Growing Mangoes in pots around Austin, Central Texas, and the Texas Hill Country

After many unsuccessful attempts of growing mango trees in my Zone 8b garden, in ground, around Austin, Central Texas, and the Texas Hill Country, I decided to try to grow them in pots. My tropical fruit tree growing father, who’s tropical trees grow in ground in zone 9a, has been very successful with growing mango trees that produce a bounty of fruit, He wisely advised me to start growing my special tropical trees in pots. So before a frost came into my area for the last 2 winters, I’ve brought my mango tree inside my home. I put the mango tree in my dining room which gets adequate sunlight and warmth. After the threat of frost subsided I brought it back into the garden. I followed his advice.

After two year, following the purchase of my grafted glen mango tree, after placing it inside my home for 2 winters, potting it up 2 times using my homemade compost with worm castings, I am happy to say my tree began to produce fruit.

Once your mango tree first begins to produce fruit you may be tempted to keep all the fruit. I was cautioned not to keep all the fruit because it takes the energy the trees needs for growth and puts it into fruit production. The most important thing to remember is that if your young tree cannot handle the weight of the fruit it can ultimately snap it in two. So for my first year of fruiting I selected the best fruit after the tree dropped some of the fruit it produced. Once the tiny sized mangoes increased in size I selected the best fruit and kept the best one.