When to Plant Mango in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide

Not recommended for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone. The window below explains why.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Mango guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Mango

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The king of tropical fruits. Large evergreen tree that is strictly tropical to subtropical in Australia. Needs dry winters for flowering and fruit set. Wet conditions during flowering cause anthracnose and poor pollination. Grafted trees fruit in 3-5 years; seedlings take 6-10+ years and may not produce quality fruit. Polyembryonic varieties (Kensington Pride, R2E2, Nam Doc Mai) produce true-to-type seedlings, but grafted trees on vigorous rootstock are still preferred for earlier and more reliable production.

Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid

Mango is not recommended for Arid / Semi-Arid.

Only in frost-free arid zones (e.g., Carnarvon WA). Not Alice Springs (too cold in winter).

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How to Grow Mango in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia

When to Plant

Only in frost-free arid zones (e.g., Carnarvon WA). Not Alice Springs (too cold in winter).

Soil
Deep, well-drained soil. Tolerates poor soils but performs best in fertile loam. Cannot tolerate waterlogging.
pH Range
5.5-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun, maximum heat. Warm north-facing position essential in southern limit of range.

Companion plants: Tropical ground covers, Sweet potato

Avoid planting near: Buildings (large root system), Other mangoes too close (fungal spread)

Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Mango

Recommended Varieties

  • Kensington Pride
  • R2E2

Key Challenges

  • Frost in inland areas
  • Water requirements
  • Heat stress

Pro Tips

  • Carnarvon WA is a commercial mango region, hot, dry, frost-free.
  • Most inland arid areas are too cold in winter.
  • Irrigation essential.

Harvesting Mango

When ready: Skin colour changes (variety-specific: KP turns yellow-orange with red blush, R2E2 turns red-yellow). Stem end becomes slightly rounded. Aroma develops. Fruit gives slightly when gently squeezed. Can harvest at 'hard ripe' (full colour but firm) and ripen at room temperature.

How to harvest: Cut stem with secateurs leaving 2-3cm stub (sap squirts and burns skin). Place stem-down on newspaper for 24 hours to drain sap. WEAR GLOVES - mango sap causes dermatitis.

Where to next

What mango costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the arid and semi-arid zone this September: Ginger, Chilli Peppers, Lemongrass and Beetroot.

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Common Questions About Mango

When do you plant mango in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.