What is it with the locals and mango trees?

[Spitfire]

Have to say that this is one I'm not sure about here. In my estate, there is probably a 70% consistancy planting rate of mango trees in Thai owned gardens even if the house is only on 65 talang wah.

My next door neighbour has two of the damned things and he is on a 62 tw plot. At some point he's going to have to chop one down as these trees don't stop growing and end up huge (rather like the palm trees).

And it can't be because they like free fruit as it costs sweet FA to buy mango, the Mrs went to the market today and bought 5 big mango for 15 baht and the woman said she had to sell it so cheap because everyone with a mango tree in their garden is sprouting fruit at the same time so there's little profit and you have to pretty much give it away to shift it.

Even out of season it costs almost nothing.

The other thing with bloody mango trees is that they rain down that sticky residue that makes a freaking mess of everything it touches from cars to houses to whatever.

It almost seems like a default sheepy thing to plant in your garden these days.

[GLCQuantum]

And it can't be because they like free fruit

I beg to differ . In my first rented abode (small place) there were a couple of mango tree's out front. I just had to clear up the ones that fell off for a while basically, (a little inconvenience but hey) ... until I had a BBQ!

You should have seen 'em!

One friend asks if he could get some of the mangoes. Within minutes of a "if you can get up there you can 'ave all of them", I had numerous guys climbing up the trees, no ladder needed of course, taking all and sundry.

This developed into a frequent encouter. It was a win-win for me. I didn't have to clear up rotting mangoes and friends got some free ones.

[Spitfire]

OK then, but that's lame man and you are definitely an optimist dude (GLC).

I suppose it's rhetorical to ask/suggest that any of them think about the problems these damned things make when they get bigger?

Talk about stingy....when the trees fruit (about now) most people have problems giving them away and when they aren't in season the still cost nothing from the local supermarket if you really want some.

I must say I'm not too keen on the 'raining down' sticky residue angle to be honest as it's nightmare to get the stuff off.

I suppose abstract thought would be asking for too much...obviously.

[richard]

Years ago I rented a property close to soi 51 and had a large mango tree

The wife at the time used to unload it at its peak and we distributed them to friends and the bars

When the tree got too big we pruned it as we did with our other tree sprouting giant Jack fruits

No probs for us

[Dannie Boy]

I don't know which market sells them for 15 baht a kilo - most of the ones we buy are at least 40 baht - ok so still not a big deal, but picking them fresh from your own tree can't be beat in terms of freshness and flavour. If you don't like them or don't want them, then simply don't plant them!!

[STEVE G]

And it can't be because they like free fruit as it costs sweet FA to buy mango,....

I think much of it is due to the fact that when many Thais were being brought up more than twenty years ago, things were much harder than they are now and they were constantly looking for food from the fields and forest and that is what they're used to. Thais have told me stories of their childhoods in Issan, having to go and look for breakfast every morning before going to school.

[crazy88]

Ermmm shade?

Much as the the trees in my garden in England provided as well as some crab apples and almonds and a bit of blossom blowing all over the place in spring. Mango is very cheap at the moment.

As for

"I must say I'm not too keen on the 'raining down' sticky residue angle to be honest as it's nightmare to get the stuff off ".

Best discussed on the "Nightcrawlers" section I think

Crazy 88

[PeteC]

With ours the sticky stuff is only once a year when the flowers are blooming. Once the fruit starts to appear at the end of the flower stem it seems to stop. Anyway, they make great shade trees once big, and a great place for your hammock. Pete

[margaretcarnes]

I've just got home from the usual Wednesday night out with friends in the UK - and with the usual early summer surplus rhubarb share out. Happens this time every year. Later it will be the surplus courgettes. It isn't only Thais who grow too much for their own use.
At least mango trees do have the shade factor. And to be honest I would rather have surplus mango any time rather than rhubarb and courgettes - at least they don't need to be cooked first!
But seriously I do think that mango is almost as much a staple in Thailand as rice and bananas. It can be eaten straight off the tree, cooked, or used in desserts. Same as bananas. Thai people should be admired for recognising the value of the stuff, and for their tradition of sharing surplus crops. What goes round comes round.

[kendo]

We have a mango tree in our garden in Surin, it is infested with those giant red ants that give you a really nasty bite that feels like a burn.

Nobody would clime this one, I wanted to give it the chop but the wife won't let me.

Kendo.

[hhfarang]

The first thing the missus did when we were planting our garden is put in four mango trees (one didn't make it). I didn't realize this at the time but there are several different types of Mango and she put in trees to bear this different fruit. One died and the other three are only about 2 meters tall and providing us with all the mangoes we can eat this time of year. It's kind of nice to be able to walk out into your garden and grab a nice fresh fruit when you are hungry for one. I know they get big, but they grow slow as ours have been in for six years and only doubled in size.

They are well away from the house or anything else but lawn so no problem with drippings. Off topic a bit but we also have a coconut tree that produces year round and I have come to love drinking fresh coconut water. Used to take it to the golf course in a thermos and it was more refreshing and healthier that Gatorade.

[Coldmike]

I like my mango tree. I only have one mature mango tree which provides great shade and a little fruit and the drippings don't bother me at all. We also have a jack fruit tree which is great, but if I'm gone for too long and fruit hangs for too long, it spoils and I have to discard it. Shame 'cuz I love it when its fresh.

[moja]

I would love to have a mango tree I can think of nothing better than walking into the garden and picking my own fruit; we have planted two different types and both have died! We will be trying again in the near future.

[STEVE G]

We have a mango tree in our garden in Surin, it is infested with those giant red ants that give you a really nasty bite that feels like a burn.

Nobody would clime this one, I wanted to give it the chop but the wife won't let me.

Kendo.

I know someone who would climb it! Those ants make a nest in a curled up leaf on mango trees and up in our bit of Issan they're a delicacy, you get the whole nest in a bag and pull it off the tree, take it home and make fish and ant soup out of it. It's actually not bad.

[Spitfire]

Yes Steve, but that's one fearless anti-social ant with a serious attitude which really doesn't take well to anything at all. I also believe the locals use the ant eggs for a dish too.