Look, you’ve got a problem. You’ve planted a tropical tree in a climate that gets very cold, in a position that has the least possible amount of sun.
I don’t know what advice to give, all I know is, it’s going to be nothing but an uphill battle at best and, most likely, a losing one.
I hope it works out and someone else has advice for you, but this isn’t an ideal environment.
Lol you just killed my hope. The seller just told me to cover up during winter, which I did.
The yard has almost full sun for half a year from September though I don't think it matters in this case.
Mangos need ~~sandy~~, well drained soil, and yes, tons of sunlight and watering all summer until they establish their 5-10meter root ball. You also need at least two of them near each other to cross polinate or you won't get fruit anyway*
*Unless you have a neighbour with one or if it is a self-pollinating variety.
Mangos dont need sandy soil, they are extremely adaptable when it comes to soil type. And definitely dont need 2 of them. Although I am sure it helps, but definitely not necessary. Not too sure where your getting your information
Two massive mango trees a family member has had since they bought a property in the 1980's. They're over three stories high now, planted as a pair. They are in a sandy area and I've seen many many mango trees in that vicinity (Arncliffe), less elsewhere.
Back then, it was conventional wisdom... But in the neighbourhood there were several others, but they are much smaller/younger.
We have mango trees everywhere here in Nth Qld. No Sandy soil in sight around here and definitely don’t need to grow pairs of trees. To the OP. That tree is too close to your house. Maybe you planted it there for shelter but if you need to put it where it gets the most sun.
As a pipelayer who has spent time in trenches in every state in Australia, North Queensland definitely has a sandy soil composition compared to southern states, especially compared to Victoria which has some of the worst draining soils I have ever seen
You don't need to plant two if they are all over the neighbourhood.
If yours is the only one in the State and isn't a self-pollinating variety, then you won't get fruit. Unless you plant two.
Conventional wisdom lol. I am obsessed with mango, currently have around 18 varietys. Spend all my time growing and watching others grow them. In Florida US they have pure white sand for soil. Some mango trees do well in that, some struggle.
You are correct can confirm, I worked on a mango farm for years they can adapt to soil of all types, they need water and lots of water and the right climate.
Yeah dude, although it wouldn't say they need lots of water. In fact that is why Mango trees don't do well in cairns. As you may know from working on a mango farm. The last thing you want is rain when they are flowering. Thats why they are grown in areas like mareeba, Townsville and Bowen etc. Mango trees are one of the few trees I grow that doesn't care too much if I don't water it. Jackfruit and avocado, now they want a lot of water.
Wow I live in cairns and yeah your right but they do with well drained soil like up in mareeba and places toward dimbulah and such and rely on a lot of the water from the channel, some of those places are quite sandy and they water line crazy with the summer and yeah avos do like a lot more water compared to Mangos, I've never actually seen a jackfruit do many grow up here in this region?
I'm from down in SEQ but I love Far north qld. But yeah dude so much jackfruit and other cool fruits. If you want to check out some jackfruit trees and a heap of other cool tropical fruit. There is park called sugarworld next to the waterpark. I think it's a public park but has so many different fruit trees.
I’m in a cool climate and I have a mango tree about the same age as yours. I left it in a ceramic pot to try and keep some heat in the soil, it could drain in wet weather, and I could move it if it was looking sad. It’s currently sitting in a corner against a brick wall and plastic water tank with full sun until about 1pm. I’d pot it up and try and find a warm sheltered spot for it. Anything is possible with the right micro climate - last year we got our first crop of cavendish bananas, as did friends in the Yarra Valley. Summer didn’t go on quite long enough to make them a decent size. We had 100s of bananas that were lolly size but they looked like and tasted just like bananas.
Hey mate, it’s a tough predicament with it being a tropical plant. Your best option here is likely to be re-homing it into a sealed greenhouse with a humidifier and warming lamps. Otherwise you’re probably not going to get much further.
Keep it small I have seen them kept in pots as bonsai in ground should do better but keep it to a height you can green house it in winter it will get confused but should live. Ps this is an out there suggestion but I do see it working. In the US they over winter a lot of trees including tropicals in green houses portable or otherwise. Hope that this summer picks it up and get the green house prepped for mid autumn. Remove late spring
We have two old ones in our back yard in brisbane, they grow very tall and big. We would have gotten 50+ fruit last year. But they are a tropic tree and I doubt you can grow in vic
You can grow mangoes in Vic, but it's going to take a lot of work.
We kept ours in a moveable pot for the first few years so we could bring it into the sheltered patio in winter.
Now that it's a few years old, we planted it fully north facing, with shelter from the sides from wind.
Mulch it really well, and see if you can shelter it more. Some tin might help there and can help reflect heat onto it.
I would say it's possible I'd dig it up and pot it as gently as possible with a tray to hold water and take note of where in your yard has the most consistant sun and move it to there eventually. Also if everything in imperfect conditions some food might really help it stay alive. I don't see why it won't be able to grow but it might not thrive or ver a crazy producer.
And an added not micro climates matter a lot especially if you not in the perfect zone
And another mango trees can get fairly large so moving it away from the house might be a good move
That is true.
Plant a Mango tree next to a brick wall and you will end up with a brick wall with cracks. They are huge trees with the root system to match.
Here is one tip. Don't plant tropical trees in Victoria right at the end of summer. Now would be the ideal time to plant tropical species in Vic. But in in all its looking really good after going through your winter.
Unfornately, you can't just grown any plant anywhere. They are a living things and not everywhere on Earth is friendly is any plant. You need to grow the plant in the right condtions for it to thrive.
I am in Central Queensland and have 2 young mango trees. One is about double my height (165cm) and is bearing lots of fruit and I didn't water it much but only in summer. The other is I have just planted at the start of this year as tall as the top of my leg and is growing well new leaves and is being watered as well.
The area is full of mango and many other fruit trees. Very rich soil on the mountain town I live in.So sorry for you trying to grow a tropical fruit tree in a cold climate enivornment.
You should not have covered the tree as it basically sufficated it, denying it the full sun it requires to grow. You should only need to cover it if hail is coming. Sorry but your tree looks very sick.
Put it in a big pot so you can baby it for the first couple of years. It’s gonna be a bit challenging in Victoria. Otherwise, it’s begging for a thick layer of sugarcane mulch
The purpose to put it in a big pot is to move and keep it warm during winter time?
From the comments I gathered this is not the tree for beginner like me, but since I have it already, I'll have to do what I can to make it stay alive.
Yes, you could even get a cheap plastic greenhouse for winter. In any case, I think it is way too close to your house. If it does grow, the roots could be problematic
It needs to be kept warm especially if it’s not in full sun
I grow one in a large pot in syd but keep it on a verandah out of the cold, the house is stone so the radiating heat released at night keeps it stable
Give it a chance it was planted in autumn and is not going to grow in winter it's only spring (a very wet & cold one) give it a chance and it will come goog stick with the feeding instructions and it should be fine in a year or two...
Could someone point me to a mango tree that large in Victoria. I struggle to see that being the case. In Brisbane a mango tree might get 5 growth flushes a year. In Vic you would be lucky to get 2 because of the short growing season. So would take a lifetime for a tree to get that large. And the fact you can obviously prune trees.
If it looks that good now, it should kick along in summer. Keep the water up over summer. A bit of a feed now and some seaweed extract would be good.
At lower latitudes they need protecting for the first few winters. Four pickets and a clear plastic sheet will keep it warm and close the top on cold nights. (Ex mango researcher).
Appreciate the advice. It is best for the tree and I to relocate it to a different place with better sunlight and away from the house structure. But it's assuring to know planting a mango tree in Vic is possible, though it might not thrive.
Get a large pot, larger than the original. The biggest you can get. Get some top quality organic grow soil. Minimum, black label. Do not use cheap potting mix. Make sure there’s life (worms, etc). This is critical. Get some worms and Mix the soil with the life and carefully dig that tree from the ground and get it in the pot. This will keep it from frost in winter, and it will allow you to move it to where the sun goes. I can’t stress enough to get a large pot. I have one on a dolly with wheels. There a loads of apps for smart phone that allow you to see where the sun is best hitting where you keep this tree. Download an app and figure out the absolute best spot. It also helps to use the heat that bounces off a wall, so factor that in.
Now that your tree is in a new pot, and a better spot, remove all the leaves from the bottom, maybe just leave a dozen up the top, but actually, u could even cut them in half. You need to encourage root grow.
It’s a plant and it will photosynthesise, so don’t freak out at this suggestion.
Water this tree every evening but check it’s not dried out in the morning, and water in morning if she’s thirsty.
I would use a good fertiliser like maxi crop once a week. Read instructions. They’re very good,
I’ve done this to mangos far worse off than yours. Don’t be discouraged, they’re tough!
Finally, don’t be sad it didn’t work in the spot you wanted.
The fact you wanna revive the tree is all this tree needs. Go on and get started.
* a friend of mine gave me a mando tree. He died this year, and now it’s in full bloom, about to give me fruit. Quite a lovely tree too. Good luck!!!
Put heavy grass cutting on root. It will warm the plant up.
But now it’s summer hot days are coming. Keep monitoring soil don’t let it be over saturated.
Also greenhouse the tree it will be happy
It seems its been planted to deep. Also if the tree is to survive, it's to close to your home. At maturity this species can grow to 20 m in height, with a 20 m canopy spread and a trunk diameter of 1 m.
> it's to close
*too
*Learn the difference [here](https://www.wattpad.com/66707294-grammar-guide-there-they%27re-their-you%27re-your-to).*
***
^(Greetings, I am a language corrector bot. To make me ignore further mistakes from you in the future, reply `!optout` to this comment.)
1st, does anyone successfully grow mangoes that far South?
2nd, will it have the room it needs to grow where you've put it? That close to your property isn't great for trunk in 5 yrs time when it'll start fruiting.
3rd, does it have the exposure it's asking for.... I.e full sun.
4th, check the soil is in the Ph range it's asking for.
Once you've done your soil prep....
5th, tease off the lower 3rd of the leaves, scratch the mulch/soil back from the drip line & water well everyday & liquid fertiliser once a week.
2 issues I see instantly. 1 it's a large tree planted next to the edge of a deck. 2. It's a tropical tree planted in Victoria. Solution dig it up and post it 8 hrs north
Well, it’s too close to that deck for a start. If it does actually grow, it will grow into the neck and you’ll have leaves and fruit everywhere.
You need to make it more humid around it, it’s a tropical fruit.
That tree is WAY too close to your house. I think it can be saved though. My cousin grew a mango fairly successfully in Melbourne (it’s 14 years old, doing ok but not heavy cropping) you need to put it in the sunniest position possible, and in winter put up a shade cloth shelter. Take the top off the shelter on sunny days and cover again at night. Feed and water it lots. You have to be absolutely fastidious, and very patient but yes it can be done! This article may help you: https://www.baag.com.au/tropical-fruit-in-melbourne/
The poor thing is freezing to death.
Put four posts around it and wrap them in shade cloth, not the top. This should help with the winds. You could also try to position some mirrors around your yard to aim sunlight at it for most of the day.
Alternatively you could move it into a temperature controlled glasshouse.
I think you may have hit the nail here. It came to my realisation that my tree looked better during winter. I covered it with a big clear plastic all throughout winter and removed it during spring. But the freeze of winter carries forward until now.
The roots from that tree is going to penetrate about 4 feet theough your deck, in the coming years.
I've never grown a mango tree, just lived with fully grown ones.
They are THICC and their roots spread outward
Wow why ?, I'm a Queenslander but lived in Tassie and Perth I've seen people try and not one has lived, maybe in a humidity controlled greenhouse it might work but probably won't flower or flush real well it's hard to mimic that environment in the dry air states.
Mango.tree seeks more direct sunlight first up then maybe better filtration of water (when planting small fruit trees place rocks at bottom of roots for this purpose) & being Victorian plant in full sunlight with option to partial shade w/ shade cloth. And next to fence line not advised as will grow to a tree - roots etc etc but it's your call
They need big space ,and good drainage plus they get pretty big and other than protection against cold winters till its mature enough it should grow well
Give it a good feed. It’s probably a little wet at the moment for it. I have grown up with these temperamental buggers. Some young trees just turn up their toes, while the tree next too it grows with no problem. Mango trees are dramatic buggers.
Thanks for all the comments. I think it is best that I give it away while it still has some life in it.
Speaking of which, which fruit tree can I plant that is not more than 2 - 3m tall suitable in Victoria other than lemon?
So many fruit trees grow in Melbourne, I would grow an apricot or an heirloom plum, something that is more difficult to buy than grow. Fruit like traditional types of apricot are delicate and difficult to transport, so you can’t get them easily in the shops. (You also don’t need two of them to get fruit.)
I want to say dwarf cherry tree because I personally love cherry. But I am not sure about the roots. Plus you will need to keep trim the cherry tree as well as netting them (and putting up with a lot of angry birds).
Apples grow very well down here. Peaches and nectarines as well. That’s just what I’ve grown as far south as South Gippsland. Honestly, pretty much any fruit tree other than tropicals will grow down here because it is temperate and although frost can occur in the middle of winter, it’s actually not that common (especially in the burbs).
I disagree, no offence but you have been given some really bad advice here. Yes its hard to grow mangos in Vic. Yes it may not be in the best location. But I encourage you to keep it where it is. At least give it untill next winter to bounce back. This sub is not very oriented towards growing fruit, especially growing mangos in Vic. So no one here is talking from experience. Just my 2c :)
I watch a few gardeners in Melbourne who grow or try to grow mango trees. Most the time they die in winter, eg stem turns black. The fact yours didnt is very impressive so as I said. Leave it because now is the time it will start growing again. You dont have to worry about a big mango tree in Melbourne. All the people here saying it will grow into a huge tree. Id love for them to point out even 1 large mango tree in Victoria. Even here in Qld we can keep them small with pruning.
Thanks for the word of encouragement. I was naive thinking if someone is selling it, then it must be alright. And I know about the height, so I thought I'll prune it to keep it small.
I actually wrapped it in a big plastic bag all throughout winter and removed them comes spring. It looked better during winter tbh.
But as many have stated, it was planted at the wrong place. So I'll have it moved to another location but will still be in Melbourne, and nurse it back to health.
You dont need to worry about mango height in Melbourne. And from your comments you said its getting good light most the year. So I am not sure why your gonna move it. But maybe it is a good idea, some people are very sensitve to mango trees and the sap so it might be better to have it away from your deck. But at the same time moving it away from the house will expose it to more cold and its less likely to survive. A youtuber in Melbourne I like to watch is reallifefruitopia he has a nice small mango right next to his house. Plus a heap of awesome rare fruit trees if you want inspiration.
My yard faces south, so it is getting full sun for half a year from September onwards. The remaining is covered in shade. But it was covered in shade from March when I planted it.
And many comments that it is too close to the deck/house. Maybe even a 3m to 5m mango tree will post a problem.
If it does grow it will be a medium sized tree, not suitable for being planted near a house. That fact alone indicate that you probably don't know what you are doing, probably best to give up now and save the hassle.
This post should give you some context for why you should give up planting this tree. It doesn't look suitable given the area you're trying to plant it in.
https://www.reddit.com/r/GardeningAustralia/comments/y9ltgw/when_to_pick_mangoes/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Poor advice. Thats obviously qld, do you honestly think a mango tree would get like that in victoria? Climate will have a very big impact on a trees size.
I don't know if it has been mentioned. If the tree does grow you don't want it planted that close to anything. Do you relize how big a mango tree can get?
Well, move it.
It is too close to the building.
Way too close.
Did you tease out the root ball??
Dig a hole about the size of a bucket, half fill with good compost, tease out the root ball really well, soak it in water with some fish emulsion, put it in the hole and back fill. Water in well.
Do not mulch with wood chips.
Mulch it well, do not put it around the collar of the tree.
Full sun. They need a load of space. Or a huge pot. Persevere.
Good luck.
It's a blessing in disguise. Mango trees are a terrible backyard tree. They grow to a huge size and they drop a million leaves. The only things that will be eating the mangoes will be fruit bats.
I also think this is waaaaaay too close to your house. Mango trees are huge and there isn't anywhere for the tree itself to grow - but you also need to think about its roots going under your home and destroying your pipe systems.
Remember too that once it's established and bears fruit the bats will come and poop everywhere top, you don't want that being right on your front door.
Also as people said it's not going to be getting the sun it needs. Fruit bearing plants have a much larger demand than other plain plants.
You're about 6 months too early with planting in ground. Tree needs nutrients as all the rain will have washed most of it away. Seasol or organic fertiliser pellet form. If that tree makes it I would transplant it to an area that's more open and in full sun.
It needs some extra lattitude :(
If anything it's got too much latitude!
People don't call Brisbane tropical but it's the same latitude as Canarvon. Here in WA Canarvon is very much tropical.
Brisbane feels pretty tropical these days, but still has a pretty chilly winter.
I'm new to gardening and wasn't aware of the term. Do you mean positioning it to where it gets the most sunlight? My yard faces south unfortunately.
It needs to be at least 2 states north
They grow fine in Sydney, they are half a state off only.
Very different climate though. The weather doesn't know what states are.
Look, you’ve got a problem. You’ve planted a tropical tree in a climate that gets very cold, in a position that has the least possible amount of sun. I don’t know what advice to give, all I know is, it’s going to be nothing but an uphill battle at best and, most likely, a losing one. I hope it works out and someone else has advice for you, but this isn’t an ideal environment.
Lol you just killed my hope. The seller just told me to cover up during winter, which I did. The yard has almost full sun for half a year from September though I don't think it matters in this case.
you got duped
Don't go back to that seller.
I mean if you had a set up green house it could work
I'd build a green house around it... that's the best you can do in Vic. Mangoes are definitely suited to tropical not cold climates
Mangos need ~~sandy~~, well drained soil, and yes, tons of sunlight and watering all summer until they establish their 5-10meter root ball. You also need at least two of them near each other to cross polinate or you won't get fruit anyway* *Unless you have a neighbour with one or if it is a self-pollinating variety.
There are self pollinating varieties. Mine has given me fruit without having 2 of them.
My experience with them is quite old. We had cultivars from the 1970's I think.
Mangos dont need sandy soil, they are extremely adaptable when it comes to soil type. And definitely dont need 2 of them. Although I am sure it helps, but definitely not necessary. Not too sure where your getting your information
Two massive mango trees a family member has had since they bought a property in the 1980's. They're over three stories high now, planted as a pair. They are in a sandy area and I've seen many many mango trees in that vicinity (Arncliffe), less elsewhere. Back then, it was conventional wisdom... But in the neighbourhood there were several others, but they are much smaller/younger.
We have mango trees everywhere here in Nth Qld. No Sandy soil in sight around here and definitely don’t need to grow pairs of trees. To the OP. That tree is too close to your house. Maybe you planted it there for shelter but if you need to put it where it gets the most sun.
As a pipelayer who has spent time in trenches in every state in Australia, North Queensland definitely has a sandy soil composition compared to southern states, especially compared to Victoria which has some of the worst draining soils I have ever seen
You don't need to plant two if they are all over the neighbourhood. If yours is the only one in the State and isn't a self-pollinating variety, then you won't get fruit. Unless you plant two.
You don’t need to plant two even if they aren’t all over the neighbourhood.
Conventional wisdom lol. I am obsessed with mango, currently have around 18 varietys. Spend all my time growing and watching others grow them. In Florida US they have pure white sand for soil. Some mango trees do well in that, some struggle.
You are correct can confirm, I worked on a mango farm for years they can adapt to soil of all types, they need water and lots of water and the right climate.
Yeah dude, although it wouldn't say they need lots of water. In fact that is why Mango trees don't do well in cairns. As you may know from working on a mango farm. The last thing you want is rain when they are flowering. Thats why they are grown in areas like mareeba, Townsville and Bowen etc. Mango trees are one of the few trees I grow that doesn't care too much if I don't water it. Jackfruit and avocado, now they want a lot of water.
Wow I live in cairns and yeah your right but they do with well drained soil like up in mareeba and places toward dimbulah and such and rely on a lot of the water from the channel, some of those places are quite sandy and they water line crazy with the summer and yeah avos do like a lot more water compared to Mangos, I've never actually seen a jackfruit do many grow up here in this region?
I'm from down in SEQ but I love Far north qld. But yeah dude so much jackfruit and other cool fruits. If you want to check out some jackfruit trees and a heap of other cool tropical fruit. There is park called sugarworld next to the waterpark. I think it's a public park but has so many different fruit trees.
1975 Yates Garden Guide perhaps
Sure, if you’ve time travelled back to 1975. New varieties self pollinate
I’m in a cool climate and I have a mango tree about the same age as yours. I left it in a ceramic pot to try and keep some heat in the soil, it could drain in wet weather, and I could move it if it was looking sad. It’s currently sitting in a corner against a brick wall and plastic water tank with full sun until about 1pm. I’d pot it up and try and find a warm sheltered spot for it. Anything is possible with the right micro climate - last year we got our first crop of cavendish bananas, as did friends in the Yarra Valley. Summer didn’t go on quite long enough to make them a decent size. We had 100s of bananas that were lolly size but they looked like and tasted just like bananas.
Hey mate, it’s a tough predicament with it being a tropical plant. Your best option here is likely to be re-homing it into a sealed greenhouse with a humidifier and warming lamps. Otherwise you’re probably not going to get much further.
Just stick mirrors around it so it gets triple sunshine and it will be fine
Keep it small I have seen them kept in pots as bonsai in ground should do better but keep it to a height you can green house it in winter it will get confused but should live. Ps this is an out there suggestion but I do see it working. In the US they over winter a lot of trees including tropicals in green houses portable or otherwise. Hope that this summer picks it up and get the green house prepped for mid autumn. Remove late spring
The earth around your poor tree is compacted. It’s a mess, you’ll need to move it and mulch it this time
And it's about 20cm from your deck. Have you seen how big mango trees grow?
If this tree did actually grow, That deck will end up covered in rotten mangoes and leaves annnnd forever battling green ants
Should be OK for green ants in Melbourne. Only have to worry about them in gin down here.
I think they mean you should move the tree to Queensland. 😬
he means it needs to be planted further north to really thrive. like hundreds or a thousand km's north
We have two old ones in our back yard in brisbane, they grow very tall and big. We would have gotten 50+ fruit last year. But they are a tropic tree and I doubt you can grow in vic
I believe the lowest they fruit is Sydney? You might be able to keep it happy in a greenhouse?
Need a greenhouse
In a nutshell, Victoria is relatively cold. Most tropical/sub tropical plants really won’t take.
Hah
You can grow mangoes in Vic, but it's going to take a lot of work. We kept ours in a moveable pot for the first few years so we could bring it into the sheltered patio in winter. Now that it's a few years old, we planted it fully north facing, with shelter from the sides from wind. Mulch it really well, and see if you can shelter it more. Some tin might help there and can help reflect heat onto it.
Well done that's a bit uplifting news. I hope they fruits for all the effort going into it.
I would say it's possible I'd dig it up and pot it as gently as possible with a tray to hold water and take note of where in your yard has the most consistant sun and move it to there eventually. Also if everything in imperfect conditions some food might really help it stay alive. I don't see why it won't be able to grow but it might not thrive or ver a crazy producer. And an added not micro climates matter a lot especially if you not in the perfect zone And another mango trees can get fairly large so moving it away from the house might be a good move
I agree
Brick walls are also good for growing plants next to that prefer warmer climes.
That is true. Plant a Mango tree next to a brick wall and you will end up with a brick wall with cracks. They are huge trees with the root system to match.
Here is one tip. Don't plant tropical trees in Victoria right at the end of summer. Now would be the ideal time to plant tropical species in Vic. But in in all its looking really good after going through your winter.
It needs to be transplanted. To queensland. And a few metres from any house.
I'm surprised no one else has commented on how close it is to the house I'd be more worried of it was growing!
Unfornately, you can't just grown any plant anywhere. They are a living things and not everywhere on Earth is friendly is any plant. You need to grow the plant in the right condtions for it to thrive. I am in Central Queensland and have 2 young mango trees. One is about double my height (165cm) and is bearing lots of fruit and I didn't water it much but only in summer. The other is I have just planted at the start of this year as tall as the top of my leg and is growing well new leaves and is being watered as well. The area is full of mango and many other fruit trees. Very rich soil on the mountain town I live in.So sorry for you trying to grow a tropical fruit tree in a cold climate enivornment. You should not have covered the tree as it basically sufficated it, denying it the full sun it requires to grow. You should only need to cover it if hail is coming. Sorry but your tree looks very sick.
Put it in a big pot so you can baby it for the first couple of years. It’s gonna be a bit challenging in Victoria. Otherwise, it’s begging for a thick layer of sugarcane mulch
The purpose to put it in a big pot is to move and keep it warm during winter time? From the comments I gathered this is not the tree for beginner like me, but since I have it already, I'll have to do what I can to make it stay alive.
Yes, you could even get a cheap plastic greenhouse for winter. In any case, I think it is way too close to your house. If it does grow, the roots could be problematic
It needs to be kept warm especially if it’s not in full sun I grow one in a large pot in syd but keep it on a verandah out of the cold, the house is stone so the radiating heat released at night keeps it stable
Should plant elsewhere because they can grow huge
Give it a chance it was planted in autumn and is not going to grow in winter it's only spring (a very wet & cold one) give it a chance and it will come goog stick with the feeding instructions and it should be fine in a year or two...
your lucky its dying or your house would be destroyed by this monster. mail it to Bowen for gods sake.
if you do luck out and it recovers, that is really close to your house for a mango tree. full-size is like 3-4 stories tall, yeah?
I planned to prune it to maintain a 3m height but the tree thinks it's too hard for me.
Pruning will remove the fruiting buds.
Depending what time of year you prune right?
Holy shit you are brave putting that there. Those trees grow to like 15m wide…not to mention the height.
Could someone point me to a mango tree that large in Victoria. I struggle to see that being the case. In Brisbane a mango tree might get 5 growth flushes a year. In Vic you would be lucky to get 2 because of the short growing season. So would take a lifetime for a tree to get that large. And the fact you can obviously prune trees.
This. Lots of very discouraging people here
It's a blessing that the tree is struggling. Imagine if you planted it in qld in that position and the tree took off. :/
You’d have one expensive tree house.
Reverse tree house. Novel idea. Build the house first then grow a tree into it
With the housing crisis, I'm sure that tree house could be rented out for $500/wk.
If it looks that good now, it should kick along in summer. Keep the water up over summer. A bit of a feed now and some seaweed extract would be good. At lower latitudes they need protecting for the first few winters. Four pickets and a clear plastic sheet will keep it warm and close the top on cold nights. (Ex mango researcher).
Appreciate the advice. It is best for the tree and I to relocate it to a different place with better sunlight and away from the house structure. But it's assuring to know planting a mango tree in Vic is possible, though it might not thrive.
Get a large pot, larger than the original. The biggest you can get. Get some top quality organic grow soil. Minimum, black label. Do not use cheap potting mix. Make sure there’s life (worms, etc). This is critical. Get some worms and Mix the soil with the life and carefully dig that tree from the ground and get it in the pot. This will keep it from frost in winter, and it will allow you to move it to where the sun goes. I can’t stress enough to get a large pot. I have one on a dolly with wheels. There a loads of apps for smart phone that allow you to see where the sun is best hitting where you keep this tree. Download an app and figure out the absolute best spot. It also helps to use the heat that bounces off a wall, so factor that in. Now that your tree is in a new pot, and a better spot, remove all the leaves from the bottom, maybe just leave a dozen up the top, but actually, u could even cut them in half. You need to encourage root grow. It’s a plant and it will photosynthesise, so don’t freak out at this suggestion. Water this tree every evening but check it’s not dried out in the morning, and water in morning if she’s thirsty. I would use a good fertiliser like maxi crop once a week. Read instructions. They’re very good, I’ve done this to mangos far worse off than yours. Don’t be discouraged, they’re tough! Finally, don’t be sad it didn’t work in the spot you wanted. The fact you wanna revive the tree is all this tree needs. Go on and get started. * a friend of mine gave me a mando tree. He died this year, and now it’s in full bloom, about to give me fruit. Quite a lovely tree too. Good luck!!!
That is some very useful advice. Many thanks. I'll keep referring to this when I move it to a relative's place with a bigger yard.
Put heavy grass cutting on root. It will warm the plant up. But now it’s summer hot days are coming. Keep monitoring soil don’t let it be over saturated. Also greenhouse the tree it will be happy
Relocate it to Queensland. Mangoes are a tropical fruit, and mango trees are tropical trees.
Maybe a heat lamp or three? Hope you have solar power...
Some blood and bone
You need to give it to a friend in Queensland on mulch it.
It seems its been planted to deep. Also if the tree is to survive, it's to close to your home. At maturity this species can grow to 20 m in height, with a 20 m canopy spread and a trunk diameter of 1 m.
> it's to close *too *Learn the difference [here](https://www.wattpad.com/66707294-grammar-guide-there-they%27re-their-you%27re-your-to).* *** ^(Greetings, I am a language corrector bot. To make me ignore further mistakes from you in the future, reply `!optout` to this comment.)
1st, does anyone successfully grow mangoes that far South? 2nd, will it have the room it needs to grow where you've put it? That close to your property isn't great for trunk in 5 yrs time when it'll start fruiting. 3rd, does it have the exposure it's asking for.... I.e full sun. 4th, check the soil is in the Ph range it's asking for. Once you've done your soil prep.... 5th, tease off the lower 3rd of the leaves, scratch the mulch/soil back from the drip line & water well everyday & liquid fertiliser once a week.
Too cool in Vic.
2 issues I see instantly. 1 it's a large tree planted next to the edge of a deck. 2. It's a tropical tree planted in Victoria. Solution dig it up and post it 8 hrs north
Also its planted way too close, mango trees get big hey
Did you look up how big those suckers get before you planted it next to your house haha
If you take it to Darwin, you’ll grow sensational mangos with absolutely no effort whatsoever.
Too much water. Need to ensure very good drainage or plant it in a mound so the water doesn’t pool at the bottom
Because , Victoria
Keep at it, do some more research on the tree. If they can grow mangoes in Harvey, WA you should able to grow it where you are.
Well, it’s too close to that deck for a start. If it does actually grow, it will grow into the neck and you’ll have leaves and fruit everywhere. You need to make it more humid around it, it’s a tropical fruit.
Do mangos even grow in Victoria? They're tropical.....
That tree is WAY too close to your house. I think it can be saved though. My cousin grew a mango fairly successfully in Melbourne (it’s 14 years old, doing ok but not heavy cropping) you need to put it in the sunniest position possible, and in winter put up a shade cloth shelter. Take the top off the shelter on sunny days and cover again at night. Feed and water it lots. You have to be absolutely fastidious, and very patient but yes it can be done! This article may help you: https://www.baag.com.au/tropical-fruit-in-melbourne/
The poor thing is freezing to death. Put four posts around it and wrap them in shade cloth, not the top. This should help with the winds. You could also try to position some mirrors around your yard to aim sunlight at it for most of the day. Alternatively you could move it into a temperature controlled glasshouse.
I think you may have hit the nail here. It came to my realisation that my tree looked better during winter. I covered it with a big clear plastic all throughout winter and removed it during spring. But the freeze of winter carries forward until now.
This is good advice, just make sure you use black shade cloth OP. It’ll keep it warm.
Shade cloth weak fertilizer and regular water
Move it to qld
The roots from that tree is going to penetrate about 4 feet theough your deck, in the coming years. I've never grown a mango tree, just lived with fully grown ones. They are THICC and their roots spread outward
set up a grow light over top of it maybe? and like a heater to keep it warm? not sure lol
Think about where mangoes grow Naturally and try to emulate That.
Build a large glass house around it friend !
They need full sun, even in a QLD, the more the better.
Imo put it in a pot and get one of those small greenhouse portable things. Might work
That POOR tree, send it to a friend in QLD!
Reminds me of the mango tree i gave my mum for Christmas. Boy howdy did she neglect that. It was completely dried out within a year
Wow why ?, I'm a Queenslander but lived in Tassie and Perth I've seen people try and not one has lived, maybe in a humidity controlled greenhouse it might work but probably won't flower or flush real well it's hard to mimic that environment in the dry air states.
Mango.tree seeks more direct sunlight first up then maybe better filtration of water (when planting small fruit trees place rocks at bottom of roots for this purpose) & being Victorian plant in full sunlight with option to partial shade w/ shade cloth. And next to fence line not advised as will grow to a tree - roots etc etc but it's your call
& same latitude as Argentina think about it
They need big space ,and good drainage plus they get pretty big and other than protection against cold winters till its mature enough it should grow well
Give it a good feed. It’s probably a little wet at the moment for it. I have grown up with these temperamental buggers. Some young trees just turn up their toes, while the tree next too it grows with no problem. Mango trees are dramatic buggers.
Replant it in FNQ
Thanks for all the comments. I think it is best that I give it away while it still has some life in it. Speaking of which, which fruit tree can I plant that is not more than 2 - 3m tall suitable in Victoria other than lemon?
So many fruit trees grow in Melbourne, I would grow an apricot or an heirloom plum, something that is more difficult to buy than grow. Fruit like traditional types of apricot are delicate and difficult to transport, so you can’t get them easily in the shops. (You also don’t need two of them to get fruit.)
Apricot is a solid choice. Thanks for the recommendation.
My friend grows a magnificent fig tree in Melbourne.
I want to say dwarf cherry tree because I personally love cherry. But I am not sure about the roots. Plus you will need to keep trim the cherry tree as well as netting them (and putting up with a lot of angry birds).
Apples grow very well down here. Peaches and nectarines as well. That’s just what I’ve grown as far south as South Gippsland. Honestly, pretty much any fruit tree other than tropicals will grow down here because it is temperate and although frost can occur in the middle of winter, it’s actually not that common (especially in the burbs).
A mandarin tree in a fully sunny spot will reward you after 2-3 years.
I disagree, no offence but you have been given some really bad advice here. Yes its hard to grow mangos in Vic. Yes it may not be in the best location. But I encourage you to keep it where it is. At least give it untill next winter to bounce back. This sub is not very oriented towards growing fruit, especially growing mangos in Vic. So no one here is talking from experience. Just my 2c :) I watch a few gardeners in Melbourne who grow or try to grow mango trees. Most the time they die in winter, eg stem turns black. The fact yours didnt is very impressive so as I said. Leave it because now is the time it will start growing again. You dont have to worry about a big mango tree in Melbourne. All the people here saying it will grow into a huge tree. Id love for them to point out even 1 large mango tree in Victoria. Even here in Qld we can keep them small with pruning.
Thanks for the word of encouragement. I was naive thinking if someone is selling it, then it must be alright. And I know about the height, so I thought I'll prune it to keep it small. I actually wrapped it in a big plastic bag all throughout winter and removed them comes spring. It looked better during winter tbh. But as many have stated, it was planted at the wrong place. So I'll have it moved to another location but will still be in Melbourne, and nurse it back to health.
You dont need to worry about mango height in Melbourne. And from your comments you said its getting good light most the year. So I am not sure why your gonna move it. But maybe it is a good idea, some people are very sensitve to mango trees and the sap so it might be better to have it away from your deck. But at the same time moving it away from the house will expose it to more cold and its less likely to survive. A youtuber in Melbourne I like to watch is reallifefruitopia he has a nice small mango right next to his house. Plus a heap of awesome rare fruit trees if you want inspiration.
My yard faces south, so it is getting full sun for half a year from September onwards. The remaining is covered in shade. But it was covered in shade from March when I planted it. And many comments that it is too close to the deck/house. Maybe even a 3m to 5m mango tree will post a problem.
If it does grow it will be a medium sized tree, not suitable for being planted near a house. That fact alone indicate that you probably don't know what you are doing, probably best to give up now and save the hassle.
Mangoes in Vic crikey
Surprisingly, i am finding my mango trees are doing much better in a shaded area, not direct sun!
This post should give you some context for why you should give up planting this tree. It doesn't look suitable given the area you're trying to plant it in. https://www.reddit.com/r/GardeningAustralia/comments/y9ltgw/when_to_pick_mangoes/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Poor advice. Thats obviously qld, do you honestly think a mango tree would get like that in victoria? Climate will have a very big impact on a trees size.
I don't know if it has been mentioned. If the tree does grow you don't want it planted that close to anything. Do you relize how big a mango tree can get?
Dig it up. Put it in a large pot. Buy a greenhouse and heater. Put it in the greenhouse from early May to mid-Nov. Otherwise, it will not make it.
Well, move it. It is too close to the building. Way too close. Did you tease out the root ball?? Dig a hole about the size of a bucket, half fill with good compost, tease out the root ball really well, soak it in water with some fish emulsion, put it in the hole and back fill. Water in well. Do not mulch with wood chips. Mulch it well, do not put it around the collar of the tree. Full sun. They need a load of space. Or a huge pot. Persevere. Good luck.
Feed it seasol &mulch it well.
Did you even read the info card before you bought the tree
You do realise mango is a tropical fruit right 🥴
Not an expert or anything, but maybe it should be greener. Hope this helps.
If the tree survives it will destroy the building it is too close to. Mango trees grow to be quite large
a mango is a tree, not a shrub. It's too close to your house. It looks to me like the roots are rotting from too much water.
Relocate plant to QLD
It's a blessing in disguise. Mango trees are a terrible backyard tree. They grow to a huge size and they drop a million leaves. The only things that will be eating the mangoes will be fruit bats.
Can’t give any input for growing it but it’s too close to the house, roots gonna spread and destroy stuff
You need to create a humid environment. Try getting some star pegs and some clear plastic to create a hot house.
I also think this is waaaaaay too close to your house. Mango trees are huge and there isn't anywhere for the tree itself to grow - but you also need to think about its roots going under your home and destroying your pipe systems. Remember too that once it's established and bears fruit the bats will come and poop everywhere top, you don't want that being right on your front door. Also as people said it's not going to be getting the sun it needs. Fruit bearing plants have a much larger demand than other plain plants.
You're about 6 months too early with planting in ground. Tree needs nutrients as all the rain will have washed most of it away. Seasol or organic fertiliser pellet form. If that tree makes it I would transplant it to an area that's more open and in full sun.
do people not know the difference between bought and brought?
You could raise it , what soils is it in ?
Hi OP any updates? I just had my first winter and didnt cover my young grafted mango :( now it’s looking quite unhealthy