How to Grow Tangelos in the US

Updated September 2026

Minneola and Orlando, plus the pollinizer they need

Tangelos are crosses between a mandarin and a grapefruit or pomelo. They peel easily like a mandarin and are juicy and sweet-tart. Minneola, with its knob-shaped neck, is a Florida favorite and is also sold as Honeybell.

Grow tangelos like other citrus, with one important difference: the main varieties crop poorly on their own and need another citrus variety nearby for pollination.

Where Tangelos Grow in the US

Tangelos grow outdoors in Central Florida, planted from September to March, and in South Florida, where the cooler, drier months from October to March let roots settle before the summer rains. Buy certified trees and watch for citrus greening. In North Florida and the Gulf South (zones 8b to 9a) a tangelo is a little hardier than orange but still risky: plant in March or April after the last frost in a sheltered spot and cover young trees on freeze nights.

In the Desert Southwest plant in February, March or October, and wrap or paint the trunk against sunburn. In Southern California plant in March, April or October; inland trees need more water than coastal ones. In Northern California and the Central Valley plant from March to May after the last frost and cover young trees on frost nights. Hawaii's lowlands grow tangelos well. In Texas they grow outdoors only in the Rio Grande Valley; elsewhere in the state grow a dwarf tree in a container and bring it in for winter. In the Mid-South, the Southern Plains, the Pacific Northwest, the Mid-Atlantic, the Northeast and New England, the Midwest and Great Lakes, the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains and the Mountain West, winters are too cold for citrus outdoors, so grow a dwarf tree in a container and bring it inside for winter. In Alaska keep the container indoors under grow lights. Choose your region below for local planting months.

Varieties to Try

Minneola

Also sold as Honeybell. Large, deep orange fruit with a distinctive neck, very juicy and rich. Ripens in midwinter. Needs a pollinizer.

Orlando

Smaller, flatter fruit that ripens earlier, from late fall. Sweet and juicy. Also crops better with a pollinizer.

Pollinizer varieties

A mandarin such as Sunburst, or a Temple orange, flowering at the same time provides pollen. Ask your nursery which suits your tangelo.

Planting

Plant in the months shown for your region. Choose full sun and soil that drains well, and plant the pollinizer within the same yard so bees move between the two trees.

Tangelo trees grow about 10 to 16 feet tall, so allow about 13 feet between trees. Dig a hole no deeper than the root ball, keep the graft union above the soil, water in and mulch. For a container, choose a dwarf tree and a pot at least 20 inches wide.

Care and Pollination

Pollination: Minneola and Orlando are largely self-incompatible, so alone they set light crops of seedy or small fruit. Plant a compatible citrus that flowers at the same time nearby.

Feeding: Feed three times a year with a citrus-specific fertilizer: in early spring, late spring and midsummer. See our fertilizing guide for more on choosing and using fertilizer.

Water: water deeply and regularly. Uneven watering, followed by heavy rain, is the main cause of split fruit.

Thinning: in a very heavy year, thin small fruit in early summer to protect branches and improve size.

Pests and Diseases

These are the problems US gardeners are most likely to meet:

Asian citrus psyllid: A tiny sap-sucking insect that spreads huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, the most serious citrus disease in the US. There is no cure once a tree is infected. Buy only certified, disease-free trees, do not move citrus plants or cuttings across state or quarantine lines, and report suspected HLB to your local agricultural extension office.
Alternaria brown spot: A fungal disease that Minneola and Orlando are prone to in humid Florida weather. It causes dark spots with yellow halos on young leaves and fruit and early fruit drop. Prune for airflow and avoid watering the leaves.
Citrus canker: A bacterial disease found in Florida that leaves raised, corky spots with a yellow halo on leaves, twigs and fruit. It spreads in wind-driven rain and on tools. Prune out affected shoots in dry weather and clean your pruners between trees.
Citrus leafminer: Silvery trails in new leaves. Spray new growth with horticultural oil.
Scale: Brown or white bumps on stems and leaves. Spray with horticultural oil.

For detailed pest management instructions, see our organic pest management guide.

Tip: Always clip Minneolas with pruners. Pulling them tears the peel at the neck, and the torn fruit rots within days.

Harvest and Storage

Orlando ripens from late fall and Minneola in midwinter. Taste a fruit before picking the rest, because tangelos can look colored before they are sweet. Fruit holds on the tree for a while, but do not leave it too long or it dries out.

Clip each fruit with a short stem. Picked tangelos keep for 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge.

Track Your Tangelo Tree

Add tangelos to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for feeding, pest checks and harvest time.

Open the App →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a tangelo?

A tangelo is a citrus hybrid of a mandarin with a grapefruit or pomelo. It combines the easy peel of a mandarin with a juicy, sweet-tart flavor.

Why does my Minneola tangelo produce so little fruit?

Minneola sets poor crops with its own pollen. Plant a compatible citrus that flowers at the same time, such as a Sunburst mandarin or a Temple orange, close by so bees can carry pollen between them.

Can I grow tangelos in North Florida or the Gulf South?

It is possible but risky. Plant in March or April after the last frost in a sheltered spot and cover young trees on freeze nights. A satsuma is the safer citrus for those regions.

How should I pick tangelos?

Clip them with pruners, leaving a short stem. Pulling tears the peel, especially on Minneolas with their necked shape, and torn fruit spoils quickly.