How to grow Tangelo

Where to plant

Plant tangelos in full sun in well-drained soil, sheltered from cold winds. Like all citrus, they rot in waterlogged soil.

Tangelos are a little more cold hardy than sweet oranges, and Orlando is hardier than Minneola. Because Minneola fruit does not ripen until midwinter, it is a poor choice for colder parts of Florida where freezes may come first.

• South Florida: plant in the cooler, drier months so roots settle before the summer rains. Buy certified trees and watch for citrus greening.
• Central Florida: plant in late winter to spring; Orlando and Minneola are both grown here.
• North Florida and the Gulf South: risky. Plant after the last frost in a sheltered spot, choose Orlando, and cover young trees on freeze nights.
• Desert Southwest: plant in late winter or October to miss the summer heat; wrap or paint the trunk against sunburn and water deeply.
• California: plant in spring after the last frost, or in October in Southern California. Inland trees need more water than coastal ones.
• Texas: outdoors only in the Rio Grande Valley. Hawaii: grows well in the lowlands.
• Everywhere else: grow a dwarf tree in a large container and bring it inside for winter.

Choosing a variety

• Minneola (Honeybell) is a Duncan grapefruit and Dancy tangerine cross released in 1931, with a distinctive neck at the stem end. It ripens from December to February and is not strongly self-fruitful: plant it near a pollinizer such as Temple or Sunburst for better crops.
• Orlando is a sister variety, flatter and round, ripening earlier, about November to January, and is slightly more cold hardy.
• Cross-pollinated fruit has more seeds; solitary trees give fewer seeds but smaller crops.
• Always buy certified, disease-free trees from a licensed nursery in your own state.

How to plant

1. Choose a certified grafted tree and a sunny spot with room for it and a pollinizer.
2. Plant at the depth it grew in the pot, keeping the graft union well above the soil.
3. Water in thoroughly and keep the soil evenly moist while the tree establishes.
4. Mulch a wide circle, keeping the mulch a few inches from the trunk.

Watering and feeding

Water young trees regularly, and established trees deeply during dry spells, especially during flowering and fruit set. Avoid soggy soil.

Feed with a citrus fertilizer that includes magnesium and minor elements, following the label for the tree's age, mainly from late winter to early fall.

Pruning and care through the year

• Remove any shoots growing from below the graft.
• Prune only to remove dead, damaged or crossing wood and to keep the tree manageable.
• Cover young trees to the ground on freeze nights where frost is possible.

Harvesting

Citrus does not ripen after picking, so taste a fruit before harvesting the rest. Orlando ripens from about November to January and Minneola from December to February. Clip fruit with a short stem rather than pulling it, which can tear the peel. Fruit holds on the tree for a while, and keeps two to three weeks in the fridge once picked.

Growing in pots

In cold areas, grow a dwarf tangelo in a container at least 20 inches wide with a free-draining citrus mix, outdoors in summer and in a bright, cool room in winter.

Using it

Peel and eat tangelos fresh or juice them; they are very juicy. Segments suit salads, and the zest flavors baking.