Tangerines are smaller than regular oranges, are generally sweeter in taste and the peel comes off much easier. They are very popular eaten fresh, though they are sometimes juiced as well. Tangerines aren’t a fruit that is used in cooked or baked dishes very often. Though smaller than an orange, they are still very high in vitamins C and A, fiber and folic acid.
Steps To Grow Tangerines
- Purchase tangerine seeds from a garden center or nursery. Alternatively, save the seeds from a fresh tangerine. Wash fresh seeds thoroughly as the sweet juices may cause the seed to mold.
- Fill a small pot with commercial potting mixture. Use a fresh mixture that contains materials such as compost, peat moss and perlite. Be sure the pot has drainage holes in the bottom, as poorly drained soil will rot the young seedlings.
- Water the potting mixture and then set the pot aside to drain until the mixture is lightly moist but not soggy.
- Plant two or three seeds in the pot. Cover the seeds with 1/2 inch of potting mixture.
- Cover the pot with clear plastic, or slide the pot into a plastic bag. The plastic promotes germination by keeping the potting mixture warm and moist.
- Place the pot in a warm location such as the top of a refrigerator or other appliance. Light is not important at this stage.
- Water as needed to keep the potting mixture moist, but not soggy. Never allow the mixture to become dry. Watch for seedlings to develop in about three weeks.
- Remove the plastic covering as soon as the seedlings emerge. Move the pot into a location with bright, indirect sunlight and room temperatures of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid direct sunlight, which may scorch the tangerine seedlings.
- Repot the seedlings into individual, 4- to 6-inch pots when the seedlings have a pair of true leaves, which are the leaves that appear after the initial seedling leaves. Continue to keep the potting soil lightly moist.
- Feed the tangerine tree monthly throughout spring and summer, using a organic fertilizer . Mix the fertilizer at half the strength suggested on the container.
- Repot the tangerine tree into larger containers as it grows, using a pot only slightly larger each time. The moisture in a too-large pot may cause the plant to rot. Alternatively, plant the tree outdoors in spring if you live in a warm climate.
