How to Grow Tangerine
Citrus reticulata
Tangerines are easy-peel citrus that can be grown in containers in the UK, spending summer outdoors in a sunny sheltered spot and overwintering in a cool bright position at 7-12C. Feed fortnightly with a specialist citrus fertiliser from April to September, switching to a winter citrus feed from October to March. Water with rainwater or soft water to avoid raising soil pH. Bring indoors before the first frosts and avoid warm centrally heated rooms — tangerines need a cool winter rest to fruit well.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed fortnightly with a specialist citrus fertiliser from April to September, then switch to a winter citrus feed (lower nitrogen, higher potash) from October to March.
Watch For
- Glasshouse red spider mite in warm dry conditions
- Scale insects on stems and leaf undersides
- Mealybugs in leaf axils
- Citrus leaf miner on young growth
- Sooty mould (secondary to sap-sucking pests)
Track your Tangerine care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun; move outdoors in summer, under cover in winter
Needs full sun. In the UK, grow in a conservatory, greenhouse, or outdoors in a sheltered sunny spot during summer. Bring under cover before first frosts.
💧 Watering
Regular rainwater; moist in summer, drier in winter
Water regularly with rainwater or soft water. Keep compost moist but not waterlogged in summer. Reduce watering in winter but never let the rootball dry out completely. Avoid hard tap water which raises soil pH.
🌱 Fertilizing
Citrus feed fortnightly in summer; winter feed Oct-Mar
Feed fortnightly with a specialist citrus fertiliser from April to September. Switch to a winter citrus feed (lower nitrogen, higher potash) from October to March.
✂️ Pruning
Prune in spring to shape; remove suckers below graft
Prune in spring to shape and remove dead or crossing branches. Pinch back leggy growth to encourage bushiness. Remove any suckers from below the graft union.
❄️ Overwintering
Overwinter at 7-12°C in bright cool position
Not frost hardy. Bring indoors before first frosts to a cool bright position (7-12°C is ideal). Avoid warm centrally heated rooms — tangerines need a cool winter rest to fruit well.
🍎 Harvesting
Harvest when fully coloured; won't ripen off the tree
Fruit ripens from late autumn through winter. Leave on the tree until fully coloured and sweet. Tangerines do not ripen further after picking.
Growing Tips
Cool winter rest
Overwinter at 7-12C in a bright, cool position; avoid warm centrally heated rooms as tangerines need a cool winter rest.
Rainwater for citrus
Use rainwater or soft water — hard tap water raises soil pH and causes yellowing leaves in citrus.
Citrus-specific feed
Feed fortnightly with specialist citrus fertiliser in summer, switching to a winter citrus feed from October.
Remove rootstock suckers
Remove any suckers growing from below the graft union — they are rootstock growth and will not produce good fruit.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Glasshouse Red Spider Mite
Identification: Fine stippling on upper leaf surfaces. Leaves become dull and bronzed. Fine webbing visible on undersides in severe infestations.
- Introduce the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis
- Mist foliage regularly to raise humidity
- Spray with insecticidal soap
- Spray with a miticide if biological control is insufficient
Pest Scale Insects
Identification: Small brown or white limpet-like bumps on stems and leaf undersides. Sticky honeydew and sooty mould on foliage.
- Scrub off with a soft brush dipped in soapy water
- Apply a winter plant oil wash
- Encourage parasitic wasps
- Spray with a plant oil-based insecticide
Pest Mealybugs
Identification: White, waxy, cottony clusters in leaf axils and on stems. Sticky honeydew and sooty mould. Stunted growth.
- Dab individual bugs with a cotton bud soaked in methylated spirit
- Introduce the ladybird Cryptolaemus montrouzieri as biological control
- Spray with insecticidal soap
- Spray with a systemic insecticide containing acetamiprid
Pest Citrus Leaf Miner
Identification: Silvery, winding trails within young leaves. Leaves curl and become distorted. Mainly affects new flushes of growth.
- Remove and destroy affected leaves
- Hang yellow sticky traps near plants to monitor and catch adults
- Spray with a systemic insecticide when new growth begins
Disease Citrus Canker Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri
Symptoms: Raised, corky brown lesions on leaves, stems, and fruit, often with a yellow halo. Leaves may drop. Fruit becomes blemished and unmarketable.
Treatment: Prune out affected growth well below visible symptoms. Sterilise tools between cuts. Destroy prunings.
Prevention: Buy certified disease-free plants. Avoid overhead watering. Maintain good hygiene. Quarantine new plants.
Disease Sooty Mould Various fungi (Capnodium spp. and others)
Symptoms: Black, soot-like coating on leaves and stems. Does not directly damage the plant but blocks light and reduces photosynthesis.
Treatment: Wipe off with a damp cloth. Control the underlying pest (scale, mealybug, or aphid) producing the honeydew on which the mould grows.
Prevention: Control sap-sucking pests promptly. Improve air circulation. Wipe leaves regularly.
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 350 cm |
| Row spacing | 450 cm |
| Mature height | 400 cm |
| Mature spread | 300 cm |
Similar to mandarin. Semi-dwarf 3-4m apart. Dwarf varieties 2-3m. Easy-peel citrus with sweet, aromatic fruit.
Log Tangerine in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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