La Verne Mangoes this Year

[CBG35]

I had my local nursery check with La Verne Nursery to see what mango trees they will be grafting this spring.  It seems they will only have Keitt, Haden, and Gold Nugget (on Manila rootstock).  Can any southern California mango growers suggest which of these is best suited for California (i.e. most vigorous)?  Does anyone know why more common Ca varieties such as Valencia Pride, Alphonso are not being grafted by La Verne this year?

I also think I read that Glenn is a vigorous grower in Ca, and would make a good choice.  What about Kent, is it Vigorous in CA if grown on manila?

Thanks!
Cyndie

[RodneyS]

There are commercial Keitt mango groves in the Coachella Valley and nearby. 

[CA Hockey]

I have keitt on turpentine from Florida and another from Laverne. The Florida one is a year older but is growing wildly. The largest of my admittedly small trees. I have some brokaw mangoes which are also growing quickly but not sure what rootstock those are on. Brokaw is in Ventura county so I figured their rootstock would be suitable for SoCal.

K

[wslau]

I had my local nursery check with La Verne Nursery to see what mango trees they will be grafting this spring.  It seems they will only have Keitt, Haden, and Gold Nugget (on Manila rootstock).  Can any southern California mango growers suggest which of these is best suited for California (i.e. most vigorous)?  Does anyone know why more common Ca varieties such as Valencia Pride, Alphonso are not being grafted by La Verne this year?

I also think I read that Glenn is a vigorous grower in Ca, and would make a good choice.  What about Kent, is it Vigorous in CA if grown on manila?

Thanks!
Cyndie

Keitt, Glenn, and Valencia pride grow well in SoCal.  Of these, I would say Valencia pride is the fastest grower followed by Keitt and Glenn.  In general, mangos are not as vigorous like trees grown in Florida.
Oddly, none of the folks I know in California grow Kent.  It is an excellent fruit, but just not special enough because we see them in supermarkets.

La Verne budwood trees are generally on site in giant containers in their greenhouse(s).  Alphonso was a recent (2015) new grafted variety for them, so I'm not sure how many Alphonso source budwood trees they have now.  I've seen their collection.  Not sure why VP wasn't grafted this year.  Probably a function of supply and demand.

[Mikey]

I have a valencia pride on manila rootstock.  It was purchased at walter anderson.  You can still buy them.  But they are a little pricey compare to others.  I planted it last summer and it is going fast.