Mandarin: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
When and how should you plant a mandarin tree?
Plant your mandarin tree in spring once the risk of frost has passed and conditions are mild. First decide whether your climate allows it to remain outdoors through winter. In a region with cold winters, a movable container is generally more suitable than planting in the ground. Choose a sunny, sheltered position and check the cold tolerance of the variety you have bought.
For container planting, use a stable pot with drainage holes and a free-draining mix intended for citrus. Choose a size that accommodates the root ball without leaving it surrounded by a large volume of wet compost. Remove the nursery pot carefully and keep the tree at its previous depth. Leave the graft union, the swelling where the variety joins the rootstock, above the compost.
In a suitable mild climate, plant in well-drained ground. Dig a hole wider than the root ball, but avoid burying the stem more deeply than before. Refill with the surrounding soil and gently firm it. A handful of sand in a planting hole will not solve drainage problems in heavy, waterlogged ground.
Water thoroughly after planting and let excess water escape. Check moisture during establishment rather than watering on a fixed schedule. Keep mulch away from the trunk and introduce a previously sheltered tree to outdoor sun gradually.
When does a mandarin tree flower?
When and how should you prune a mandarin tree?
How to care for this plant
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Prepare for overwintering
If your citrus spends summer outdoors in a pot, prepare a bright shelter at a temperature suitable for its variety. Follow local forecasts and move it before nights become too cold. In the ground, match protection to its hardiness and local climate.
When and how should you harvest mandarins?
