The Tropical Fruit Forum
Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: BluePalm on March 25, 2012, 09:43:43 PM
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Can anyone give me some feedback on the Duncan mango? I read some older posts on the web where it was referred to as a very good/excellent mango. Now, since we are all mango snobs here :) is the Duncan in the same category (give or take) as the Edward, Kent, Cushman, Dot, etc? Or would it be a second tier mango? Also, what are the growth habits of the tree (vigorous like the Bailey's Marvel/Valencia Pride, moderate like a Kent, or slower)? And how about disease resistance? I have read the informative Wikipedia article (thanks to Squam I believe)...but I wanted any personal experiences if available...especially regarding growth habits. Thanks in advance!
BluePalm
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One of the original 'Duncan" trees. Hasn't been pruned except by a few storms. 45 plus years old. Excellent fruit, I would rank it right up there with an 'Edward'. Very resistant to anthracnose, good producer.
(http://s18.postimage.org/7sipok29x/MG_7329.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/7sipok29x/)
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Duncan's flavor to me is like a sort of 'milder' Edward, with some other delicate notes it probably inherited from the Pico cross.. It is quite good. I would not place it in the level of Cushman or Dot strictly in terms of flavor but it certainly ranks well. The best quality of Duncan is the sum of all its qualities really; its a medium sized grower, only moderately or semi-vigorous and can be controlled relatively easily (think 'Glenn' in that regard). Its production habits are very good and it has great fungus resistance. Another mango that should have been propagated more than it has been.
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I would say the production is excellent, better than Edward or Cushman, and fungus resistance is excellent. I feel the flavor is outstanding and much better than Kent, better than Cushman (I have found Cushman to be a little inconsistent), and every bit as equal to Edward or Dot (though the flavor profile is different than Edward or Dot so it is unfair to truly compare as it is a subjective thing at that point). While if left unpruned to grow naturally, the tree will get large like most mangoes. However, if maintained on a good pruning schedule, the tree can be kept quite manageable within the Richard Campbell/Fairchild system.
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I pretty much agree with everything Squam has written. Looking into the Fairchild mango "bible" it is rated Good to Excellent on the Excellent, Good Fair, Poor scale. They say it is of unknown parentage with Saigon being one of its parents. The tree was supposedly patented by David Sturrock of West Palm Beach. I know Squam's research has some different info on the lineage of this cultivar. In any case, this is a fiberless, orange fleshed fruit with nice flavor. In my expereince it can be near the top of the tasting table ratings, but is rarely the blue ribbon winner as against some of the top of the top fruits. It is overall, very worthwhile growing. I have it....but did not purchase it. I won it at a Fairchild Mango Festival in a raffle. My tree was severely broken down by Hurricane Wilma, down to a 4 foot stump with no branches. It took two years to start producing again, but has produced reliably ever since. The crops are heavy and generally run from July into early August in a later flowering year. The tree is a moderate grower but can easily be controlled with pruning.
Harry
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One of the original 'Duncan" trees. Hasn't been pruned except by a few storms. 45 plus years old. Excellent fruit, I would rank it right up there with an 'Edward'. Very resistant to anthracnose, good producer.
(http://s18.postimage.org/7sipok29x/MG_7329.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/7sipok29x/)
When you first joined the forum I was tempted to ask if you knew that you were named after two mango cultivars. So, if Duncan were not a fine mango, would we be calling you Cogshall Young, or Rosigold? Or ?
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I would rate Duncan as an excellent tasting mango that produces generous crops with no spraying. One of my relatives has a 6 yr old (15 ft tall) tree that has produced at least 75 fruits every year for the past 3 years. The only quirk I noticed is that it has thin "leggy" branches that need to be tied or propped up when they overload with fruit. Highly recommended and it's a "semi- dwarf condo" mango regarding growth. At least this one is.
(http://s17.postimage.org/i5nr1wozv/Duncan.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/i5nr1wozv/)
(http://s15.postimage.org/gk07lcxvb/Animal_Kingdom2010_098.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/gk07lcxvb/)
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LOL, I wasn't named after two mango cultivars, I chose that forum name after PIN dissed my granddad's work and came up with their tall tale.
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LOL, I wasn't named after two mango cultivars, I chose that forum name after PIN dissed my granddad's work and came up with their tall tale.
Your grandfather started the Young and Duncan mango cultivars?
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LOL, I wasn't named after two mango cultivars, I chose that forum name after PIN dissed my granddad's work and came up with their tall tale.
Your grandfather started the Young and Duncan mango cultivars?
David Sturrock initially planted the seed that became the Duncan. It was named after Ralph Duncan.
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LOL, I wasn't named after two mango cultivars, I chose that forum name after PIN dissed my granddad's work and came up with their tall tale.
Your grandfather started the Young and Duncan mango cultivars?
David Sturrock initially planted the seed that became the Duncan. It was named after Ralph Duncan.
Cool. :)
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Thanks for the feedback everybody! I love this site. I bought 2 Duncan trees today (1 for me, 1 for my dad), and I also purchased another Spirit of '76! The Duncan sounds great. I can't wait to try it.
Best regards,
BluePalm
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Thanks for the feedback everybody! I love this site. I bought 2 Duncan trees today (1 for me, 1 for my dad), and I also purchased another Spirit of '76! The Duncan sounds great. I can't wait to try it.
Best regards,
BluePalm
Not sure how much of a drive for you to go to Lake Worth but start checking with Excalibur in mid to late May for Duncan mango, the fruit, available for sale. If I remember, I will let you know when I see it.
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Yes, my granddad patented both the 'young' and 'duncan'.
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My dad got the Duncan in the ground today at his house. I can't wait to try it...the reviews were great!
(http://s16.postimage.org/xxpdtxw7l/Duncan.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/xxpdtxw7l/)
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My dad got the Duncan in the ground today at his house. I can't wait to try it...the reviews were great!
(http://s16.postimage.org/xxpdtxw7l/Duncan.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/xxpdtxw7l/)
I would remove some of that mulch from around the trunk and crown roots.
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Nice looking tree! It will be well worth your efforts!
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My dad got the Duncan in the ground today at his house. I can't wait to try it...the reviews were great!
(http://s16.postimage.org/xxpdtxw7l/Duncan.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/xxpdtxw7l/)
You have a beautiful backyard- :)
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The mulch around the tree trunk and roots in a 3' radius is extremely thin (for aesthetics). You can see that it is already dry in the picture. Thanks though...
BluePalm
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The mulch around the tree trunk and roots in a 3' radius is extremely thin (for aesthetics). You can see that it is already dry in the picture. Thanks though...
BluePalm
For aesthetics or not, it is still enough to cause breathing issues for the crown. and trunk. Just trying to give some good advice.
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Picked 2 Duncans off the tree. This is a fantastic mango, and a top 5-7 in my book. In fact, my father and I chainsawed down a 10' Nam Doc Mai to make room for an 8' Duncan today. The Nam Doc Mai is nothing too special in our book; the fruit tastes like honey; nothing complex. We are out of room so any average mangos get the heave ho!
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oops. I hope that wasn't a mistake. The nam doc mai is an incredible mango. It has tres caras or 3 faces.
- Fully ripe (I call it overripe): If you eat NDM at this stage, it's super sweet, but boring -- like sugar water
- Just a hair underripe (still slightly hard and green): At this stage, the NDM is a wonderful mix of sweet and tart with a really nice texture
- Sazon / Mature green: At this stage, the NDM is incredible -- like a granny smith apple rolled in honey
North American palate probably prefers the latter two stages. Latin American palate may prefer fully ripe stage. Dr Richard Campbell eats them at the 'sazon' or mature green stage.
I've found that one of the most important aspects to appreciating a mango is to know 'when' to eat it.
Picked 2 Duncans off the tree. This is a fantastic mango, and a top 5-7 in my book. In fact, my father and I chainsawed down a 10' Nam Doc Mai to make room for an 8' Duncan today. The Nam Doc Mai is nothing too special in our book; the fruit tastes like honey; nothing complex. We are out of room so any average mangos get the heave ho!
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I assure you it is not a mistake. We are not mango rookies. ;) In fact, we are mango snobs. We wear monocles when we inspect our trees and instruct our butler to pick only the finest fruit.
In all seriousness though I've had NDM's from several trees and think it is a good mango...not just the drop-dead hype-mango that it's been built up to be. It tastes like...honey. I want something more complex. I'm not a green-mango guy anyway so no big loss there. I can understand the tree being more special to someone with a differing palate than mine though. Too late now though it is ggggggone!
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hahaha I agree with you on the NDM when fully ripe -- sweet and boring. But there is a point just before that where the mango is astoundingly delicious with a richer flavor.
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The one Duncan I tried had nice, smooth flesh and a pleasing flavor for the most part... but it also had a distinctly bitter taste near the peel that kind of ruined it for me.
Is this a general characteristic of this variety... or a fluke?
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The one Duncan I tried had nice, smooth flesh and a pleasing flavor for the most part... but it also had a distinctly bitter taste near the peel that kind of ruined it for me.
Is this a general characteristic of this variety... or a fluke?
Not in all years. However, in some years mine have had that bitter after taste as well. It is still a mystery as to why it happens when it does. My present thinking is that it has this reaction to some minerals in the soil.
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Thats been my experience with the Duncan too. Its highly variable. Some are great, others are bland and bitter near the skin.
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Had a chance to take a picture of a Duncan growing in Bani, D. R. one of the more productive trees in the collection. this tree is about 6 years old.
It has been said that Edward, is not that bad a producer, if a "Banilejo" tree is near by, seems it helps pollinate the Edward.
(http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff510/William_Crowley/DSCN0957_zps46fb7170.jpg) (http://s1239.photobucket.com/user/William_Crowley/media/DSCN0957_zps46fb7170.jpg.html)
(http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff510/William_Crowley/DSCN0958_zps4b2fec87.jpg) (http://s1239.photobucket.com/user/William_Crowley/media/DSCN0958_zps4b2fec87.jpg.html)
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Hope that you are on to something about the "Banilejo" tree! Great looking Duncan, one of favorites ;)
Thanks for sharing!
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Oh Man That Duncan is nice n Compact loaded with Fruit !..
Would a 7 Gal Duncan be ready to bare Fruit ?
Gotts To Call Adam !,...
Ed..
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For me, Duncan is not up there with the great mangoes. Definitely a second or 3rd tier mango.
I wouldn't touch a mango if I could get hold of any of about 20 different top tier mangoes.
That said if I found a duncan in my bed in Winter, I wouldn't kick it out of bed.
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Hey Lycheeluva, NICE to see you back :)...My Mauritius lychee is doing great...about 100+ fruits this year 8)
That's a great looking tree!! Never tasted a Duncan yet...
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The mango serial killer is on the hunt again...
Oh Man That Duncan is nice n Compact loaded with Fruit !..
Would a 7 Gal Duncan be ready to bare Fruit ?
Gotts To Call Adam !,...
Ed..
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Oh Man That Duncan is nice n Compact loaded with Fruit !..
Would a 7 Gal Duncan be ready to bare Fruit ?
Gotts To Call Adam !,...
Ed..
While I mean no disrespect to the Sturrock family, I would taste a Duncan, especially next to other fresh local grown varieties, if I were you before purchasing. As Jerry said, it is not in the upper class of mangoes to most people. It can have a very strong, somewhat offensive to some, taste near the skin (way different than a Carrie) and its overall flavor is just average in my book. If you had acre(s) to plant every variety than it would be no big deal however with limited space, there are MANY MANY that are more desirable.
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Well actually, Ed gets plenty of free space every spring thaw. ;D
Oh Man That Duncan is nice n Compact loaded with Fruit !..
Would a 7 Gal Duncan be ready to bare Fruit ?
Gotts To Call Adam !,...
Ed..
While I mean no disrespect to the Sturrock family, I would taste a Duncan, especially next to other fresh local grown varieties, if I were you before purchasing. As Jerry said, it is not in the upper class of mangoes to most people. It can have a very strong, somewhat offensive to some, taste near the skin (way different than a Carrie) and its overall flavor is just average in my book. If you had acre(s) to plant every variety than it would be no big deal however with limited space, there are MANY MANY that are more desirable.
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Just Ordered one Duncan , I will pick it up Saturday , Along with a 7 Gal Monroe & 2 Dwarf Royal Poinciana Trees.
I think I pulled the trigger too fast on The Duncan , Before Rob Chimed in ;)..
I will plant it at my aunts property , she has close to 2 acres..
JF, Last winter I only lost 1 Mango & 2 Guanabana Trees, Everything Else is Alive ! ;).,
I am on a mission from God ! ;)...
Ed..
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With the dwarf poinciana, are you talking about Caesalpinia pulcherrima? If so, it will be more of a shrub in your climate and be pretty barren looking in the normal winter and may die back to the graound in a bad year without protection.
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Rob That's The One, I read somewhere that it can take down to the teens, I will not be getting them if that's not the case!.
Thanks Rob !..
P.s I will give the Duncan Mango to my Aunt, I saw that FF had a nice 3 Gal Peach Cobbler, I think you rated that tree as excellent fruit according to the Mother tree, I'll pick that one up for me instead ;).
Thanks again Ed..
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Hey Ed, I have lots of Duncan fruit for sale if you're interested in trying it.
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Do You Ship ?
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Do You Ship ?
Yes I do. Message if interested.
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Just Ordered one Duncan , I will pick it up Saturday , Along with a 7 Gal Monroe & 2 Dwarf Royal Poinciana Trees.
I think I pulled the trigger too fast on The Duncan , Before Rob Chimed in ;)..
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=1135.msg14724#msg14724 (http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=1135.msg14724#msg14724)
I agree Duncan is definitely a top tier mango in all aspects. In my opinion, it is one of, if not the best, "old school" varieties. I always try and recommend that variety when people ask for ideas/recommendations that fall into that variety.
Now, I am not sure I would truly call it a dwarf. On the smaller side, yes, bur not a true dwarf.
;)
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Hey I am confused man Haaaaaaaaaaa ;), I am KEEPING that Sucker !..
Thanks Squam you da Man !..
Ed..
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Incidentally, I had Duncan today from Squam. Silky smooth, pleasant delicate flavor. It crushes any supermarket mango in quality. Edwards tomorrow, and more varieties on Florida trip. Thanks for great service Alex, highly recommended!
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Thanks for The Review !.. I have to Visit Alex for some Mangos !
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Tastes change. Yes, it is highly disease resistant, usually a heavy producer, manageable sized and good for back yards. I would recommend it for that. I have had some that eere good but for the most part, it is an average taste wise. It tends to have a strong resinous to almost medicinal taste to the flesh as you get closer to the skin. The more varieties I taste, the less exciting I find certain mangoes.
Opinions can change. Fault me for that if you want. I will say, please keep buying Duncans as it will leave others which I prefer more. Also, keep this in mind, I am not a fan of Valencia Pride, Baileys Marvel, Philippine or Keitt. Would I eat these varieties if there was nothing else, possibly but I would not choose them with other varieties around.
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The important thing is knowing if YOU like the fruit, usually when you see these mangoes with mixed reviews ( Carrie Duncan ) etc, its because they usually have some trait that people either love or they do not.
I also believe some fruit taste different depending on where they are grown, I once was given a few Ice Cream variety of mango, they had that slight pinesol taste, and I liked them, I was also given a tree, that tree did produce a few fruit, but when I tried those, that slight pinesol/turpintine taste, was now extremely intense, even hours after eating that one fruit, I was burping up that smell.
Few days ago, I had another, it was enjoyable like the first ones I tried.
I did not give up on the tree, after all it was its first time, it is container grown, and also does not get full sun.
If you like the fruit, go ahead and plant that tree, if not, trade it and get something you like.
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I will say, please keep buying Duncans as it will leave others which I prefer more.
As if I had big choice. I would love to try top tiers, and pay double for them. There are simply no sellers.
I always peel my mangoes completely and than slice it up. If you guys eat traditional way (cut off a side, than slice a little in zig zag pattern) you will end up scrapping the skin with you teeth. I did not feel any funkiness on Duncans last year or today. I actually tried to scrape inner peel with my teeth today, just to see if there is much talked bitterness. Yes, it was definitely there, but again maybe the right way to prepare it is the key with Duncan?
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i agree. I picked up some lychees off krome ave yesterday. They were probably not the best of what lychees can be but at least they were local, and not green. Anyway, i discovered that some tasted bad when i bit into the shell, but when i got them out of the shell, they were tasty. I think they were mauritius, though some had aborted seeds so not sure if they were SH or Hak ip. Anyway, the flavor was much different when i cracked the shell with my fingers!
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i agree. I picked up some lychees off krome ave yesterday. They were probably not the best of what lychees can be but at least they were local, and not green. Anyway, i discovered that some tasted bad when i bit into the shell, but when i got them out of the shell, they were tasty. I think they were mauritius, though some had aborted seeds so not sure if they were SH or Hak ip. Anyway, the flavor was much different when i cracked the shell with my fingers!
I know everybody eats them differently however I always "peel" the skin off of a lychee by hand, I never bite into it.
When eating mangoes, I alwats cut the flesh from the seed with a knife, then either cut the skin off with a knife or peel it off by hand (depending on the variety and where I am)...I never do the "cross cut/cross hatch" method with the fruit attached to the skin to eat. If I want to see what the fruit is like near the skin, I will eat/scrape the fruit from the pieces of skin I cut or peeled away from the flesh.
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FGM Would you say that your family's 6 Year old Duncan would be the equivalent of a 25 Gal Tree ?
Thanks Great Looking Fruit !
Ed
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Mine is holding 1 Mango 8)
(http://s21.postimg.cc/d7i843j2r/DSC00047.jpg) (http://postimg.cc/image/d7i843j2r/)
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had a duncan and edward today from squam....both were creamy, fiberless and sweet. No bitterness near the skin on this duncan.