Spirit of '76

12 years ago

is an excellent mango, best of the season for me and Ive been through several of the usual suspects from Harrys yard. the best seedling of Haden. It has a small amount of fiber, which is a benefit because its a very juicy mango so it needs some texture to soak it up and keep firm,

the flavor I would describe as a much improved Haden, very sweet sub acid dripping juicy typical mango flavor with no distinctive aftertaste like some varieties especially when overripe; even though the one I had slightly was. the mango itself is beautiful, large round and red. definitely will be looking to add one to the yard. although reported to be a seedling of haden and not a cross, It tastes more like a Kent (haden and kent i believe are both seedlings of Mulgoba)

for anyone who is familiar, can I get some input on productivity? if it is productive, it is beyond me how this mango escaped commercial production

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squam256

12 years ago

I consider Spirit of 76 to be the second best mango I've ever had, with only Edward slightly ahead.

Not sure why it hasn't been more widely propagated.....I know Zill's still has it available but Pine Island doesn't sell it and I've never seen it at any retail nurseries. The trees that I have seen (Harry's and the tree at the Fruit and Spice park) seemed reasonably productive to me (haven't seen the park's tree this year though). Even if it isn't a great producer though, the flavor alone is enough to justify its propagation in my view, just as it is in Edward's case.

I am probably going to plant multiples of this one. Have tried 'tooting its horn' when I get the opportunity because I think its a mango that needs more attention. Would be nice if Fairchild included it as a curator's choice mango at the festival one year.

On the Kent thing mangokush....Kent is actually a seedling of Brooks that was a Brooks/Haden cross. Spirit of 76 was likely a seedling of Zill and a Zill/Haden cross. The 'Zill' cultivar seems to have produced some real winners.....Spirit of 76, Dot, and Jakarta were all identified as likely Zill progeny by the 2005 USDA pedigree analysis.

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Comments (7)

jeffhagen
12 years ago
Zill's sells this mango.

Jeff
Man-Go-Bananas
12 years ago
What type of mango is it?
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zands
12 years ago
What type of mango is it?

It is the patriotic mango. It was the favorite of Thomas Jefferson and Samuel Adams. When Thomas Jefferson sent the US Navy to North Africa to rout the Barbary Pirates he directed the Navy to bring back some Spirit of '76 mangoes and some sea turtles to make soup out of.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thomas Jefferson's greenhouse at Monticello
pj1881
12 years ago
I purchased mine at the Mounts Botanical Spring Plant Sale from a vendor that came from the West Coast of Florida, I payed $19.00 for it, it's grafted and about three feet tall. He had about 8 of them this spring at the show, the tagging definitely looks like Zill HP plant.
mangodog
12 years ago
...thanks for the good review Bryan.....If I ever see one, I'll grab it.....boy, the season is upon us!

MangoWoof
Langra
9 years ago
Here's a picture from Fairchild's 2014 Mango Festival, including the details of 2 accessions.

Here is a link that might be useful: SPIRIT OF '76 mango