How to Grow Clementine Mandarin Trees
Citrus fruits provide essential vitamins for those who consume them regularly, and freshness can make all the difference between an enjoyable snack and a stale piece of fruit. Clementine trees are a variety of mandarin trees that produce small oranges with a juicy, citrus taste. These trees are relatively resistant to drought, insects and disease once you have planted them properly. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Till the soil to a depth of 10 inches in an area of your garden or lawn that receives full sunlight for at least eight hours per day. The soil level in your chosen planting site must be at least as high as all of the surrounding soil; it may help to plant your tree a little higher. This will help with drainage.
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Mix 1 part peat moss or compost for every 3 parts soil into the planting area, but only if you have traditionally had problems with standing water in your selected planting area. Texas A&M University Extension advises that the clementine mandarin will grow fine in all but the worst-draining soil, so you may not need these amendments.
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Dig a hole in your soil that is 1 to 2 inches shallower than the depth of the tree in the container in which it was provided. The hole should be 2 to 3 inches wider than the container so that the roots can spread out.
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Remove the tree from its container; depending on where you purchased this tree, this could involve untying a burlap bag or digging the tree out of a planting pot. Be careful not to split or otherwise damage the roots, or you could make the tree susceptible to rot and other problems.
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Rinse the roots of the tree off gently with a hose to expose some of the roots on the edge of the root ball. This will help the roots establish in the new soil more quickly.
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Place the tree in the hole you created and backfill the hole halfway. Water the soil in the hole until it settles around the roots and is completely moist, but not puddled. Finish backfilling the hole, covering the entire root system with 1 to 1 1/2 inches of soil.
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Water the tree every three to four days, whenever the top 2 inches of soil dries out. As the tree becomes established, it will need less water. Do not water if the soil is still moist, as excessive moisture can cause root damage.
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Treat the area in a diameter of 3 to 4 feet around the tree with contact herbicide to prevent weeds, which will compete with your tree for water and nutrients. Never let the herbicides touch the tree, however, as they can cause serious damage.
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Fertilize the tree only when it begins to produce new sprouts and leaves. When you notice growth, spread 1/4 cup of ammonium sulfate around the tree, followed by a thorough soaking to help the ammonium sulfate absorb into the soil. Repeat three times in the first year, so that you feed the tree 1 full cup the first year.
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Increase the fertilizing to 2 cups per year the second year and 3 cups per year in the third year. Continue to increase the number of cups to equal the number of years the tree has been planted.
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Tips & Warnings
You can start a citrus tree from a seed or cutting, but most nurseries sell trees that have already begun to grow. Using started trees will help to ensure faster fruit production, and will guarantee that you know what type of tree you are growing.
If you live in areas that feature an average minimum temperature below 10 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA hardiness zone 7 or below), your clementine mandarin trees will not survive the winter months. You must grow your trees in containers and bring them inside your home or greenhouse during the winter.
Not all citrus trees will produce fruit, and some will not produce fruit until three to five years after planting. Fruit production depends greatly on climate and care.
References
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