The Latest High-Yield Mangosteen Planting Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Mangosteen, also known as manggis, shanzhu, shanzhuzi, daonianzi, and fengguo. It can refer either to the mangosteen plant, a species in the genus Garcinia of the family Hypericaceae, or to the fruit of this plant, also called mangosteen. The mangosteen was originally named manggis and is native to Southeast Asia. It generally takes 10 years of cultivation before it begins to bear fruit, and it has very strict environmental requirements, so it is truly a green fruit. It is as famous as durian and is known as the “Queen of Fruits”.
Growth Habits
The seeds of the mangosteen reproduce parthenogenetically, so mangosteen propagation is asexual. Soil and water requirements: mangosteen has wide adaptability to soil, and mangosteen growing on trees requires good drainage conditions. Compared with clay, mangosteen prefers sandy loam rich in organic matter with a pH of 5—6.5. Mangosteen grows luxuriantly in tropical rainforests with an annual rainfall of 2000—2500mm. The best growing conditions are warm, humid areas without a rainy season. For pests and diseases, yellowing disease causes yellow exudate to flow from branches and trunks, and if the bark is damaged, the fruit becomes bitter. After mangosteen is planted, it begins to bear fruit in 7—12 years. Grafted trees bear fruit in 6 years.
The mangosteen has a lifespan of up to 70 years, but it grows slowly. From planting to fruiting takes seven to eight years, and the fruit ripening period is from May—October, with higher yields from August—October. The mangosteen tree reaches 10 m in height, with oblong leaves that are thick and leathery, with acuminate tips and entire margins; the flowers are about 5 cm in diameter, with 4 sepals and 4 fleshy pink petals; the fruit is spherical, 6—8 cm in diameter, with a dark purplish-red rind that is thick and tough and contains tannins, which can be used as medicine; at the fruit stalk there are 4 large, hard, inward-curling leathery sepals, and the top of the fruit has a star-shaped pattern with 4—8 segments.
The mangosteen tree can grow to 7-25 m tall, with a round or conical crown, dark brown bark, and yellow sap in the bark. It takes at least 5-6 years before it can bear fruit, while most require 8-10 years. The leaves are opposite, 8-15 cm long, evergreen and thick, with a glossy leathery texture. The flowers are 2.5-5 cm in diameter, either male or bisexual; bisexual flowers are borne at the tips of young short shoots, 1 or 2 of them. There are 4 sepals and 4 petals, fleshy yellow mixed with red and pale pink. A flower has many stamens and one pistil, with the stigma divided into 4-8 lobes.
After the mangosteen fruit matures, the fruit is spherical with a diameter of 4-8 cm and a smooth surface, with fleshy sepals and remnants of the stigma in the inner layer of the exocarp. The rind is very thick and extremely hard, requiring a knife to cut open. Its rind is dark purple or pink, very thick, and bitter, and is generally not eaten; the flesh is white and segmented, looking much like garlic cloves, and is edible, with a rich flavor, cool and sweet, with a soft and textured mouthfeel.
Mangosteen needs to grow in an environment above 4 °C, otherwise the plant cannot survive.
Planting Techniques
The seeds of the mangosteen reproduce parthenogenetically, so mangosteen propagation is asexual. Soil and water requirements: mangosteen has wide adaptability to soil and requires good drainage conditions. Compared with clay, mangosteen prefers sandy loam rich in organic matter with a pH of 5—6.5. Mangosteen grows luxuriantly in tropical rainforests with an annual rainfall of 2000—2500mm. The best growing conditions are warm, humid areas without a rainy season.
After mangosteen is harvested, it begins to bear fruit 7—12 years after planting. Grafted trees bear fruit in 6 years.
When the skin of the mangosteen begins to turn red, it indicates that it is beginning to ripen. When the skin turns from pink to black, it is the harvesting season. Yield: the yield per tree starts at 60 fruits and reaches 1800 fruits for trees over 22 years old.
For pests and diseases, yellowing disease causes yellow exudate to flow from branches and trunks, and if the bark is damaged, the fruit becomes bitter.