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Move over fireworks, there’s a new star-spangled sensation in town – I’m talking of course about the Spirit of 76 Mango 🤩
Fruiting for the first time on the U.S. Bicentennial, Spirit of 76 is not only beautiful but also easily one of the best classically-flavored mangos out there.
With that being said, this grow guide will cover everything that you need to know about Spirit of 76 Mango:
Table of Contents
- Spirit of 76 Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
- Spirit of 76 Mango Flavor Profile
- Spirit of 76 Mango Season (And When To Pick)
- Spirit of 76 Mango Disease Resistance
- Spirit of 76 Mango History
- Spirit of 76 Mango Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
- Conclusion
Spirit of 76 Mango Tree Growth Habit & Fruit Production
The Spirit of 76 Mango is considered a small to medium-sized mango tree.
Spirit of 76 Mangos have a moderately vigorous & upright growth habit that produces an open canopy. As a result, Spirit of 76 can realistically be kept between 8 – 15 feet tall with annual pruning. While the tree’s height is easily manageable due to it’s tight leaf internodes, Spirit of 76 would not do well long-term in containers and would not be considered a “condo” mango.
Spirit of 76’s fruit production consistently ranges from fair to average. The primary driver behind these lackluster yields is that Spirit of 76 does not tend to produce full blooms during warmer winters. Therefore, fruit production can be maximized by limiting plantings to areas that consistently experience cooler winters.
The mangos themselves are medium-sized fruits that typically weigh between 1 – 1.5 lbs.
Spirit of 76 Mango Flavor Profile
Spirit of 76 Mangos are considered a Classic Flavored Mango.
Slicing into the fruit will reveal dense, yellow, fiberless flesh with a smooth, juicy, and soft texture.
From a flavor perspective, the Spirit of 76 Mango offers a superior classic mango flavor. The fruit is incredibly sweet, with its dominant taste being a rich and aromatic classic mango flavor. This profile is well-balanced by a level of acidity that brings out subtle notes of nectarine and peach. While there are no resinous flavors present, the acidic undertones add a certain complexity that elevates the flavor from ‘regular mango’ to ‘sweet tropical mango.’
Relative to other mango cultivars that I have sampled, the taste is reminiscent in many ways to Southern Blush, Kent, and Zill-80.
Overall, Spirit of 76’s agreeable flavor is perfect for those who enjoy classic and rich mangos but might find cultivars such as Carrie or Dot to be a little too overpowering. Consequently, within the classic sub-acid flavor group of mangos, I believe that Spirit of 76 reigns supreme 🙂
Finally, it’s worth noting that Spirit of 76 Mangos produce monoembryonic seeds, which means that planting a seed from a Spirit of 76 Mango won’t yield another Spirit of 76 Mango Tree.
Spirit of 76 Mango Season (And When To Pick)
Spirit of 76 Mangos are considered a mid-season mango (June – July).
The best time to pick Spirit of 76 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. Spirit of 76 is perfectly ripe when the majority of the fruit (that isn’t covered by a red blush) transitions to a soft yellow color.
While Spirit of 76 often displays a red blush over a soft yellow background, 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.
Side Note: this beautiful blend of colors is typically free from major imperfections or diseases, resulting in a very clean-looking fruit.
Aside from color, here are some additional tips to knowing when Spirit of 76 Mango is ready to pick:
- Fruit fullness & shape
- 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?
It’s worth noting that Spirit of 76 is not known for having the best shelf life and should be consumed soon after picking from the tree. Otherwise, the fruit will quickly become overripe and develop off flavors.
Spirit of 76 Mango Disease Resistance
Spirit of 76 Mango is moderately prone to Anthracnose. That being said, an interesting quirk about Spirit of 76 is that while the foliage can be susceptible to Bacterial Black Spot, the fruit itself is usually not impacted.
As a result, Spirit of 76 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.
Spirit of 76 Mango History
The Spirit of 76 Mango was first propagated in Boynton Beach, Fl by the Zill Family. The name pays homage to the fact that the tree first fruited during the US Bicentennial in 1976.
Spirit of 76 is a seedling of Zill Mango. It’s pollinating parent is Haden Mango.
Furthermore, Spirit of 76 is also a sibling to Cogshall, Edward, Valencia Pride, Kent, Glenn, Bailey’s Marvel, Florigon, Cushman, and Van Dyke.
Spirit of 76 Mango Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
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For more information, please check out our Tropical Fruit Trees For Sale Page.
Conclusion
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Thank you for reading! 🙂
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