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If you are looking for a mango that is…
- Late-season
- Small & Compact
- A heavy producer
- In the Indian Flavor Group
Then look no further than the Neelum Mango 🙂
With that being said, this grow guide will cover everything that you need to know about Neelum Mango:
Table of Contents
- Neelum Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
- Neelum Mango Flavor Profile
- Neelum Mango Season (And When To Pick)
- Neelum Mango Disease Resistance
- Neelum Mango History
- Neelum Mango Tree For Sale
- Conclusion
Neelum Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
The Neelum Mango is considered a small-sized mango tree.
Neelum Mango Trees have a moderately vigorous & spreading growth habit that produces a dense canopy. As a result, Neelum can realistically be kept between 6 – 10 feet tall with annual pruning. That being said, Neelum would do well long-term in containers and would be considered a “condo” mango.
Neelum’s fruit production consistently ranges from good to heavy. This level of fruit production is remarkable, considering the tree’s short and compact nature. Even from an early age, Neelum has no trouble setting fruit.
Despite the mangos themselves being small-sized fruits that typically weigh between 0.5 – 0.75 lbs, the heavy fruit set can cause branches to break from the weight of the fruit clusters if excess fruit is not thinned. #BranchBreaker 😀
As a result, the Neelum Mango is an attractive choice for planting in various situations, whether you have limited yard space, plan to keep it in containers, or seek incredible production.
Neelum Mango Flavor Profile
Neelum Mangos are considered an Indian Flavored Mango.
Neelum Mangos have deep yellow to orange (depending on ripeness) fiberless flesh with a firm texture, making them ideal for recipes that call for mango.
From a flavor perspective, Neelum Mangos are very sweet with a strong sub-acid component and an intense resinous spice flavor. While they are considered dessert mangos, depending on one’s taste preferences, the taste may be overpowering and even off-putting for some.
While I wouldn’t personally classify it as a “top-tier” mango, it certainly packs a punch with its robust flavor. That being said, Neelum Mango is an excellent choice for those seeking a mango with a bold and sweet Indian flavor.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Neelum Mangos produce monoembryonic seeds, which means that planting a seed from a Neelum Mango won’t yield another Neelum Mango Tree.
Neelum Mango Season (And When To Pick)
Neelum Mangos are considered a true late season mango (Aug – Sept).
To be honest, I’ve had friends tell me they enjoyed Neelum Mangos even into October! Can you imagine handing out mangos for Halloween? 😀
So if extending your mango season is important to you, Neelum can definitely help with that.
With that being said, the best time to pick Neelum Mangos are when they are mature but not ripe. From a color perspective, this is when the fruit begins to transition from green to a lighter shade of green. Much like Mallika, if you let Neelum ripen on the tree, its flavor will take on hints of vegetables, especially carrots.
Because we don’t want Neelum Mango to ripen on the tree, here are some additional tips to knowing when Neelum is ready to pick:
- Is the fruit starting to transition from stiff as a rock to having a slight give to it?
- Is there the slightest transition from green to greenish-yellow? (not yellow)
- Lift the mango gently in your hand, does the stem break off when applying slight upward pressure?
- Are the shoulders of the fruit beginning to fatten up and have a good width to them?
- 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?
After harvesting the mature but unripe fruit, put them in a paper bag or wrap in newspaper. Allow them to ripen in a warm spot like a garage or patio for 4-7 days. Look for the color to shift from greenish-yellow to yellow and for the mango to soften slightly. These changes in color and firmness indicate a perfectly ripe fruit.
Neelum Mango Disease Resistance
The Neelum Mango is resistant to most diseases, including Anthracnose, Bacterial Black Spot, and Powdery Mildew. As a result, Neelum would be an excellent addition to yards with less than ideal conditions, such as higher humidity levels and low winds.
Neelum Mango History
In 1978, Frank Smathers Jr. introduced Neelum to Florida from South India for the first time.
No studies have been conducted to evaluate Neelum’s family history; however, we do know that Mallika is a cross between Neelum (seedling) and Dasheri (pollinating parent).
Neelum Mango Tree For Sale
If you’re deciding between planting Mallika and Neelum, my personal recommendation would be Mallika.
While Neelum boasts several excellent qualities, such as its tree size and growth pattern, I find that Mallika‘s flavor at its peak is slightly superior to Neelum’s. That said, if space is your top priority for a new tree, then Neelum might be a better choice for you.
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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