stanofh, you lucky person! My manila died and I only got to eat one mango. I am going to buy another one in the future.

Eloise- the first two winters..they really need protection from 32f. After that? they change...everything is stronger. Plus,in ground.

I have had two Manila's do fine. One I lost in the 2007 freeze - my fault really. I should have protected it. And later.. I think a gopher got that second one.

I do have an Aultalfo grown from seed going in the ground- 1st year in ground. SO far so good-ha..

Here's another photo,not as nice but it shows the lower part that was "Potted tree" type growth. Twiggy thin branches. Above that is the "adult growth" thicker branches,wider spacing of nodes.

They love fertilizer,don't let them starve. You want fast growth and hardy growth to take winters better.

In 2014 it was about 3' tall..now 7' and about 5' wide. Still with plenty of growing season left.

stanofh, I didn't take very good care of my mango, and it was in a pot because I didn't want to take a chance with gophers. I sprouted a couple of seeds from mangoes from Costco. Didn't think to look at the label in case the name was there, but they were big, very sweet and almost fiberless. Do seed-grown mangoes need to be grafted to produce fruit quicker?

Not Eloise if they are the yellow small type or Manila. But if any other- yes. Still,In the long run with seedlings? The fact they will grow and grow for years before they fruit means you get a bigger tree faster. Its said that virtually all the huge (by California standards) Mango tree's in soucal are seed grown. The nursery types are the ones that sometimes cause problems because they bloom the same year you plant..and stop growing...that makes for a weak tree going into winter. But- they all are sweet and of various flavors. Carrie,Zill are rated high,Coco Cream. And Baileys Marvel of course-ha.

You can always try planting several seedlings...weed out the slow growers. Plant the one that laughs at winter and grows fast. Then ..try you're hand at grafting. OR, have the many Mango hobbyist down there do it for you in return for a nice lunch on a summers day!

Hi guys, we don't have gophers where I live, so I can't speak from experience, but there's a guy that I follow online (where I get my dragon fruit advice from) who had managed to keep the gophers away. Link is below

http://tastylandscape.com/2013/06/09/how-to-build-a-gopher-cage/

Thanks for the info stanofh. Too bad on seed-grown mangos. This was a large fruit so if the seeds grow, I probably won't get fruit in my life-time.