Taliparamba: A single mango tree at Muthumakuzhy Tomy Manuel’s house in Pushpagiri has become a mango orchard in itself! Around ten varieties of mangoes can be seen on this ‘special’ tree.
Neelam, Sindur, Benshen, Alphonso, moovandan, kolambu and kuttiatoor are some of the mango varieties that can be seen on the tree. Besides these, four other varieties that Tomy cannot identify, too grow on the tree.
A specially 'designed' mango tree
It was Kuttikol native MP Chandran - who designs gardens and is also known for saving snakes - who grafted ten varieties of mangoes on a single tree, for Tomy. Previously, the tree's mangoes weren't tasty enough for consumption.
So, the family cut down its branches. Two years ago, Chandran grafted the saplings of various varieties of mangoes on to the same tree.
Tomy and Chandran visited various places to collect the saplings from the mango trees that bore good fruits. Even though many local varieties too were added, the duo weren't sure of the names of those varieties.
Interestingly, this unique mango tree has become the talk of the town and people often gather here to take a look at it. Chandran had grafted seven varieties of mangoes on to the trees that he grows on the side of the national highway near Kuttikol bus stop, as well. These trees too have begun bearing fruits.
