Another tactic Skliros mentions is bonsaiing the trees. Some farmers use cincturing (cutting a ring around the tree’s trunk) to promote flowering, although that can affect the tree’s health, according to Elliott. “Now all these things can play a part in creating an early season or later season fruit,” he says. Unable to send their roots out, growers have more control over timing of nutrient delivery with fertilisers, and thus flowering. Surprisingly, Elliott says, some trees produce prolifically in rocky regions. A tree must have enough energy to flower, hold the flowers and carry them through to full, quality fruit. Other variables include location – particularly within regions with variable microclimates – along with water, biosecurity and the tree’s health. Tim Elliott from Red Rich Fruits says timing of fertilisers is also influenced by moon cycles, atmospheric pressure and temperature fluxes, which can make a difference between flowering or flushing into leaf. It’s complex, but Skliros does reveal that certain fertilisers are used to lower nitrogen and lift calcium levels, and when cooler nights slip in, potassium nitrate can be sprayed to encourage flowering. You’ve got to be in the right place at the right time.” Just about everything you do can affect the outcome, but timing of fertilisers and pruning are critical, he adds. “Many of the growers have what they believe is their own secret recipe but it’s just the variants of what they do around the world. “Eleven herbs and spices are the secret recipe and there’s a lot involved in it.” Digging a bit deeper, it’s not a complete mystery.

“It’s a bit like KFC, they say,” explains Skliros. How does he do it, when mangoes normally produce fruit in late September – in a good year?

Photograph: Leo SklirosĪdded to that, he grows Kensington Pride mangoes – highly coveted in Australia for their sweet, juicy flesh, but temperamental to grow. Leo Skliros poses with his mango harvest.

Mango fruit