Have you ever wondered why mangoes flood the markets during certain months, and then suddenly disappear? It turns out that temperature plays a huge role in when and how mango trees bear fruit. But what if farmers could control the harvest time? That’s exactly what researchers in Situbondo, East Java, are working on!
The Science Behind Mango Growth
Most mango varieties, like the popular Arumanis 143, follow nature’s schedule—they flower and bear fruit once a year, typically between May and November. During this on-season, mangoes are abundant, but with so much supply, prices drop. To help farmers earn more and make mangoes available longer, researchers have found a way to grow mangoes during the off-season.
Their secret? Using Growing Degree Days (GDD). This method tracks how much heat a plant accumulates each day, providing a reliable way to predict when mango flowers, fruits, and harvests will occur.
Mango Harvests: A Matter of Degrees
Every plant has a “base temperature” below which it won’t grow. For mango trees, that temperature is 10°C. By adding up daily temperatures above this threshold, farmers can predict exactly when each phase of the plant’s development will happen.
Here’s what the researchers found:
- Mangoes begin flowering when the accumulated heat reaches 543°C.
- Fruit formation kicks in at 945°C.
- For harvest-ready fruit, it takes a whopping 2,942°C of accumulated heat!
Harvesting Mangoes Off-Season: Timing is Everything
By using GDD, the researchers simulated two mango-growing periods:
- On-season (May to November): Flowering starts around May, with fruits ready for harvest in October or November.
- Off-season (March to September): Mangoes can also be harvested during the off-season if trees are managed carefully, with harvests expected between August and September.
The off-season crops take 20-30 days longer to ripen than those grown during the regular season, since lower temperatures slow fruit development. But this slight delay means that farmers can sell their mangoes at higher prices when demand peaks.
A Game-Changer for Farmers and Consumers
This research is a win-win for everyone. Farmers benefit by spreading their harvests throughout the year, earning higher prices outside of peak seasons. Consumers enjoy fresh mangoes for longer periods, reducing the need for imports. And best of all, these techniques don’t require chemical growth regulators—making them more sustainable for the environment.
The Future of Mango Farming
Thanks to GDD technology, Indonesian mango farmers now have a roadmap to produce high-quality mangoes all year round. With better harvest planning and smarter cultivation practices, we can enjoy delicious, locally-grown mangoes no matter the season.
Pramudia, A., Affandi, & Marta, N. . (2024). Application of the concept of growing degree days to determine the optimal mango harvest schedule in Situbondo. Buitenzorg: Journal of Tropical Science, 1(1), 10–17. https://doi.org/10.70158/buitenzorg.v1i1.2