Tangerine Tree

A moderately sized citrus tree producing easy-to-peel, sweet fruits that are a favorite for fresh eating. Tangerines ripen earlier than most oranges, providing fruit from late fall through winter. They tend to bear heavily in alternate years, so thin fruit in heavy-set years to maintain consistent annual production. Satsuma types are among the most cold-tolerant mandarins and a good choice for borderline citrus climates.

Tangerine trees should be purchased as grafted stock on appropriate rootstock for your climate and soil conditions. Trifoliate orange rootstock provides cold hardiness for borderline zones, while Cleopatra mandarin rootstock is preferred for alkaline soils. Satsuma varieties are often grafted onto trifoliate for maximum cold tolerance. Plant bare-root trees in late winter while dormant, or container-grown trees in spring. Keep the graft union well above the soil line to prevent scion rooting.

The Season Plate

Your Tangerine Tree Year

Composed for Zone 7 · typical seasons · frost passes Apr 2, returns Nov 1

Plant Tangerine Tree Mar – May, pick Jan – Feb, Nov – Dec. Check the planting methods below and set your climate to personalize these windows.

Planting windows

Mar – May

Plant · Mar – May

Outdoor planting

after Apr 2

once frost risk has passed

First picking

around Feb 28

≈ 1095 days from this planting · 20 fruits per plant

Composed for —ColdTemperateMildWarmNorthSouthUse my locationUsed once to set your season · only the zone is kept

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Tangerine trees need full sun and well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. They are slightly more cold-tolerant than oranges, with Satsuma varieties surviving brief dips to the low 20s Fahrenheit. Plant in spring after the last frost, spacing trees 12 to 15 feet apart for standard types or 6 to 8 feet for dwarfs. Choose a location with good air circulation but shelter from cold winter winds, such as a sunny slope or near a building wall.

Water deeply once or twice per week during the first two years to establish a strong root system. Mature trees need about 1 inch of water per week during the growing season. Tangerines are prone to alternate bearing, producing heavily one year and lightly the next. Thin fruit clusters when fruitlets are marble-sized during heavy-set years to improve fruit size and encourage more consistent annual production.

Feed with a citrus-specific fertilizer in late winter, late spring, and early autumn, adjusting rates based on tree age and vigor. Tangerines generally require less pruning than other citrus, but remove dead wood, water sprouts, and low-hanging branches that contact the ground. Harvest fruit as it colors up and sweetens, typically late autumn through late winter depending on variety. Tangerines do not continue to sweeten after picking, so taste-test before harvesting the entire crop.

Plant tangerine trees with companion herbs like basil, dill, and fennel that attract beneficial insects including parasitic wasps and hoverflies. Marigolds and petunias interplanted around the drip line help deter aphids and whiteflies. Low-growing legumes like crimson clover or white clover fix nitrogen and serve as a living mulch. Avoid heavy shade-casting plants near tangerine trees, as they require maximum sun exposure for fruit sweetening and ripening.

The Society Table

Basil belongs beside it. Walnut Tree doesn't.

Old growers' knowledge, checked against Tangerine Tree's real companion table below — test any plant you're growing.

Grows well in the company of · 3

BasilLavenderMarigold

Keep apart · 1

Walnut Tree

Plant Tangerine Tree with good neighboursThe planner flags conflicts before they're in the ground

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View growing guide

Tangerine trees prefer well-drained sandy loam or loamy soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. They are moderately tolerant of alkaline conditions but perform best in slightly acidic soil. Apply a complete citrus fertilizer three times per year, with the heaviest application in late winter before spring growth begins. Supplement with magnesium sulfate if leaves develop interveinal yellowing. Avoid late-season nitrogen that delays fruit maturation and reduces cold hardiness.

Ideal Temperature

Hardiness Zone Compatibility

Tangerines are ready to pick when the rind is fully colored and the fruit separates easily from the stem with a gentle twist. Unlike some citrus, tangerines do not continue ripening after harvest, so leave them on the tree until they reach peak sweetness. Taste-test individual fruit before harvesting the entire crop. Early varieties like Satsuma ripen in mid-autumn, while later types like Murcott mature in midwinter through early spring. Pick carefully to avoid tearing the thin, loose peel.

Storage & Preservation

Tangerines have a shorter shelf life than oranges due to their loose, thin skin. Store at room temperature for up to a week or in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks. Handle gently to avoid bruising the delicate peel. Tangerine segments can be frozen for use in smoothies and salads. The juice freezes well for up to 4 months. Tangerine marmalade, dried tangerine peel for Asian cooking, and tangerine-infused vinegar are excellent preservation methods.

Citrus Thrips

Pest

Silvery scarring and ring-shaped marks on young fruit and new leaves. Leaves may cup or curl, and fruit develops rough, scabby patches.

Prevention Monitor for thrips in spring when new growth is most vulnerable. Maintain weed-free areas around trees to eliminate alternate hosts.

Fix: Apply spinosad sprays at petal fall when thrips are first detected. Kaolin clay creates a physical barrier on developing fruit. Repeat applications as needed during peak thrips activity.

Alternaria Brown Spot

Disease

Dark brown to black spots on young leaves and fruit, often with concentric rings. Leaves may drop prematurely and fruit develops sunken, corky lesions.

Prevention Choose resistant varieties when available. Maintain good air circulation through pruning. Remove fallen debris from under the tree.

Fix: Apply copper fungicide or mancozeb sprays at spring flush and again during summer flush. Time applications before rain events when spore dispersal is highest.

Asian Citrus Psyllid

Pest

Small, mottled brown insects feeding on new growth tips. Shoots become twisted and distorted. Vector for deadly citrus greening disease.

Prevention Inspect trees regularly for psyllid presence, especially on new growth. Apply systemic insecticides preventively in areas where citrus greening is present.

Fix: Spray contact insecticides targeting adults during new growth flushes. Systemic soil drenches provide longer-lasting protection. Report suspected citrus greening symptoms to local agricultural extension.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Alternate bearing is the most common frustration with tangerine trees, producing massive crops one year followed by sparse harvests. Manage this by thinning fruit early in heavy-set years. Puffy, loose-skinned fruit with dry segments results from leaving fruit on the tree too long past peak ripeness. Splitting occurs when heavy rain follows drought during fruit enlargement. Cold damage to fruit is more common than tree damage, as the thin peel offers little insulation.

Growing Tips

1. Plant tangerine trees in a location facing the midday sun that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight per day for the best fruit production and sweetness.
2. Use well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, and amend heavy clay soils with coarse sand and organic compost before planting.
3. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the top 5 cm of soil to dry between waterings. Overwatering is the most common cause of root rot in citrus trees.
4. Apply citrus-specific fertilizer three to four times per year during the growing season, following the product label rates to avoid salt buildup in the soil.
5. Prune only to remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches and any suckers that emerge below the graft union. Excessive pruning reduces fruit yield.
6. Protect young trees from temperatures below -2°C using frost cloth or by bringing container-grown trees indoors during cold snaps.
7. Mulch with a 7 to 10 cm layer of organic material such as wood chips or compost, keeping it at least 15 cm away from the trunk to prevent collar rot.
8. Monitor regularly for common pests including scale insects, aphids, citrus leafminer, and spider mites, and treat early with targeted organic methods.
9. For container growing, use a pot at least 50 cm in diameter with excellent drainage holes and repot every 3 to 4 years to refresh the growing medium.
10. Avoid applying high-nitrogen fertilizer after late summer as this promotes tender new growth that is vulnerable to frost damage in winter.