How to Grow Delectable Mandarin Orange Fruit in Arizona
Mandarins Aplenty
History Can Be Sweet
Mandarin oranges are relatively new arrivals to North America having been introduced to the United States in the 1840's. But, Mandarin oranges have their origin in Northern Indian about 3000 years ago where they were descended from wild oranges.
Yet this was not the last place to propagate them. Mandarin oranges migrated to China. There, the thin-skinned, sweet, small oranges went to England in 1805. Next, it stepped off the boat in Italy, where large orchards were planted.
Not a fruit to stay hidden long, the Mandarin moved about the Mediterranean coast, North Africa, and then Australia in the 1820's. Notice that merchant trading countries influenced the destinations of the Mandarin.
What's In A Name
Other names for Mandarin oranges include:
Kid glove oranges
Loose-skin oranges
Tangerine oranges
Tangerines
Other varieties of mandarins include ponkan, satsuma, honey murcott, and mandelo. Tangerines, satsuma oranges and clementine oranges are common varieties of the Mandarin orange family.
-KHYATI DAND
Variety Is the Spice of Life
Believe it or not, a tangerine is a variety of mandarin orange, even though ages ago they were to be confused.
The term tangerine came from the fact that fruit was imported from Tangiers, hence, "tangerine." Whether the fruit exported were mandarins or tangerines, who knows? Folks use the common names previously cited without a great deal of thoughtful differentiation between.
Both types of citrus fruits, tangerine is a relative of the mandarin. The tangerine has
a darker reddish, thicker and dimpled skin, a rounder shape, and it has a tarter taste. Mandarins have a lighter skin color, a thinner and smoother skin, an egg-shaped appearance, and, best of all, a sweeter taste than a tangerine.
No One Knows from Whence the Name Comes
The petite Mandarin acquired its moniker in an interesting way. Mandarin was the language of Chinese government administrators and educated folks. These government officials wore deep orange robes, hence, the imported fruit was assigned the name Mandarin.
Yet another addition to the etymology of "mandarin" is this. The entitled class of Chinese who centuries ago wore those orange robes were somewhat idealized. The word for Mandarin then was 'kam', and 'kam' is similar in sound to the Chinese word for gold.
Since Mandarins are easily crossed with other varieties of citrus (consider apples), and can grow in a variety of climates, there are nearly 200 varieties of mandarins.
Vital Statistics
My hometown of Superior, Arizona has nearly all the requisites for good mandarin oranges.
As a subtropical plant, mandarin trees like warm climates and thrive in temperatures above 70 degrees F and full sun. Full sun we have no shortage of! These citrus trees prefer humidity, something Arizona has in the summer monsoon season though many months are very dry.
When temps hit 55 degrees F, the trees will go dormant. At this time, it is possible to have some fruit damage. I have yet to see this happen at my home. In fact, last year was the largest crop of mandarins I have ever had with somewhere between 100 and 200 of the little rascals begging to be picked. 55 degree temps occur most frequently in autumn (September through November.) Fall lasts through December. Temps can drop to 55 degrees F and below at night. Temperatures in Superior, AZ range yearly between 75 degrees and 95 degrees.
It is important to watch the watering schedule closely. At 18 inches of rain per year in much of central Arizona, our average is much lower than the 38 inches of rain falling in the rest of the United States. Citrus being such a juicy sweet fruit , correct hydration is essential.
That's a Lot of Fruit!
Every year, 600,000 tons of mandarin oranges are grown in the USA, mainly in California, Texas, and Alabama. Over 12 million tons of mandarin oranges are harvested in China each year.
- Mat Gibson, the Gardening Channel
Hole Prep
Hole preparation is the same as for any citrus. Dig a hole twice as large as the root ball. The depth of the hole should be that of the root ball. I vary my approach and put just a little loamy soil beneath the root ball, hence just a tad deeper than many recommend. It is hard for me to envision the shallow roots of the mandarin running along the rough bottom of the hole.
Let your tree get used to the soil it grows in. Mandarin oranges love sandy well-drained loam with a slightly acidic ph. Loam is a fertile soil of clay and sand containing humus (the organic portion of the soil, hence, mulch.) This soil should not be treated with fertilizer before the tree is planted, consistent with letting the tree get used to its soil.
All of my trees have been at least 2 years old when purchased at nurseries. However, for those who are so inclined, the most frequently cited recommendation is to plant seeds indoors, then transferring the seedlings to pots or the garden.
And just to help you avoid sticker shock, my last tree (the little one) cost $96, and that was the best buy I could find. Nevertheless, the fruit yield is so amazing and good tasting that it is worth every penny in my estimation. And you will have to give some of your bounty to neighbors and relatives - and they'll come back for more.
Watering
Water the mandarin orange tree twice a week in the early morning. Since evaporation is an issue in Arizona, I turn the water on just to drip and let it soak in well. The soil should be moist, but not saturated or water-logged. Wetting the tree trunk could cause fungal problems. The soil should be left to dry down before watering again. Potted trees need more frequent watering.
To be honest, when I have noticed the leaves curling a great deal in the summer, I have been known to water a third time, but this is when the heat has been very intense in Arizona.
Fertilizing
I use Miracle Grow fruit and citrus food spikes in the spring and fall. I attribute the good fruit production to this routine. Prior to using the spikes, I had used just ammonium sulfate. Though I got fruit, I got nothing like the last 2 years of production.
A high nitrogen content in your fertilizer is mandatory. Use at least an N-P-K ratio of 20-10-10. N-P-K stands for the three main plant nutrients - nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.
I pound the stakes into the ground on opposite sides of the tree (2 spikes.) My tree is about 15 feet tall. Miracle Grow claims that the spikes should be 3 feet apart, but mine have been about 6 feet. I believe I should be honest about how I treat the trees. With one spike and then another 180 degrees around the drip line, I have had so many mandarin oranges I don't know what I would do with more (maybe start water bath canning mandarin oranges?) Miracle Grow, however, recommends using the stakes in spring and fall.
The box of spikes comes with a plastic cap that you put on the end of the spike before driving it in the ground. I use a mallet.
As advertised, the fertilizer promotes strong citrus fruit by delivering essential ingredients to the root zone of the plant. Remember, citrus trees have a shallow root system.
REMEMBER - Too much of a good thing also applies to fertilizing – keep in mind that, if you fertilize your citrus tree too often, you could wind up with less fruit or fruit of a poorer quality. To know how often you should fertilize your citrus tree, keep track of its appearance – a tree that is healthy, with lush, dark-green foliage and fruit that doesn’t fall off easily, does not need to be fertilized as often as one that has sparser, lighter color foliage and drops its fruit before it ripens. You should always fertilize your tree when it’s “hungriest” – that is, when it’s in bloom – regardless of appearance.
It's What I Use
Finishing Thoughts
Part of the joy of growing Mandarin oranges is not only the sweet juicy flavor, but the mandarin orange tree is more tolerant of drought and cold temps than the sweet orange. This is quite helpful as the American west has seen drought conditions recently.
Mandarin foliage is a gorgeous green. The dense evergreen foliage and the pure white, extremely fragrant blossoms make citrus a popular garden choice for frost-free locations.
I hope this article has encouraged you to watch your citrus grow, especially mandarin oranges, if you live in the desert southwest. If you have more questions, visit a nursery or call your local agriculture extension.
Gave this book to my kids when they were planting their first citrus in Gilbert, Arizona. The information helped them from A to Z and will be of great use.
Sources
Dand, Khyati (AUG. 12, 2021). Mashed.com, What Are Mandarin Oranges And Are They More Nutritious Than Regular Oranges? retrieved from https://www.mashed.com/486071/what-are-mandarin-oranges-and-are-they-more-nutritious-than-regular-oranges/ on June 20, 2023.
No author (no date). Plant Village (PSU.edu). Mandarin Oranges retrieved from https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/mandarin-oranges/ on June 21, 2023.
No author (Sept. 15, 2022). Mandarin Trees and Mandarin Oranges retrieved from The Mandarin Tree and Mandarin Oranges - Minneopa Orchards (minnetonkaorchards.com on June 22, 2023.
No author (2016-2023). Orange Types: Sweet, Bitter, Mandarin retrieved from HarvesttoTable.com on June 22, 2023.
Daniel (February 18, 2023). How Often to Water a Citrus Tree? - Here's Your Answer! retrieved from How Often to Water a Citrus Tree? — Here's Your Answer! (plantophiles.com) on June 23, 2023.
Rhoades, Heather (No Date) Fertilizing Citrus Trees - Best Practices for Citrus Fertilizing retrieved from Fertilizing Citrus Trees - Best Practices For Citrus Fertilizing - Gardening Know How on June 24, 2023.
No author (November 22, 2021). When - and How - to Fertilize Your Citrus Tree - Yarden retrieved from Yarden on December 1, 2023.
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