As in other fruit species, the alternate bearing of mango trees is a main concern for orchard profitability. In this paper, we focused on the effect of the fate (vegetative, flowering or fruiting) of the terminal growth units of a growing cycle on the flowering and fruiting of terminal growth units of the following growing cycles. Flowering and fruiting of twelve young mango trees belonging to four cultivars (Cogshall, Irwin, José and Kensington Pride) have been exhaustively described at the growth unit level during three successive growing cycles. Contrasted patterns were evidenced. For example, Irwin and Kensington Pride showed high flowering and fruit setting on terminal growth units across the three growing cycles. On the opposite, Cogshall and José were characterized by various alternating patterns between reproductive and vegetative fates, whether at the tree or at the growth unit level. Our study highlighted cultivar-specific alternate bearing patterns beginning from the first crops. Mango alternate bearing appeared to be related to complex relationships between vegetative and reproductive growths, which strongly varied according to the cultivar.