I honestly didn't believe the particular hype until I tasted a fruit from a lemon meringue mango tree for the first time. It's one of those varieties that completely shifts your perspective about what a mango can be, especially if you're utilized to the stringy, somewhat bland versions you discover at the local supermarket. When you've ever desired a fruit tree that seems like the cheat code for your backyard, this really is probably the 1.
People contact it the "Lemon Meringue" for any reason. Its actual title is the Po Pyu Kalay , received from Myanmar, but the particular Western nickname trapped since the flavor user profile is really distinct. It doesn't just taste like "mango"; this has this sharp, citrusy zing that will balances out your sweetness, making it taste remarkably like a lemon tart or even a creamy custard.
Why This particular Tree Is really a Sport Changer
In the event that you're tight on space, the lemon meringue mango tree will probably be your own new best buddy. It's often grouped like a "condo mango, " which fundamentally means it's normally inclined to stay a bit smaller sized and more manageable than the giants a person see in tropical orchards. It is possible to keep these things in a large pot for some time, or at minimum keep them pruned to a height to don't require a twenty-foot step ladder to harvest your lunch.
The growth habit is definitely pretty upright, and it fills out nicely using these deep natural, lance-shaped leaves. It's a beautiful tree actually when it isn't dripping with fruit, but let's be real—we're here for the particular fruit. The mangoes themselves are rectangular, thin, and turn a beautiful canary yellow when they're ready to move.
The Taste Profile Is Out of This World
I've had a lot of mangoes, but the texture here is what really seals the offer. You know that annoying fiber that gets stuck in your teeth whenever you eat a standard mango? You won't find that will here. The flesh is silky soft, almost like a strong jelly or a thick custard.
When you bite in it, a person get that strike of classic mango sweetness, but after that the "lemon" component kicks in. It's a spicy, citrusy tang that cuts with the sugar. It's refreshing in a way that many tropical fruits aren't. Because the skin will be so thin, a person have to end up being a little careful when handling them, but that's a little price to spend for such high-quality fruit.
Whenever to Harvest
One thing I've noticed with the lemon meringue mango tree is definitely that the fruit doesn't necessarily scream "I'm ripe! " by turning shiny red. They remain fairly yellow. The best way to tell is from the smell and the particular feel. If you give it the gentle squeeze and there's a little bit of give—and this smells like the tropical bakery—it's period.
If you pick them a tiny bit early, these people still ripen up beautifully on the counter. In reality, some people prefer them just a hair under-ripe since the lemon information are much more obvious then.
Planting and Setting up the Foundation
When you're prepared to put your lemon meringue mango tree in the particular ground, you need to pick the sunniest spot a person have. These guys are sun-worshippers. In case you tuck all of them away in the particular shade of the larger oak or your house, you're going to get a great deal of leaves but very little fruits.
Ground and Drainage
Don't just dig a hole plus toss it in. Mangoes, in general, hate "wet feet. " If the particular roots sit in soggy soil regarding too long, the tree is heading to struggle. I always recommend growing on a minor mound if your own yard has a tendency to keep water following a rainstorm. Use a mix of indigenous soil and several well-draining organic matter, yet don't go as well crazy with the fertilizer right at the start. You want the particular roots to move looking for nutrition, not get pampered and lazy within a hole full of store-bought potting mix.
Watering Needs
Throughout the first year, you need to be consistent. It's seeking to establish itself, therefore give it the good soak once or twice a week depending on just how hot it is. Once the tree is established, though, it's amazingly drought-tolerant. In fact, many growers say that some "stress" (less water) throughout the winter several weeks actually helps bring about a better bloom in the spring.
Keeping the Tree Under Control
Pruning is where most backyard landscapers get nervous, but with a lemon meringue mango tree , it's actually pretty straightforward. Because it has that upright growth habit, it could get "leggy" if you just let it do its thing. I love to tip the divisions when the tree is young to encourage it in order to branch out instead than just up.
Each year right after the harvest, I actually give mine just a little haircut. You would like to open up the particular center of the particular tree to allow light and surroundings circulate. This doesn't just keep the particular tree in a workable size; it also assists prevent some associated with the fungal issues that can plague mangoes in humid climates.
Dealing With Pests and Condition
One of the reasons this variety is so popular in locations like Florida plus the Caribbean is definitely its resistance to anthracnose. If you've ever seen those black, sunken spots upon mangoes that make all of them rot before they're even ripe, that's usually anthracnose. Luckily, the lemon meringue mango tree handles it much better than many other varieties.
That doesn't mean it's invincible, even though. Keep an eyesight out for level or thrips. Generally, a quick spray with some neem oil or just a strong great time from the garden hose may take care of minor infestations. The biggest "pest" I deal along with? Squirrels. Once they recognize how good these types of mangoes are, you'll have to be quick towards the harvesting or consider several netting.
Exactly why You Should Think about One
If you're on the fence about which usually mango variety to plant, think about what you actually want to eat. If you want something that feels more like the gourmet dessert than a standard fruit, this is it. It's a reliable producer, it doesn't take over your entire yard, plus the fruit is definitely consistently ranked among the best-tasting varieties on earth.
There's also something incredibly rewarding about walking out there into your back garden and picking a fruit which you actually cannot buy within a store. A person won't find Lemon Meringue mangoes at the supermarket because their thin skin causes them to be hard to deliver commercially. Growing your own lemon meringue mango tree is the only way most associated with us reach encounter this specific taste.
A Few Final Tips intended for Success
- Mulching: Put down the thick layer associated with wood chips or even mulch around the particular base of the tree, but maintain it a few inches away through the trunk itself. This helps hold moisture and retains the weeds down.
- Cold Protection: If you live in a location exactly where it occasionally dips below freezing, you'll need to protect your tree. Given that it's a smaller variety, it's very much easier to throw a frost blanket over it than it would be with the massive shade tree.
- Endurance: Don't let the tree hold too very much fruit in the particular first year or two. It's hard to pull those tiny mangoes off, but you want the tree to place its power into growing strong branches first.
It could take a few of seasons to really get going, but every lemon meringue mango tree starts producing, you'll become the most well-known person within your community. Just be prepared to share—once people flavor these, they'll become asking for "the lemon ones" every single single summer. It's a rewarding, delicious project that pays off in the particular sweetest (and tartest) possible way.