Summer fruit آم

Mango

Sindhri, Chaunsa, Anwar Ratol and Langra — the summer export crop.

Type: Perennial
Flowering: Feb – Mar
Harvest: Jun – Aug
Bearing from: Year 4–5

Grown in: Punjab, Sindh. Windows are indicative and shift with district, altitude and season.

Overview

Why mango matters

Mango is the flagship horticultural export, with Sindhri from Sindh and Chaunsa, Anwar Ratol and Langra from Punjab. Orchard decline caused by sudden death and malformation is the leading long-term threat.

Mangoes hanging in clusters from a laden branch

Growing conditions

Climate and soil

Climate

Frost-free subtropical conditions. A dry spell during flowering is essential — rain or high humidity at panicle emergence triggers heavy anthracnose.

Soil

Deep, well-drained loam with a low water table, pH 5.5–7.5. Poor drainage is a primary cause of orchard decline.

Planting & sowing

Plant grafted nursery stock in February to March or August to September at 9×9 m spacing, or high-density 5×5 m with planned canopy management.

Irrigation

Irrigate every 10–15 days in summer. Withhold water for six to eight weeks before flowering to encourage bud initiation, then resume at fruit set.

Fertilisation

For a mature tree, roughly 1 kg N, 0.5 kg P₂O₅ and 1 kg K₂O per year in two doses, plus 40–50 kg farmyard manure. Foliar zinc and boron support fruit set.

Harvesting

Harvest June to August at mature-green stage with a 2–3 cm stalk to prevent sap burn. Hot-water treatment before packing improves shelf life for export.

Crop protection