Mangosteen Graft (Garcinia mangostana)

Known as the “Queen of Fruits,” grafted mangosteen bypasses the 10–12 year seed juvenility, fruiting in 3 to 5 years. It adapts well to 24×24 inch rooftop grow bags, requiring partial shade/shade nets during early establishment, high ambient humidity, and acid-leaning, moisture-retentive potting media during Kerala monsoons and dry spells.

Description

Mangosteen is a tropical fruit tree that produces purple fruits with sweet, juicy white flesh. It grows best in warm, humid climates with partial shade when young. Plant it in fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Water regularly to keep the soil moist, but avoid waterlogging. Grafted plants can produce fruit earlier than seed-grown trees under suitable conditions.

Recommended Planting Method for Best Results

For healthy growth and strong establishment, prepare a 2–3 ft deep pit. If available, place a layer of green leaves at the bottom. Mix 1.5 kg bone meal, 1 kg oil cake, 20 kg raw cow or goat dung, and 100 g urea with an equal quantity of soil, then fill the pit and cover it with soil.

Leave the pit for about one month, watering it daily so the mixture decomposes well. After one month, mix the contents again and add 100 g calcium or dolomite. Wait one more week, then plant the sapling.

If you need to plant immediately and cannot wait for the one-month decomposition period, do not add oil cake or calcium/dolomite; use only the soil, manure, bone meal, and urea mixture for planting.