Best Mango Tree for Southern California | Best Varieties

Thinking about growing mangoes in southern California but didn’t know which mangoes are suitable for the diverse climate of southern California.

The best mango tree for southern California, which withstand its diverse climate of cold nights and hot sunny days include, Sweet tart, lemon zest, Keitt, Valencia Pride, Ataulfo, and manila mangoes. These mangoes are almost perfect for southern California because they are adaptable and resilient and will also produce some of the sweet and tasteful mangoes.

In the blog below, I also explain the best times to grow mangoes in southern California along with other different factors, so without wasting any time, let’s get to it.

The Climate in Southern California:

Before thinking about planting mangoes in southern California, you need to understand its climate. Southern California basically offers a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters but hot summers and low humidity. But the mangoes need and like tropical and subtropical climates. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t grow mangoes there; with the proper varieties and care, you can grow some sweet and juicy mangoes.

Microclimate in Southern California:

California is home to many microclimates, especially in southern California. It has different climates that provide different growing conditions, where some areas are cold while some areas have hotter summers. It also has some coastal regions where mangoes can also be grown.

In colder areas where the temperature is a bit cold, you need to plant mango trees in a place where it get enough sun light to fight against the cold, while in areas where the temperature is a bit hot, you need to plant mangoes where there is sun but under shade from the extreme sun during mid-day. You need to know your area’s climate condition and then select proper mango verities for optimal growth.

Best Mango Varieties for Southern California:

There are different types of mangoes varieties that are suitable for southern California climate, Some of them are given below.

Sweet Tart:

Sweet-tart is one of the sweet mangoes of Indian origin, but most of its variety is able to grow in the southern USA, especially southern California. It is very sweet without any fibers.

Lemon Zest:

The lemon zest mangoes are also one of the best mango varieties that you can grow in southern California. It produces very large fruit that has a flavor like lemonade because of its balance of tartness and sweetness.

Manila Mango:

Manila mangoes are cold tolerant, which makes it one of the best mango tree to grow in southern California. It can also be planted in pots and then easily transferable to a garden. The Manila mangoes have a small, compact size and are considered to be one of the best mangoes in terms of sweetness and taste.

Haden Mango:

Haden mangoes are also suitable for growing in southern California. Haden mangoes are big in size and have reddish skin. The mangoes are perfect for planting in the warm climate of southern California. You can also plant and grow inland, but you have to protect it in cold months.

Ataulfo Mango:

The ataulfo mango is another type of mango that is considered good for southern California temperatures. The Ataulfo mangoes have a small size but creamy texture, which is also known as honey mangoes. These mangoes are suitable for growing in the sunny climate of southern California because they need plenty of sunlight to properly thrive.

Alphonso Mangoes:

The Alphonso mango is one of the best-tasting mangoes that can also be planted and grown in southern California. They need proper sunlight and proper watering practices. The alphonso mangoes also called hapus mango and because of its Indian origins.

Keitt Mango:

Keitt mangoes are effective against cold and able to tolerate the cold temperature of southern California. The California Keitt mangoes are green even after they are fully ripe and ready to harvest. It has a sweet, juicy taste with less fiber.

Valencia Pride Mangoes:

The type of mangoes can be like warm climates and will do best in warmer areas of southern California. They are a faster grower can turn into big trees in just a couple of years. The mangoes they produce have large fruit, but the taste is mildly sweet.

Planting Mangoes Trees in Southern California:

After selecting the variety, now it’s time to plant mangoes in your southern California. Now it’s time to know what the perfect time, along with some other factors.

Planting from Seed vs Grafted Mango Trees:

A lot of new gardeners usually get confused in this step and don’t know what to do next. Well, I would advise you to get a grafted mango tree because it has also grown and has passed through harsh and extreme condition, which is germination. You might don’t know that there are a lot of mango diseases that attack the plant in the germination stage.

Other than that, a grafted tree is ready and just takes about 3 to 4 years to start bearing fruit, while on the other hand, you will need 6 to 8 years to grow a mango tree, form a seed to till it start bearing fruits.

Best Time to Grow Mangoes in Southern California:

Every climate has its growing season. For mangoes, spring is usually considered the best time and weather, especially when the frost is long gone. The spring is the best season to grow mangoes in southern California because, in this weather, they can grow and establish roots very well.

Here is a video demonstration of growing mangoes in southern California.

Ground Planting or Container:

For planting mangoes, you can choose either ground planting or container planting. In a container, you can usually plant and grow dwarf varieties, which can also be easy to carry indoors when the temperature gets too hot or too cold.

On the ground, you can plant some of the mangoes that have big tall trees and produce some of the biggest apples, which need a lot of space to spread their roots.

Conclusion:

Mango is one of the best but challenging fruits to grow, especially in southern California, where there are different climate conditions. However, understanding and selecting a proper type of variety can help you grow some of the best and most tasty mangoes.