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.

Here are five helpful and handy citrus oil remedies:

Acid Reflux: In recent studies, citrus oil and juice has been shown to alleviate a great deal of the discomfort associated with acid reflux. It is believed that the acids in the citrus remedies counteract the body’s own acidity and as a result decreases the amount of reflux and calm any burning sensations.

Fatigue: Citrus oil can have an extremely rejuvenating and energizing effect when used as aromatherapy. When essential oils are added to warm bath water, anyone can take advantage of this and can successfully decrease the symptoms associated with fatigue, sleep deprivation or low energy.

Hair Growth: When combined with other essential oils such as cedar wood, rosemary and lavender, citrus oil is said to rejuvenate damaged hair follicles and increase the amount of new hair growth. Though this remedy is not scientifically proven, studies done recently in Scotland showed a 44% increase in hair growth for all participants!

Common Cold: Though citrus oils may be too strong for these remedies, lemon juice has often been used to cure the common every day cold. Whether added to tea, steeped with whiskey or used in humidifier mists, citrus juice and oils are known worldwide to alleviate many cold symptoms such as congestion, chest cough and sore, scratchy throats.

Bacteria and Germs: Need an all-natural antibacterial hand soap to help combat bacteria and seasonal germs? Consider using citrus oils and juices. When rubbed on hands, lemon and lime oils can help to kill any bacteria that regular soap leaves behind. This is the perfect remedy for anyone who finds themselves working in germ-infested conditions such as school classrooms, public washrooms or even pet care!

Vitamin C is also used to keep your joints, bones and skin strong. It also helps heal wounds and helps the immune system.

So, every morning, to help your body fight off disease and stress, drink a large glass of orange, lemon or grapefruit juice.  Your body will love you for it.

The Captain crossed the Jamaican sweet orange with the Indonesian pomelo. In fact until the 1800s the fruit was called the Shaddock. The tangy fruit eventually became known as the grapefruit.

Today the grapefruit is counted among the “7 Wonders of Barbados.” For decades the grapefruit was grown mainly as an ornamental fruit. It did not find real commercial success until the creation of the Ruby Red variety in the 1920s.

For mysterious reasons, the pink grapefruit became a popular food in a way the original white grapefruit did not. Today the red grapefruit is one of the state symbols of Texas where the originally Ruby Red was first created. The United States is the number one producer of the grapefruit with production concentrated in Texas, California, Florida and Arizona.

Grapefruit trees thrive in a subtropical climate. Temperatures and humidity levels affect flowering periods; peel thickness and even levels of acidity and juiciness. If you plan to plant a grapefruit tree, ensure that you are in an area where grapefruit trees can thrive, otherwise opt for a potted variety.

Like all citrus trees grapefruit trees need nutrient rich soil and should be fertilized often with potassium and nitrogen rich mixtures if you want them to bear fruit. They need plenty of sunshine, deep watering at least once a week and well draining soil to prevent root rot.