango Season (And When To Pick)
Haden Mangos are considered a mid-season mango (June – July).
The best time to pick Haden 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. Haden is perfectly ripe when the majority of the fruit (that isn’t covered by a red blush) transitions to an apricot yellow color.
With that being said, 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.
The Haden Mango is, in many ways, the textbook example of what people typically envision a mango to be.
It is worth noting that Haden Mangos should not be left to ripen on the tree. This is because when Hadens are allowed to ripen on the tree, there’s an increased likelihood of them developing jelly seed or internal breakdown.
Aside from color, here are some additional tips to knowing when Haden Mango is ready to pick:
- Fruit fullness & shape
- Is the fruit adorned with small yet distinct lenticels (white dots)?
- 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?
- Is the fruit beginning to soften ever so slightly?
Given that Haden is technically considered a commercial variety, it comes with some notable benefits, such as a longer shelf life and the ability to withstand being picked slightly early without significant repercussions.
Haden Mango Disease Resistance
Haden Mango is moderately prone to Anthracnose & Bacterial Black Spot. As a result, Haden would not be a good cultivar to grow in more humid areas and should instead be planted in drier areas, such as along the coast.
Haden Mango History
The Haden Mango was initially propagated in Coconut Grove, Florida, by Captain John Haden. The original seed was planted in 1902, and the tree bore fruit for the first time in 1910.
From a historical perspective, the Haden Mango holds significant importance as it’s often credited with kickstarting the commercial mango industry in Florida. While still cultivated today, Haden is now grown on a smaller scale due to newer disease pressures and the emergence of newer varieties that offer more consistent production.
Below is an excerpt on the history of Haden Mango from Walter Zill’s Autobiography:
This variety became very popular when it was introduced because it bore fruit rather well, the ripe fruit is very beautiful (Red-Yellow), and its flavor, when at peak of goodness, is very well liked by most accustomed to the mangoes from India.
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Personally, I find it more fibrous than I like, it develops an offensive odor and objectionable flavor soon after its peak of flavor goodness. Furthermore, when it is in bloom and the temperature drops a bit too low, the seeds in the fruit abort causing many very undersized fruit termed “nubbins”.
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It is easily affected by anthracnose, a fungus that troubles many agricultural products. Normal fruit size is 3/4-1 1/2 Ibs., usually ripening late May-July. Perhaps its growth characteristic may be termed AVERAGE for my purpose here, as I think as a matter of habit, of mango trees growing in relation to how the Haden grows. It will make a large spreading beautiful tree rather quickly.
Walter Zill, Maturing With Mangoes
Haden is a seedling of Mulgoba Mango. It’s pollinating parent is Turpentine Mango.
Haden is the parent to A LOT of newer varieties, including but not limited to: Cogshall, Edward, Kent, Bailey’s Marvel, Valencia Pride, Glenn, Spirit of 76, Irwin, Cushman, Van Dyke, Florigon, Springfiels, Tommy Atkins, Hatcher, and Zill.
Finally, Haden is also the grandparent to the following cultivars: Coconut Cream, Sugarloaf, Angie, Jakarta, Harvest Moon, Duncan, Peach Cobbler, Seacrest, Orange Essence, Gold Nugget, and Young.
Haden Mango Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
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Conclusion
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Thank you for reading! 🙂
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