Mango tree Keitt - Mangifera indica

Mangifera indica 'Keitt', a variety of mango tree developed in Florida in 1939, is cultivated in Europe in southern Spain for its delicious fruits. It produces large mangoes with a balanced sugar content and minimal fibre. Its evergreen, elongated, glossy dark green foliage also has significant ornamental value. Except in very mild regions, where outdoor cultivation might be attempted, it should be grown in a large container placed outdoors during the warmer months and then overwintered in a sheltered spot. Generally, one should appreciate its exotic appearance without expecting flowers or fruit.

The Mango tree belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. In our climate, this family is represented among fruit trees by the Pistachio tree (Pistacia vera) and among ornamental plants by the Sumac (Rhus). The Mangifera genus includes 69 species, distributed across tropical Asia, with only one cultivated for food purposes, Mangifera indica. Mango trees are evergreen, andromonoecious, meaning they bear hermaphroditic flowers composed of female (pistil) and male (stamen) sexual organs, characteristic of monoecious plants capable of self-fertilisation, as well as exclusively male flowers (andros = man in ancient Greek).
Mangifera indica originates from a continental region of Southeast Asia, primarily the Indo-Burmese monsoon region. It has been cultivated in India for over 4000 years, and its cultivation has spread to tropical and even subtropical zones, making it the second most important fruit crop after bananas. In its preferred regions, it forms a beautiful tree 10 to 20 metres tall, often with a spreading habit in cultivation, nearly as wide as it is tall, while isolated specimens tend to have a more upright silhouette with a less regular crown. In tropical orchards, its branching is very dense, giving it an appearance similar to umbrella pines in the south of France, but with a shorter trunk, which facilitates harvesting. Its foliage is decorative, consisting of narrow, elongated leaves, measuring 12 to 30 cm in length and only 3.5 to 6.5 cm in width, borne on a petiole 2 to 6 cm long. Their surface is glossy, and young leaves often take on a reddish to coppery hue as they emerge. The flowering takes the form of large terminal panicles measuring 20 to 35 cm in length, composed of 2000 to 5000 small greenish flowers. Flowering is triggered by cooler temperatures, such as those experienced in Southeast Asia between December and February, where they commonly range between 20-22°C at night and 28-30°C during the day. The flowering lasts only a few days, during which fertilisation occurs. This is followed by fruit set, the stage where fertilised flowers begin to form fruits, which can also last several weeks, and finally, fruit enlargement. In southern Spain, under the climate of the Costa Tropical, which is more Mediterranean than tropical, the 'Keitt' variety is sufficiently hardy to be cultivated, producing fruit from 20 October to 30 November. Its flowering is very late, and the climate likely also plays a role. Production occurs 4 years after planting in these southern Spanish orchards.
Generally very large, weighing between 300 and 600 g, sometimes even more, the fruits of 'Keitt' have a reddish-green epidermis to start with, turning orange-red when ripe. Their flesh is yellow-orange to orange and very little, if at all, fibrous, which is a real advantage for the pleasure of eating. Slightly less sweet than other varieties but sufficiently so to be delicious, this mango is also juicy and aromatic, with a slight touch of acidity. Mangoes are rich in vitamin C, with an 80 g portion containing 29 mg, as well as vitamins A and B.

The Mango tree is a very tender tropical tree with specific requirements in terms of temperature and humidity. Its cultivation is possible in the mildest areas, but remains highly uncertain in terms of results. Even in favourable climatic zones, the fruit set rate is very low, less than 1/1000 (which is compensated by the incredible number of flowers). It requires both a wet season for growth and a dry season reinforced by a drop in temperatures to trigger floral initiation. Container cultivation, essential almost everywhere, will allow enjoyment for a few years and appreciation of the plant's beautiful foliage (without expecting flowering or fruiting). However, the mango tree's deep taproot system will certainly limit this approach.