How to grow Mandarin
Updated October 2026
Mandarins, including tangerines and satsumas, are easy-peeling citrus that suit home gardens well. Satsuma is the most cold-hardy and the safest citrus for North Florida, the Gulf Coast and much of Texas, while other mandarins thrive in Central and South Florida, Arizona and California. Some need a second variety nearby to set fruit.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Mandarin
Not to be confused with: Mandarins include tangerines, satsumas and clementines. Tangelos are crosses of mandarin with grapefruit or pummelo, and kumquats are a separate, even hardier citrus.
Where to plant
Plant mandarins in full sun in well-drained soil, sheltered from cold wind, at least 15 feet from other trees and away from septic tanks and drain fields.
Choose a variety to suit your winters. Satsuma mandarins are especially suitable for colder locations north of Orlando, and Texas A&M AgriLife lists satsuma and tangerines among the cold-hardy citrus for freeze-prone parts of Texas. Young trees still need covering in hard freezes.
- North Florida, the Gulf South and Texas: satsuma is the safest citrus. Plant after the last frost in a sunny, sheltered spot and cover young trees on freeze nights; in Texas, protect them when temperatures drop below about 25°F.
- Central and South Florida: most mandarins, tangerines and tangelos grow well. Plant container trees in the cooler months.
- Southern and Northern California and the Desert Southwest: plant in spring after frost or in fall in mild areas.
- Hawaii: grows outdoors.
- Colder regions: grow a dwarf tree in a container and bring it inside for winter.
Choosing a variety
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| Satsuma | Very early, September to November; few seeds and self-fruitful; the most cold hardy. Fruit holds on the tree for only about four to six weeks |
| Fallglo | Very early, October to November; scab resistant; a pollinizer for Sunburst |
| Sunburst | Early, November to December; needs a pollinizer such as Fallglo or Temple |
| Ponkan | Midseason; excellent, easily peeled fruit; tends to bear heavily in alternate years |
| Dancy | The classic tangerine, December to January; self-fruitful |
Some mandarins, including Sunburst and Robinson, set little fruit unless a compatible variety grows nearby. Buy certified trees from a licensed nursery in your own state.
How to plant
- Plant a container-grown tree at the same soil level as in its pot, with the top of the root ball slightly above grade in sandy soil. Loosen some potting mix from the outside of the root ball.
- Build a watering basin that holds 5 to 10 gallons. Fill it twice a week for the first month, then whenever new growth wilts in the afternoon.
- Keep grass, weeds and mulch away from the trunk to prevent foot rot.
Watering and feeding
Water young trees often while they establish, and established trees deeply in dry spells, especially from flowering through fruit growth. Never let the roots sit in soggy ground.
In Florida, feed with a balanced citrus fertilizer with micronutrients in split applications from February to October. Young trees get small, frequent feeds; established trees a few larger ones. A soil test can show whether you need phosphorus at all.
Pruning and care through the year
- Remove sprouts from below the graft, which come from the rootstock.
- Mature mandarins need little pruning beyond removing dead wood and water sprouts.
- Thin a very heavy crop on young trees for better-sized fruit and to reduce alternate bearing.
- Before a freeze, water the soil a few days ahead, pull mulch back and cover young trees to the ground.
- Watch new shoots for Asian citrus psyllid and report suspected citrus greening.
Harvesting
Taste to judge ripeness, as mandarins can color before they are sweet. Satsumas ripen from about September to November but keep their quality on the tree for only four to six weeks, so pick promptly. Later mandarins and tangerines ripen through winter. Clip the fruit rather than pulling, to avoid tearing the thin peel.
Growing in pots
Satsumas and dwarf mandarins grow well in large containers with drainage holes and free-draining mix. Water and feed more often than trees in the ground, and bring the pot somewhere bright and frost free before cold nights.
Companion planting
Citrus do best with the area under the canopy kept clear of grass and weeds. Low flowers at the edge of the bed bring in beneficial insects.
Good companions
- Nasturtium A low annual for the bed edge whose flowers bring in pollinators; keep it away from the trunk.
- Marigold Adds flowers for beneficial insects at the edge of the bed.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to mandarin.
- Lawn and weeds Grass and weeds compete with citrus roots and, at the trunk, can promote foot rot.
Pests and diseases
Citrus greening, spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, is the serious threat. Several mandarins are also prone to Alternaria brown spot and scab in humid Florida.
Pests to watch for
- Asian citrus psyllid Tiny mottled brown insects feeding head down on new shoots; nymphs leave white, waxy strands. They spread citrus greening.
- Scale Small bumps on twigs and leaves with sticky honeydew.
- Aphids Curled new leaves with clusters of small insects; Fallglo and Temple are prone.
Diseases to watch for
- Citrus greening (HLB) Blotchy yellowing of leaves and small, lopsided, poorly colored fruit. There is no cure.
- Citrus scab Raised, corky scabs on young fruit and leaves.
- Melanose Small, raised, rough brown specks on fruit and leaves.
- Root rot Yellowing and decline in poorly drained soil; keep soil and mulch off the trunk.
Common questions
What is the most cold-hardy mandarin?
Satsuma. UF/IFAS describes satsumas as especially suitable for colder locations north of Orlando, and they are the safest citrus for North Florida and the Gulf Coast. Young trees still need protection in hard freezes.
Do mandarins need a pollinator?
Some do. Sunburst, Robinson and several tangelos set little fruit without a compatible variety nearby. Satsuma, Dancy and Ponkan are self-fruitful.
Why do my satsumas get puffy and dry?
Satsumas keep their quality on the tree for only about four to six weeks after ripening. Pick them promptly once they taste sweet.
Can I bring a citrus tree from another state?
Often not. USDA rules restrict moving citrus plants out of areas quarantined for citrus greening, and states have their own citrus quarantines. Buy a certified tree from a licensed nursery in your own state.
Why does my mandarin crop heavily one year and lightly the next?
Some varieties, such as Ponkan and Murcott, tend to bear in alternate years. Thinning a very heavy crop and feeding regularly helps even it out.
Sources we checked: UF/IFAS EDIS: Citrus Culture in the Home Landscape (HS132); UF/IFAS Extension Levy County: Citrus for North Florida; USDA APHIS: Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid; UF/IFAS EDIS: Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (IN160); Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Bexar County: Growing Your Own Citrus.
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