Mango is a very popular fruit in Bangladesh and is called the king of fruits. It is grown all over the country, but it is the main cash crop of the greater Rajshahi region. Many varieties of mango are grown in Bangladesh, but cultivation of good varieties is largely confined to the Rajshahi region. City dwellers can satisfy their hobby by planting two or four mango trees on their rooftops.

All mango varieties can be grown on a roof, but varieties that yield well on roofs should be chosen. The best is BARI Aam-3, also known as Amrapali: the tree is small, the fruit medium-sized and very tasty. Because it bears fruit almost every year, Amrapali should be given top priority for rooftop planting. Dwarf varieties such as BAU Aam-1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 and Lata Bombai are also well suited to roofs.

To plant a grafted mango sapling on the roof, get a 20-inch coloured drum or tub. Make three to five holes in the bottom of the drum so that water does not collect at the base of the tree, and cover the holes with small pieces of brick.

Then mix two parts loam soil, one part cow dung, 40-50 grams of TSP fertiliser, 40-50 grams of potash fertiliser, 1 kg of wood ash, 1 kg of bone meal and half a kilogram of mustard oil cake. Fill the drum or tub with the mix, soak it with water and leave it for 15 days.

Then loosen the soil a little and leave it the same way for another four or five days. When the soil becomes somewhat crumbly, plant a healthy, strong grafted sapling in the tub. Plant the sapling upright, raise the soil slightly around the base and press it down firmly by hand, so that too much water cannot get in at the base. Tie the plant to a straight stick.

Water sparingly at first after planting, then gradually increase the water. Keep the tub where the plant gets sunlight for almost the whole day.

Source: Staff Correspondent. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.