Instructions for taking care of mango trees during business period

Mango trees 5 years old or older can enter a stable business if cared for properly. Instructions on irrigation, fertilization, flowering treatment and pest management schedules for Hoa Loc and Cat Chu mangoes in the Mekong Delta.

Summary: Mekong Delta mangoes yield 8-15 tons of fruit per hectare when the tree is in stable business. Unlike other fruit trees, mangoes have the advantage of flowering multiple times per year if properly cared for, extending harvest time and dispersing market risks. This article guides the care process in four stages of the year — post-autumn recovery, flower stimulation, flowering and fruit raising.

Applies to: Hoa Loc mango, Cat chu mango, Taiwanese mango, Keo mango in Tien Giang, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, An Giang, Can Tho.
Duration: Year-round care.
Difficulty level: Medium.
Estimated additional costs: 25-45 million VND per hectare per year for a orchard of 100-150 trees.

Characteristics of mango business

Mango trees have two different characteristics from other fruit trees:

Multiple flowering: the plant can flower 2-3 times per year if properly stimulated. Taking advantage helps reduce market risk + increase income.
Important set of leaves: old leaves are where nutrients accumulate for flowers. The tree flowers when the leaves are completely old.

Good economic productivity requires:

Business trees from 5 years old and up.
80-150 fruits per tree per year total batches (Hoa Loc mango).
120-200 fruits per tree (Taiwan mango, Acacia — smaller fruits).
The fruit reaches the minimum weight — Hoa Loc mango over 300 grams each, Taiwan over 400 grams.

Care process in four stages

Phase 1 — Post-harvest recovery (1-2 months)

The tree had just given high yield but was exhausted. Goal: restore leaves and roots.

Pruning branches:

Cut pest-infested branches and fruit-bearing branches that have already produced autumn fruits.
Prune branches growing into the canopy.
Cut off excess shoots if they are too tall.
Goal: canopy is open and airy, height maintained at 4-5 meters for easy harvesting.

Recovery fertilization:

Organic crops 15-25 kilograms per tree.
*N-P-K* August 16-16: 0.5-0.8 kilograms per plant, divided into 2 times every 30 days.
Trichoderma 200 grams per plant and organic.

Water well enough:

Water evenly, do not let it dry suddenly.
50-100 liters per tree per week (dry season).

Stage 2 — Flower activation (1-2 months)

When the recovered leaves are completely old (dark green, no young leaves at the tip of branches), enter flowering.

How to stimulate flowers:

Dry roots: stop watering for 15-25 days to give the plant slight stress.
Flower stimulating fertilizer: *N-P-K* 6-30-30 or *N-P-K* 10-50-10: 300-500 grams per plant.
**Spray *Paclobutrazol*** (growth regulator): dose 500-1,000 parts per million according to the label. Spray the roots when the leaves are completely old. Be careful — using it for many years in a row will cause dwarf trees.
**Spray *Thiourea* (flower stimulant)** on leaves when flower buds show signs of appearing: concentration 0.5-1 percent.

After stimulation: see flower buds after 25-35 days. This is the time to water normally again.

Stage 3 — Flowering and fruiting (1-2 months)

When the flowers bloom:

Irrigation:

Irrigate evenly, without shock. Mango flowers are sensitive to water fluctuations.
Reduce watering by 30 percent when flowers are in full bloom — avoid flower drop.

Supports pollination:

Mangoes have bisexual flowers, pollinated mainly by insects (honey bees, flies).
Avoid spraying during flowering period.
If there is a bee orchard nearby, it is even better for pollination.

Pest prevention at this stage:

Mango flower hopper: sucks flower sap, causing flower drop. Spray *Buprofezin* or *Pymetrozine* when seen.
Flower anthracnose: black fungus on flowers. Spray *Mancozeb* or *Difenoconazole* in the room before rain.
Thrips: causes the ends of flower chains. Spray *Spinetoram* if density is high.

Stage 4 — Fruit raising (2-3 months)

After the fruit sets successfully, it lasts until harvest.

Pruning young fruit:

When the fruit is the size of a quail egg, prune the deformed, small fruit in the cluster.
Target: 1 fruit for each cluster or cluster apart.

Fertilizing for fruits:

30-45 days after fruit set: *N-P-K* 12-12-17 + TE: 0.4-0.6 kilograms per tree.
Spray leaves with Calcium-Boron 1-2 times every 14 days — increase skin hardness, reduce fruit cracking.
Spray leaves 1 percent KNO3 once 30 days after fruit set.

Left envelope:

When the fruit is the size of a chicken egg (50-70 days after fruit set), wrap the fruit with specialized paper or mesh fabric bag.
Effective 85-95 percent against yellow fruit flies.
Cost 500-1,500 VND per bag — worth the investment for mangoes that sell at good prices.

Monitoring fruit farming pests:

Fruit borers — check the percentage of fruit with holes. Over 5 percent is local spraying.
Anthracnose on fruit — spray before long rain.

Manage two cases in a year

Mangoes in the Mekong Delta can have 2 crops:

Main event (Lunar New Year)

Flowering: August-September.
Blooming: October-November.
Harvest: December to February.
Good price due to high Tet demand.

Side crop (summer)

Flowering: December-January (if main crop fails).
Blooming: February-March.
Harvest: May-June.
Price is lower than Tet season.

Do not force both crops consecutively with high intensity — the plant will be exhausted. Best: concentrated main crop, light secondary crop with 30-40 percent of main crop yield.

Follow all year round

[ ] Leaf condition — dark green, completely old or not.
[ ] Pests on young buds, especially flower hoppers before flowering season.
[ ] Measure soil moisture weekly.
[ ] Number of leaves appearing per year — normally 3-4 waves.
[ ] Productivity of each crop and total year.

Common mistakes

Stimulating flowers when the leaves are not yet old: the plant does not react. Or flower with buds, no yield.

**Using *Paclobutrazol* continuously for 3-4 years**: accumulation, dwarfing plants, reduced productivity. Take 1 year off after 2 years of use.

Pruning branches too hard after harvest: plant shock, poor flower buds in the next crop.

High nitrogen fertilization during fruit growing period: trees push out young buds, fruits fall.

Unpacking the fruit: yellow flies destroy 30-60 percent of the yield.

Take notes

Flower stimulation schedule and method.
Number of flowering sessions and productivity of each batch.
Spray fertilizer supplies during the year.
Proportion of fruits with pests and diseases.

References

*Technical process of mango farming* — Southern Fruit Institute, 2023.
*Mango production for export* — Department of Crop Production, 2022.