The mandarin orange is originally from China and spread throughout Asia in the 10th century. The plants reached Europe in the early 1800s, and then came to the U.S in 1882.

The mandarin fruit have an easy to peel red-orange skin and is sometimes called a Tangerine. The fruit is smaller and usually sweeter than a regular orange, and are ready to pick in the winter. Some of the available varieties are Satsuma, Pixie and Clementine.

As most citrus trees, they need to be planted in full sun and in well-drained soil.

Young mandarin trees need to be watered frequently, but be sure to let them dry between watering. The more established trees can live off rainfall.

The trees need to be fertilized every 6 weeks, and then once established, only 3 times a year.

Mandarin oranges have a definite citrus smell and taste. I have a orange slice cheesecake recipe where I add these mandarin slices and it is heavenly.

The dwarf type can be grown conveniently indoors in a pot or in a yard with limited space. It is said that one adult tree can provide fruit for the whole neighborhood. The Lisbon variety is a hardy tree but prefers a warmer climate.

For areas of the country with frequent frost temperatures the Eureka type is preferable. The Lisbon lemon tree will die back to the roots after a hard frost. The Lisbon has sharp spines in abundance but this is a small drawback considering it’s other useful qualities.

The dwarf Lisbon lemon tree can be traced back originally to Portugal. Today it is one of the most popular varieties of lemon trees in California. The Lisbon needs lots of sun and nutrient rich soil.

It should be fertilized frequently with nitrogen, potassium and organic matter. If potted be sure to keep it well drained. If the tree is kept out of doors part of the year and brought in doors for winter you have two options for keeping it healthy.

If you keep it in the sun while indoors than you need to fertilize it several times in order to promote continued growth. It can also be kept in a cooler room with no sunlight and it will become essentially dormant for the indoor/winter season and will not require fertilization.

With a little work and attention, you are sure to love your tree for many years to come.

Minerals: A very common mistake that most gardeners make is to assume that all trees have the same needs when it comes to fertilizers. However, the truth is most brands of tree fertilizer are not sufficient citrus tree food. Citrus species all need micronutrients and they need a lot of them to grow and produce healthy fruit. Your citrus tree will also need base minerals such as phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. But in addition to these it will also need other more specific minerals such as copper, boron, magnesium and zinc.

Mycorrhizal Fungi: This healthy fungus is what helps a tree pull nutrients from the soil. You may not need to add it into your soil if your citrus tree is planted in close proximity to other larger trees. However, if you are one of the many that are planting their tree into a container, then you will have to add the fungi. Mycorrhizal fungi can also be added again at a later date to improve your citrus tree food in the cooler months.

Iron Tablets: There is also one last element that is important to add to your citrus tree food and that is iron. To predict potential iron deficiency you will have to look closely at your citrus tree’s leaves. If they are pale yellow and seem to stop growing soon after they appear then you may have to add iron to your soil. Another way to check iron amounts is to test the PH level in your soil. If your soil reads as seven or higher, then you soil is too alkaline and your tree is not benefiting for the nutrients in your soil. If this is the case simply add some iron caplets to your soil.

In large orchards, citrus trees are grown as huge shrubs, with their branches being low to the ground. For the home grower living in a sunny area, that is also a good idea as it will produce a large harvest. But, if you live in a humid area, remove the lower branches to fight disease and fungus.

When pruning citrus trees, you do not need any large or special equipment. If you have unwanted new growth, simply snap them off with your fingers. For small stems and large wood, you can use hand pruners or even a pruning saw.

When pruning indoor citrus trees, you should prune when they have finished with their blossoms, and before they produce fruit. You can prune by hand, being sure to trim just a little bit at a time.

Fruit thinning of your citrus trees will also help promote canopy growth in your young trees.

Citrus fruit trees sometimes have a large fruit crop one year, and then a small fruit crop the next. Fruit thinning will help take care of this problem and give you a great fruit crop each year.

The easiest way to remove small citrus fruit, is just to pinch the small stem and twist it off.  Be sure NOT to remove more than 15% of the fruit as anything over that amount will greatly affect your tree.

Step One:

Take your time choosing your tree’s container.

The best container to use will be approximately 6 inches larger than the container your tree was sold in. You will also want to look for a container that has larger than average drainage holes. A dwarf eureka lemon tree needs well drained soil to maintain a healthy root system, a container that has smaller drainage holes will lead to soggy and weak roots.

Step Two:

Take your time choosing your potting soil.

A dwarf eureka lemon tree will actually prefer sandy, dry soil and will not do well in most retail brands of potting soil. To begin planting your tree start by filling your container half way with loose, dry soil.

Step Three:

Take your time planting your tree.

Citrus trees as a species are less hardy than other tree types and can be fragile while being transplanted or placed into a new container. To begin planting your dwarf eureka lemon tree carefully remove it from its original pot and lightly shake the access soil from the roots. Be carefully not to damage the smaller, newly formed roots. Now, place the tree into your container and fill the remaining space with your sandy potting soil, packing it down firmly as you go.

Step Four:

Take your time watering your new citrus tree.

Dwarf eureka lemon trees love moist soil and need to be watered every day. If you are keeping your container tree indoors you may want to keep a small misting bottle and give the leaves a light spray every morning. You may also wipe the leaves of your citrus tree with a damp cloth to remove dust; this is not necessary for plant health but will improve the appearance of an indoor tree.

Step Five:

Take your time enjoying the fruits of your labor.

A dwarf eureka lemon tree is a great house or container plant and can be a lot of fun to own! It is a good idea to replant your tree into a larger pot once every year and you will enjoy bright, juicy fruit every season! Remember, always make time to stop and smell the lemons!

Tip #1: Add Animal Manure or Seaweed Fertilizer

Animal manure, especially chicken manure is extremely high in nitrogen and potassium, two things that hungry citrus trees love to have in their soil. You can also try a seaweed fertilizer if you are uncomfortable with animal manure. Also, if you find your tree is a bit picky about its soil and planting location try adding some potash to balance all of your soil nutrients.

Tip #2: Location, Location, Location

Though organic citrus care involves many different elements such as plant food, pest control and fertilization, there are also other, more simple points to consider. One of the most important is the planting location. To successfully produce organic fruit you must choose a location where the tree will receive at least eight hours of direct sun each and every day.

Tip #3: Pesticide-Free Pest Removal

The one thing that sets organic citrus care apart from other gardening styles is the avoidance of pesticides. If you are worried about your trees and the number of harmful pests in your region consider releasing some ladybugs into your garden. They will keep the number of aphids down and as a result will lower the number of illness and diseases.

Tip #4: Set a schedule

It is important when considering organic citrus care to become familiar with your trees seasonal changes and needs. For example, while growing fruit your tree will need extra amendments added to the soil and will need new, fresh fertilizer every other day. To stay organized develop a weekly schedule that outlines the different amounts and types of manure, nutrients and fertilizers you’ve used.

1. Do not mulch around your tree. Mulching can lead to disease and insect damage.

2. Only use fertilizers created specifically for citrus trees. The ordinary plant fertilizer will not give your tree the proper balance.

3. Never fertilize a citrus tree when it is in bloom. This will cause the blossoms to fall off.

4. Prune your tree after your citrus fruit has been harvested and then only remove dead branches.

5. Keep your citrus tree branches off the ground, as this will help defeat disease and fungus.

6. Water your tree about once a week. It should be a deep watering and the soil should drain well.

7. When you by a tree, be sure it has deep green and glossy leaves. Do not buy a tree with yellowing leaves, rotting stems or signs of pests.

8. If planting your tree in the ground, be sure to wait until the last frost has passed. Plant it in a sunny location and in fertile soil.

9. Indoor citrus trees need a lot of humidity, so be sure to mist them daily.

10. If you indoor tree is not blooming, there might not be enough sunlight, or the container might be too large.