How to Grow Mandarin Trees

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

Mandarin trees produce sweet antioxidant-rich fruit, and with a little knowledge of what these trees need, you can start producing your own fruit at home. From growing guidelines to instructions for care, we’ve compiled answers to your questions on raising thriving mandarin trees!

Question 1

Question 1 of 9:
Where can you grow mandarin trees?

1
You can grow mandarin trees in areas with little to no frost. If you live in an area that falls into USDA hardiness zones 9-11 (minimum extreme temperatures between 20–40 °F (−7–4 °C)), you can easily grow citrus outdoors. The ideal temperature for growing mandarin trees is between 55 °F (13 °C) and 90 °F (32 °C). But don’t worry, you can still grow mandarin trees indoors if you live in an area with harsher winters.^{[1]
X
Research source}

Advertisement

Question 2

Question 2 of 9:
How do you plant mandarin trees from the nursery?

1
First, choose a planting site. You’ll want to plant the tree in a sunny spot, in soil at least as high (or higher) than the surrounding yard to avoid pooling water or root rot. You can use native soil rather than potting mix, but be sure to break up any clods of dirt.
- Don’t let any fertilizer get in direct contact with the roots.^{[2]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
  Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
  Go to source}
2
Prepare the tree for planting. Expose the outer roots of the plant by gently washing 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil/planting medium off the root ball. This will help the roots make contact with the soil as soon as you transplant the tree.
- Don’t let the root ball dry out. Keep it in the shade and plant quickly.
3
Dig the hole. Make a hole only as deep as the size of the root ball. You can make the hole 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) wider than the root ball and loosen the soil slightly with a trowel. ^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
Go to source}
4
Set the tree at the right depth. Place your mandarin tree in the hole so that it sits slightly higher in the soil than it was in the nursery container. In addition, set the tree so that the bud union (the bump on the trunk where the nursery grafted) stays above the soil, ideally by 4–6 inches (10–15 cm).^{[4]
X
Research source}
5
Orient the tree in the hole. Turn the tree so the bud union faces north or northeast in order to prevent heat stress and sunburn to the trunk that naturally curves above the union.^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
Go to source}
6
Backfill the hole. Gently fill the hole with clod-free soil from your planting site.
7
Build a watering ring. Make a basin out of soil roughly 2 feet (0.61 m) in diameter around the tree. The basin rim should be 3–6 inches (7.6–15.2 cm) thick.
8
Water the tree. Fill the basin with water and allow it to seep into the soil. Repeat the process until the soil is damp, but not soggy.^{[6]
X
Research source}

Advertisement

Question 3

Question 3 of 9:
How do you grow mandarin trees from seed?

1
Germinate the seeds in water. Some seeds may look plump and full while others may look withered. Sort the fuller, bigger seeds to use for planting. Wash the seeds and leave them in 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) of lukewarm water for 1 day.^{[7]
X
Research source}
2
Put the seeds on a damp paper towel. Fold the paper towel and spray the towel with some water. Then, place the paper towel with the seeds in a bowl. Set the bowl in a warm room. In a few days, the seeds will start to show roots.
3
Pick a pot with good drainage. Feel free to use clay, plastic or decorative containers as long as there are drainage holes on the bottom. Start your seeds in a starter seed tray if possible, or any small pot (5 inches (13 cm) or under) you have available. Once your tree has grown, you can transfer it to a 10 in (25 cm) pot.^{[8]
X
Research source}
4
Choose the right soil. You can use cactus mix to give your mandarin trees the slightly acidic, well-drained potting medium they need. If you don’t have cactus mix, you can use a mixture of ⅔ regular potting medium and ⅓ inorganic materials like small pea gravel or pumice to increase the medium’s drainage.^{[9]
X
Research source}
5
Plant the seed. When the seed has a root about 1 in (2.5 cm) long, dig a small hole just deep enough for the root. Cover the hole with just enough soil to keep the seed moist, but don’t bury it too deep.
6
Water the seedling. Gently water the soil until the soil is damp. Place your seedling in a warm spot with direct sunlight and watch it grow!

Advertisement

Question 4

Question 4 of 9:
How do you grow mandarin trees indoors?

1
Pick the right variety. Some commercial types of mandarin trees are too big to be grown indoors. To grow mandarin trees indoors, pick a variety of tangerines (Citrus reticulata) or Satsuma oranges.^{[10]
X
Research source}
2
Create the right conditions. Try to keep the space where you’re growing the trees around 65 °F (18 °C), allowing for a 5–10 °F (−15 – −12 °C) drop at night. Give your trees direct sunlight for part of the day, by a window or with grow lights.^{[11]
X
Research source}
3
Move them in summer. Once temperatures are above 50 °F (10 °C), you can move the trees outside to give them extra light. You’ll have to let them acclimate to the new sunnier conditions by leaving them in partial shade or the north side of the house for one week.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- Mandarin trees (and citrus in general) do best up to 85 °F (29 °C), but for a short time, they can tolerate higher temperatures.
4
After summer, prepare the trees for the indoors. At the end of the summer, let your trees get accustomed to lower light. By keeping them in a shady place for a week or so, you can make sure the lower light indoors won’t shock them.

Advertisement

Question 5

Question 5 of 9:
How long does it take to grow a mandarin tree?

1
Grow from a rootstock to get fruit in 3 years. When you buy a citrus tree from a plant nursery, that tree is typically a grafted tree (rootstock). Rootstocks are often around 3 years old already when you buy one, so they need less time to start producing fruit. If you grow a mandarin tree from seed, it may take about 7 years to bear fruit.^{[13]
X
Research source}

Question 6

Question 6 of 9:
How do you water mandarin trees?

1
Keep the soil damp. How often you need to water will vary on the level of sunlight your plant gets and the humidity where you live. When you’ve just transplanted, you want to keep the root ball damp. Check the dampness by sticking your finger into the soil down by the roots. You should feel moisture, but the soil shouldn’t feel soggy.^{[14]
X
Trustworthy Source
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
Go to source}
- For planted mandarin trees, you can water by filling the soil basin around the tree trunk for the first year. After a year, switch to sprinklers or drip irrigation to provide more consistent, even watering for the tree.
- Yellow leaves might mean you’re overwatering your plant.^{[15]
  X
  Research source}
- Reduce watering in the winter, when the trees aren’t actively growing.
Advertisement

Question 7

Question 7 of 9:
How much sunlight do mandarin trees need?

1
Give your tree at least 6 hours of full sun. Mandarin trees need lots of bright sunlight during the growing season, so choose a planting spot without much shade.^{[16]
X
Research source} You can pick a south-facing location to get lots of sun (just make sure the bud union of the tree faces north).
- If you want to grow your trees indoors, rotate them every few days and take them outdoors in the summer.
- With insufficient sunlight, mandarin trees may grow, but they won’t flower or produce fruit.

Question 8

Question 8 of 9:
How do you prune mandarin trees?

1
Pick the right time to prune. While you don’t need to prune citrus trees as heavily as deciduous trees, pruning when the tree flowers (usually March or April) can benefit your plant. In addition to controlling tree size, pruning increases fruit size and improves air circulation, which in turn reduces risk of fruit disease.^{[17]
X
Research source}
2
Remove branches that inhibit growth. Prune away suckers (shoots growing up from below the bud union) to prevent unwanted growth. To keep the tree healthy, prune diseased/dead parts of the plant and branches that are clustered or crossing each other. Also remove any branches at acute angles because they won’t be strong enough to bear fruit.^{[18]
X
Research source}
- Prune with sharp hedge trimmers or shears at a 45-degree angle, and prune 3 growth nodes below the part of the plant you want to remove.
Advertisement

Question 9

Question 9 of 9:
How do you fertilize a mandarin tree?

1
Fertilize your trees three times over the growing months. Once your trees have 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) of new growth, you can apply fertilizer in February, May, and September. Use either ½ cup of ammonium nitrate, ⅓ cup of urea, ¾ cups of ammonium sulfate, or 4 pounds (1.8 kg) of steer manure. Place the fertilizer 6 inches (15 cm) to 3 feet (0.91 m) from the trunk and water it in immediately.^{[19]
X
Trustworthy Source
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
Go to source}