Tangerine trees are a type of mandarin orange, their loose skin, easily pulled away from the fruit, and the sweet segments within make them a delicious treat. In the United States, the ‘Clementine’ is the most familiar of the species and is readily available in grocery stores.
Tangerines are one of the most delicious citrus fruits you can ever have, and today we’ll show you how to grow tangerines in pots so you can enjoy them all season long! Tangerines are fairly easy to grow granted the weather it warm enough, you provide it with good soil, and an adequate amount of sun.
HOW TO GROW YOUR OWN TANGERINES
You can grow your own tangerine tree in your own backyard if you live in the right climate. Choose a sapling rather than a seed in order to start the crop. Again, a sunny location is important, and you should dig a hole bigger than the root ball.
Before you start planting, make the roots loose. Add some dirt to cover them and keep watering the tree regularly for a couple of months.
Tangerines can be grown from seeds, but the fruit this type of seed produces are not always so tasty. The tree is pretty decorative and smells lovely. This plant is non-toxic, so it is safe for your kids and pets. So, next time you buy a tangerine cut the fruits in half and keep the biggest seeds. Then, plant them as soon as you can in order to keep the seeds fresh.
Planting Tangerines
- Purchase tangerine seeds from your local nursery or use seeds from a tangerine. If you decide to do the latter, make sure you wash the seeds thoroughly and then dry them.
- Use a good quality potting mix that contains either compost, peat moss, or perlite. Fill a pot or container with that soil and make sure the pot has good drainage. If planting directly into the ground, follow the same procedures!
- Give your soil a good amount of water before planting and let it dry in the sun until the soil is just moist.
- Plant 2-3 seeds in the middle of the pot and cover with 1/2 inch of soil.
- Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag or saran wrap to encourage fast germination of the seeds. This method will also keep the warm and give them adequate moisture.
- Place the pot in a warm location.
- Water as needed, making sure that soil is always moist, but not wet.
- As soon as seedlings emerge, remove the plastic cover.
- Move the pot to a spot with bright, indirect sunlight and a temperature of at least 70F.
- Once seedlings have a pair of true leaves, transplant them to large pots, about 4-6 inches in diameter.
HOW TO CARE FOR A TANGERINE TREE
Now that you’re finished potting, it’s time to talk about how to care for a tangerine tree. Tangerine trees grown in a pot need to be fertilized at least twice a year and as soon as you see new growth, it’s time to begin. Set your pot in a sunny place and let nature take its course. When the weather is consistently above forty F. (4 C.), it’s safe to move your tree outdoors although, like most houseplants, gradually moving your tangerine to its new microclimate will prevent shock and the loss of leaves. Follow the same process in the fall when temperatures begin to drop.
When your tangerine tree is indoors, it will need to be watered when just the top of the soil is dry to the touch. During the time your potted tangerine tree is outdoors, it will need to be watered daily. When talking about how to care for a tangerine tree, we would be remiss not to mention the future. Unlike some other fruits, tangerine trees need no pruning. As it grows, your tree will need to be repotted about every three to four years.
Like other houseplants, one size up in pot size should be enough. It will also take three to four years for your tangerine to bear fruit. So be patient and enjoy its beauty in the meantime. And when you taste the first fruits of your labor, you’ll be glad you learned how to grow tangerines.