Ratna Mango

🥭 Ratna Mango – Description & Farming Guide

Description

Ratna Mango is a hybrid mango variety developed in India by crossing Neelum × Alphonso. It was released by IIHR (Indian Institute of Horticultural Research), Bangalore. Ratna was bred to combine the excellent flavor and sweetness of Alphonso with the regular bearing and disease resistance of Neelum.

• Shape & Size: Medium-sized, oval to oblong (250–300g).
• Skin Color: Golden yellow with light red blush on shoulders when ripe.
• Flesh Color: Deep yellow, smooth, and fiberless.
• Taste & Aroma: Rich, sweet, aromatic flavor similar to Alphonso but slightly milder.
• Texture: Firm, juicy, fiberless flesh.
• Sweetness (TSS/Brix): 19–21° Brix.
• Special Feature: Regular bearer, resistant to spongy tissue (a major problem in Alphonso).

Farming / Cultivation Guide

1. Climate Requirement
   • Suited for tropical & subtropical climates.
   • Temperature: 24–38°C ideal.
   • Requires dry weather during flowering & fruit setting.
2. Soil Requirement
   • Grows well in well-drained loamy or alluvial soils.
   • Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5.
   • Avoid saline or waterlogged soils.
3. Propagation
   • Propagated through stone grafting, veneer grafting, or epicotyl grafting.
4. Planting
   • Spacing: 8m × 8m (100–120 plants per acre).
   • Best season: June–July (monsoon planting).
5. Irrigation
   • Young plants: Water every 7–10 days.
   • Mature trees: Irrigate at flowering, fruit setting, and fruit development stages.
   • Stop irrigation 15–20 days before harvest for better sweetness.
6. Manure & Fertilizers (per tree per year)
   • FYM (cow dung): 20–25 kg.
   • NPK:
     • Young trees: 200–400 g each.
     • Mature trees: 2–3 kg each of N, P, K.
   • Apply Zn, B, Mg if deficiency symptoms appear.
7. Pruning & Training
   • Maintain single trunk with well-spread branches.
   • Remove diseased, weak, or crossing branches regularly.
8. Flowering & Fruiting
   • Flowers bloom in Jan–Feb.
   • Fruits mature in 100–120 days after flowering.
   • Harvesting: May–June.
9. Pests & Diseases
   • Pests: Fruit fly, mango hopper, stem borer, mealy bugs.
   • Diseases: Powdery mildew, anthracnose, bacterial canker.
   • Management: Use neem oil, pheromone traps, or recommended sprays.
10. Yield

• Starts bearing in 4–5 years.
• A mature tree yields 80–100 kg per year.
• Regular bearer (unlike Alphonso which sometimes has alternate bearing).

✅ Profit Potential
Ratna is a commercially important mango due to its good yield, Alphonso-like flavor, and resistance to spongy tissue. It is suitable for domestic markets and processing (pulp, juice, jams) as well as for export.

Would you like me to also prepare a short description (shape, color, taste, sweetness, TSS, etc.) for Ratna Mango like I did for Alphonso, Gir Kesar, and Black Kasturi?