Mango 'Ox Heart' fruit from Gordon Tate's tree - the parent of the tree at LCG (photo credit: Grant Jenkins)
Mango 'Ox Heart'
Mangifera indica
Anacardiaceae family
Grafted
'Ox Heart' variety bred and named by Gordon Tate: 'Bullocks Heart' crossed with unknown variety
The 'Ox Heart' Mango is a large round Mango (up to 1kg), yellow-skinned when ripe. The Orange flesh has a classic Mango flavour. Harvest from approximately January to March.
The Mangifera genus contains about 70 species and there is considerable diversity within M. indica. It has been cultivated by humans for over 4,000 years. In general Mangos are delicious eaten fresh, but can also be cooked, dried, preserved, frozen or powdered and used in beverages, ice cream, yoghurt, jellies etc. They contain 13-20% carbohydrates and are an excellent source of vitamin A.
Tree Provenance
Grant Jenkins obtained the scion wood (small branch/twig from a mature tree) from Gordon Tate, and grafted it onto a seedling rootstock (grafted 2021). Gordon is a Mango enthusiast who has bred and named many varieties on his property outside Bundaberg, QLD. The 'Ox Heart' has 'Bullocks Heart' parentage, crossed with an unknown variety.
Lennox Community Gardens is proud to be able to preserve Gordon's work by growing some of his special Mango varieties (also see our 'Titan' Mango tree).
Tree Maintenance
Mangifera indica
Anacardiaceae family
Grafted
'Ox Heart' variety bred and named by Gordon Tate: 'Bullocks Heart' crossed with unknown variety
The 'Ox Heart' Mango is a large round Mango (up to 1kg), yellow-skinned when ripe. The Orange flesh has a classic Mango flavour. Harvest from approximately January to March.
The Mangifera genus contains about 70 species and there is considerable diversity within M. indica. It has been cultivated by humans for over 4,000 years. In general Mangos are delicious eaten fresh, but can also be cooked, dried, preserved, frozen or powdered and used in beverages, ice cream, yoghurt, jellies etc. They contain 13-20% carbohydrates and are an excellent source of vitamin A.
Tree Provenance
Grant Jenkins obtained the scion wood (small branch/twig from a mature tree) from Gordon Tate, and grafted it onto a seedling rootstock (grafted 2021). Gordon is a Mango enthusiast who has bred and named many varieties on his property outside Bundaberg, QLD. The 'Ox Heart' has 'Bullocks Heart' parentage, crossed with an unknown variety.
Lennox Community Gardens is proud to be able to preserve Gordon's work by growing some of his special Mango varieties (also see our 'Titan' Mango tree).
Tree Maintenance
- When mature prune immediately after harvest to contain the tree size and maintain production. Also remove dead, damaged or diseased branches and open the centre of the tree for air flow
- Apply Sulphate of Potash to encourage healthy stem and leaf growth, as well as promote flowering and fruiting. Do not apply any nitrogen rich fertilisers to mature mango trees. Apply late summer and late autumn.
- Mangoes will do well with a feed of seaweed solution especially during the warmer months.
- Keep soil well composted and mulched, leaving a gap around the trunk to avoid collar rot.
- When young, keep watered from spring to autumn; as a rule once mature the tree will not require much watering unless it is a particularly dry period, with the following notes: Adequate water is crucial during the early stage of fruit set. Once fruit reach 6-10cm in length this is less critical and minimal water is ideal as fruit approach maturity so they can sweeten up.
- To increase fruit set, spray with wettable sulphur when blooms develop to help keep powdery mildew in check. This should be done as per manufacturer's instructions up until fruit is set.
- Spray with Copper late autumn and after fruit set. Spray both sides of leaves but try to minimise copper dripping onto soil as too much will impact soil microbes. Copper helps reduce Mango Bacterial Black Spot (MBBS) and Anthracnose which mangoes are particularly susceptible to.
Mango 'Ox Heart' at LCG December 2024 (photo credit: Jacqui Lachmann)
Mango 'Ox Heart' at LCG March 2023 (Photo credit: Graham Bond)
