"Orange" (Satsuma, Mandarin, Tangerine, Clementine)

Description

Making mature trees laden with fruit in warmer climates, (not normal large oranges!) these smaller-fruiting plants also make attractive pot plants in colder climates, when they will produce fragrant orange blossom, followed by sweet fruit if kept warm. Mandarin is the blanket term for this group of fruiting trees, but is mainly used outside the USA, and the name Tangerine is the English word for the Mandarin. There are several groups of Mandarins, and the most desirable one is the Satsuma which is also the easiest to peel due to its loose leathery skin. These seeds have been collected from Satsumas, which are similar in taste to Clementines but are sweeter. They are nowadays specially bred to be seedless, hence the scarcity of good, viable seeds.

Sowing Advice

These seeds have already been thoroughly cleaned and should be sown into a well-drained, sandy compost at any time of the year, and covered thinly with sand or grit and kept moist. Keep at between 20-25 degrees C. Seeds sometimes germinate within 4 to 6 weeks although some may take very much longer so please be patient. Plant out in the open ground in warmer countries or in a large container elsewhere.

Key Facts