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If you enjoy mangos that have strong citrus flavored mangos (Lemon Meringue, Orange Sherbet, Orange Essence, etc.) then you will LOVE Lemon Zest.
While Lemon Zest can be susceptible to diseases, the risk is worth it for those who crave an incredibly sweet and delicious mango with a fresh mango lemonade flavor.
With that being said, this grow guide will cover everything that you need to know about Lemon Zest Mango:
Table of Contents
- Lemon Zest Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
- Lemon Zest Mango Flavor Profile
- Lemon Zest Mango Season (And When To Pick)
- Lemon Zest Mango Disease Resistance
- Lemon Zest Mango History
- Lemon Zest Mango Tree For Sale
- Conclusion
Lemon Zest Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
The Lemon Zest Mango is considered a medium to large-sized mango tree.
Lemon Zest Mango Trees have a very vigorous & upright growth habit that produces a dense canopy. As a result, Lemon Zest can realistically be kept between 10 – 20 feet tall with annual pruning. With that being said, Lemon Zest would not do well long-term in containers and would not be considered a “condo” mango.
While these trees start as slow growers during their establishment phase, their growth will eventually accelerate. They are not definitely not considered dwarf varieties.
Lemon Zest’s fruit production consistently ranges from average to good. While Lemon Zest may not be as productive as Lemon Meringue, one of its parent trees, it consistently yields significantly larger fruit, often double in size. The mangos themselves are medium-sized fruits that typically weigh between 1 – 1.5 lbs.
Lemon Zest Mango Flavor Profile
Lemon Zest Mangos are considered a Citrus Flavored Mango.
Like Lemon Meringue, Lemon Zest has a lemon candy-like aroma. When cut, the fruit reveals yellow, fiberless flesh with a juicy, uniform, and melting texture. While creamy, the flesh is denser compared to other citrus mangos like Orange Sherbet.
Moving on to the flavor, Lemon Zest surpasses Lemon Meringue with its richer, more complex profile. It offers a sweet and smooth taste with a perfect blend of sweetness and tartness, reminiscent of a perfectly ripe lemon or delicious lemonade.
Depending on the fruit’s ripeness, Lemon Zest can also have notes of very sweet orange and tangelos. Overall, its flavor is closer to Lemon Meringue than its sibling, Orange Sherbet.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Lemon Zest Mangos produce polyembryonic seeds, which means that planting a seed from a Lemon Zest Mango can yield another Lemon Zest Mango Tree.
Lemon Zest Mango Season (And When To Pick)
Lemon Zest Mangos are considered a mid-late season mango (July – Aug).
With that being said, the best time to pick Lemon Zest 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. Lemon Zest is perfectly ripe when the majority of the fruit transitions to a golden yellow color.
When the fruit is picked from the tree while on the greener side, they can be placed on the counter to ripen and be enjoyed within the next 2-3 days. However, be cautious not to pick them too green, as this may cause them to develop a chalky flavor, which is quite different from the citrus goodness that we are expecting!
However, color is only one factor when determining whether a Lemon Zest is mature and ready to pick.
With that being said, here are some additional tips to knowing when a Lemon Zest Mango is ready to pick:
- Is the fruit beginning to soften?
- Is the fruit nicely developed and plump?
- How does the stem look? It’s it drying up near where it connects to the fruit?
- Are there beads of sap present on the fruit?
- Are little dots/pores beginning to form on the fruit?
Finally, it’s worth noting that Lemon Zest’s complex branching can make harvesting fruit from higher up on the tree, especially using a fruit picker, a bit more challenging. So keep the tree pruned! 😀
Lemon Zest Mango Disease Resistance
If you are looking for a mango with high disease resistance, Lemon Zest may not be the best choice.
Lemon Zest is very susceptible to Anthracnose, Bacterial Black Spot & Powdery Mildew. As a result, I would refrain from planting Lemon Zest Mango in very humid areas (such as the Florida Interior).
With that being said, Lemon Zest can thrive in yards with a sea breeze closer to the coast or in drier areas.
Lemon Zest Mango History
The Lemon Zest Mango was first propagated in Boynton Beach, Florida by Gary Zill.
It’s original planting name was # 27-1 and was released for sale in early 2011.
Lemon Zest is a seedling of Lemon Meringue. It’s pollinating parent is unknown.
Additionally, Lemon Zest is also a sibling to Orange Sherbet.
Lemon Zest Mango Tree For Sale
Due to high demand, Lemon Zest Mangos can be difficult to find. I’ve only seen three available for sale in the last two years.
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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