Home-grown tangerines. Possible or not?

This time of the year you can find exotic fruits everywhere and it seems that supermarkets are putting more and more on display. Well, that is good because usually these exotic fruits are a good source of vitamin C. Take tangerines for example. This rather rare fruit probably got its name after high officials called mandarins (tangerines are sometime called the mandarin variety), who could afford them and no wonder that they liked this fruit so much.Others claim a different origin of the word. For example, the word Mandara was the original name for Mauritius and mandarins were imported in large quantities from Mauritius – mainly in the 19th century. Today, they are grown in Africa, Australia, America and southern Europe, but you can also grow them at home.

What does the tangerine tree look like?

It is around 4 meters heigh and it is typical for its high resistance to drought and cold. Older trees should be able to survive temperatures below -9°C for a short time. We all know how the fruit looks like. It resembles a round to slightly flattened ball and contains approximately 7 to 14 segments – wedges.

Photo: Pixabay

Growing tangerine in a pot

You can grow tangerines in a pot. Of course, you will not get large and tall plants, but they still can make you happy.

You can start with seeds or cuttings

Soak the seed in water first, and then put it in a pot with a suitable substrate. The seed should be covered by a soil about one centimetre thick. You should see the first leaves within two months. Sometimes seeds that were dropped by “accident” in the right soil will germinate too.When the plant reaches about 15 cm, you need to transplant it. You can also grow tangerines from cuttings.but if you want a sure bet buy a plant in a pot that has been grafted.

Photo: Pixabay

Suitable substrate and sunny place

First of all, you need to choose the right flower pot. It should be deep enough with a diameter of at least 30 cm. Place coarse gravel at the bottom of the flower pot, because you need to drain the water well. The substrate should be a mixture between a rich substrate and a regular garden substrate. Water carefully – less is sometimes more.The plant loves dew so, you should provide it, but not when the sun is shining on it. It is also a good idea to drain the saucer under the pot after watering – wait about two minutes and then drain the saucer.

Wintering

Before the winter you need to put tangerines indoors where the temperature ranges from 10 to 15 °C. Put the plants near a window as they need light and spray them with moist regularly. To support growth you need to cut twigs and you should do it for the first five years. The yield will be lower at first, but you will create a stronger plant which gives you a higher yield.If you have been growing a tangerine tree from a seed you must graft it with a twig from a fruiting plant, otherwise you may wait for years and years in vain.

Almost no pests

Very few pests like tangerine trees but we remind you again to watch for excessive moisture.Too much moisture may attract aphids, whiteflies or mites. The good news is that you can get rid of these pests easily.

Preview photo: Pixabay