Welcome to the first post on the Merritt Island Mangoes blog. I'm Chris Haynes. I grow about 29 mango varieties on my own trees here on Merritt Island, Florida, and I ship them tree-ripened to the lower 48. People ask me all the time how mangoes this good come from a place this far north of Miami. The short answer is location. The long answer is this post.
A Barrier Island Between Two Bodies of Water
Merritt Island sits between the Indian River Lagoon to the west and the Banana River to the east. Neither one is really a river. Both are part of the Indian River Lagoon system, a brackish estuary of roughly 156 miles that is often called one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America.
All that water around us matters more than anything else. Water holds heat, so on cold winter nights the lagoon and the river release warmth into the air and keep the island milder than the mainland. Sally Scalera, an urban horticulture agent with UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County, explained it to Florida Today like this: "The mainland area gets colder, but the Indian River and the Banana River buffer the temperatures in mid- to south Merritt Island." Local growers say the narrow stretch along South Tropical Trail can run several degrees warmer than other parts of the county. A few degrees doesn't sound like much until you're watching the thermometer on a January night.
Growing at the Northern Edge of Mango Country
Mangoes are tropical trees, and they don't put up with cold. According to the University of Florida's mango guide, mango trees "do not appear to acclimate to cold temperatures." Mature trees can be injured at around 25°F, and young trees can be killed at 29–30°F. The guide also says flowers and small fruit "may be damaged or killed if the temperature falls below 40°F for a few hours."
That's why UF/IFAS advises planting mangoes in Florida's warmest areas. Commercial production is mostly in Miami-Dade, Lee, and Palm Beach counties. The same guide also says that "mango trees are grown in protected locations as far north as Merritt Island." So we're right at the northern edge of where Florida mangoes can be grown, and the water around the island is what makes it possible.
I won't pretend we're immune to the weather. UF/IFAS points out that freezes "can and do still occur," even in Miami-Dade, and a cold night during bloom can cut the crop badly. Growing up here means watching forecasts closely every winter. Still, the island gives our trees a head start that most places this far north don't have.
Sandy, Well-Drained Soil
Mango trees can't stand wet feet. UF/IFAS notes that mangoes are adapted to many soils, and that in Florida, "trees growing in light sand and limestone soils produce satisfactory yields." They "will not perform well in poorly drained soils." The guide recommends picking the warmest spot that "does not flood (or remain wet) after typical summer rains."
Merritt Island's ground is sandy, and some growers credit the mix of sand and coquina shell under the island. Our heavy summer rains soak in and drain away instead of sitting around the roots. One longtime local grower told Florida Today, "The dirt on Merritt Island is phenomenal for growing tropical plants." To be fair, the county extension agent's view in the same article was that the soil alone isn't enough to grow great mangoes. You need the soil and the climate together, and here we have both.
A Dry Bloom Season, Then Summer Heat and Sun
In Florida, mangoes bloom from about December to April, depending on the variety and the weather. That timing works out well for us. Florida's rainy season falls in summer, so our winters and springs tend to be drier, and the bloom lands in that drier stretch. UF/IFAS says plainly that "dry weather preceding and during the blooming period is considered optimal for good fruit production." The other side of that is that anthracnose (a fungal disease that thrives in wet weather), powdery mildew, and cold during bloom are "the most limiting factors to mango production in Florida." A dry bloom season means less disease on the flowers and more fruit set.
Once the fruit sets, it takes about 100 to 150 days to mature, so Florida's main harvest runs roughly May through September. That's when our long, hot, sunny summer goes to work. UF/IFAS lists the best growing range for mango as 75–86°F and recommends full sun for best growth and fruiting. A Merritt Island summer delivers exactly that, day after day.
A Long Tradition of Growing Fruit Along the Indian River
I'm not the first person to figure out this island is special. The Indian River area has a long history of fruit growing, citrus most of all, and along the Space Coast many old citrus groves have since been replanted with mangoes. A 2005 profile in The Ledger described Merritt Island as "a climatological curiosity" where the surrounding waters create a climate "hospitable to mangoes, coconut palms and even gumbo-limbo trees." The same article tells how one local family moved from citrus to pineapples to avocados and finally to mangoes. Some of the old family groves on South Tropical Trail have been tended for generations. I grew up off North Tropical Trail, surrounded by old mango and fruit orchards, so I've been around these trees my whole life. I'm proud to be part of that tradition.
Why Tree-Ripened Matters
All of this climate advantage would be wasted if the fruit got picked hard and green and shipped across the country. I let my fruit mature on the tree and ship it to you from my own trees, so what reaches your kitchen tastes the way Merritt Island mangoes are supposed to taste.
FAQ
Can mangoes really grow this far north in Florida? Yes, in protected spots. UF/IFAS says mangoes are grown in protected locations as far north as Merritt Island, thanks largely to the warming effect of the Indian River Lagoon and the Banana River.
When is mango season on Merritt Island? In Florida, mangoes bloom from about December to April and ripen 100 to 150 days later, so most fruit comes in from late spring through summer. Exact timing depends on the variety and the year's weather.
Does cold weather ever hurt the crop? It can. Temperatures below 40°F during bloom can damage flowers and small fruit, and hard freezes can injure the trees. The water around the island helps a lot, but it isn't a guarantee, and that's why every season's crop is a little different.
Taste the Island
If you've only had grocery-store mangoes, I'd love for you to try one ripened on a Merritt Island tree. Visit merrittislandmangoes.com to shop what's in season or pre-order from this year's harvest. We ship anywhere in the lower 48.
— Chris Haynes, Merritt Island Mangoes
Sources
- UF/IFAS Extension, "Mango Growing in the Florida Home Landscape" (HS2/MG216): https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG216
- UF/IFAS Extension, "Quick Guide to Environmental Factors Impacting Subtropical and Tropical Fruit Crops in Florida" (HS1499): https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1499
- UF/IFAS EDIS, "Florida Crop/Pest Management Profile: Mango": https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/download/130329/133044
- Florida Today, "Secret's out about Merritt Island mangoes; fans travel to get them" (July 2023): https://www.floridatoday.com/story/entertainment/dining/2023/07/16/secrets-out-about-merritt-island-mangoes-fans-travel-to-get-them/70392652007/
- The Ledger, "Merritt Island Mangoes Take You to Tropics" (July 2005): https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2005/07/17/merritt-island-mangoes-take-you-to-tropics/26165566007/