Mangifera indica is the scientific name used for flowering plants that are also commonly referred to as mangoes. These are fruits that are popular all around the world because of how delicious and healthy they are. People should understand that there are several varieties of the plant and all of them have unique characteristics. Even the fruits growing on them have different tastes, sizes, and shapes. Considering this, if you want to plant these in your garden then it can be important that you select the variety carefully.
Most of these plants can grow up to 30 meters tall and are usually easy to keep maintained. Even though that is the case, there are still some users that might run into problems with the plant. When it comes to this, some people ask the question “Why does my mango have white spots?”. If you are getting the same problem with your fruits, then going through this article should help you in getting some reasons for the issue. We will also provide you with steps that can be used to deal with it and ensure that your harvest is kept secure.
Why Does My Mango Have White Spots?
- White Spots Due To Fermentation
People growing these plants usually do it to harvest the fruits once they have matured. Although, when it comes to this, there is a complete process that the fruits have to go through before they can be consumed. This usually requires people to keep their mangoes inside a hot water bath for an hour before trying to eat them.
The main reason why this is essential is that the plants growing these fruits have different insects crawling over them as well as larvae that might be stuck on them. All of these die out when placing the fruit inside a hot water bath which makes them safe to eat as a result. However, the white spots forming on the fruits can also be due to this reason. In most cases, if any fruits inside the water are not completely ripe then they will get confused.
The high temperature around them causes fermentation which is due to a lack of oxygen. As a result, the fruit produced carbon dioxide and alcohol which causes small white spots to form inside and outside the mangoes. If the fruits had some place where the gas could escape, then the white spots would never form. But if you try to cut the mangoes before giving them a hot water bath then they will lose their flavor.
Luckily, fruits with small white spots inside them are still safe to consume with the only problem being that they don’t have as much flavor as mango with yellow flesh.
- Harvesting Mangoes When They Are Ripe
While the white spots forming on the fruits can indicate that they were not ripe when you harvested them, consuming them is still possible. However, if you want to avoid the issue then understanding when the fruits are ripe can be important. When it comes to this, people can hold the fruit and then check its condition.
A ripe mango will always have soft flesh inside it that indicates that it is ripe enough to remove from the plant. The color on its outer layer should have a uniform yellow color inside of it is greenish. If the fruits start getting mushy or too hard then it means that it has gone bad. In most cases, mangoes with mold have a darker color on their insides which indicates that these are not safe to consume.
- Plant Might Have Caught A Disease
If the white spots forming on your mangoes are outside the fruit and these appear before harvesting it then there is a slight chance that your plant might have caught a disease. This is quite rare but there is still a chance of running into this issue.
The only thing people can do is to add pesticides to the soil so that the fungus can be removed from it. Keep in mind that adding fertilizers along it can be great as they help in making the fruits even better. Using these constantly can help in keeping the plant healthy and ensuring that its harvest is always delicious.