Oranges
Oranges are delicious when eaten fresh, juiced or cooked. Trees can grow up to 6 metres so for small gardens or pots, choose a dwarf variety.
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Who doesn’t love a good mandarin? Easy to peel, easy to eat and easy to grow! You can have fruit from autumn (depending on the variety) and you can even plant varieties with less seeds – perfect for kids! Mandarin trees can reach up to 4-5m, but you can buy dwarf plants that are ideal for growing in small gardens and pots. You do need a little patience though, as mandarins (and other members of the citrus family) need at least 2-3 years before the first harvest.
How to grow Mandarins in a garden
- Choose a sunny spot with well drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food. If the soil is clay based, improve soil structure by adding gypsum and forking in well. In poorly drained areas, citrus can also be planted in a raised mound of free-draining soil.
- Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.
- Mulch around the base with organic mulch like woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.
- Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.
- During the growing and flowering/fruiting season, feed with Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Granular Plant Food. Throughout the year, apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
How to grow Mandarins in a pot
When planting in a pot be sure to choose a dwarf mandarin variety.
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- Choose a pot at least 500mm wide. Position in full sun and fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Nature's Way Organic Citrus & Fruit Mix. TIP: Consider placing the pot on wheels if you live in a cold area, so it can be easily moved inside or to a sunnier and more protected spot in winter.
- Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.
- Water deeply, 2-3 times during the week, depending on weather conditions.
- During the growing and flowering/fruiting season, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Citrus Liquid Plant Food. Throughout the year apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
Growing tips
- Remove any small fruit that develop within the first two years - this allows the tree to devote its energy to growing strong healthy stems and roots.
- In heavy clay soils, it’s best to put extra effort into soil preparation. To check if your soil needs work, dig a hole and pour a bucket of water into the hole – if it takes more than 30 minutes to disappear, then you will need to improve your drainage. Consider raising the level of the bed as much as possible (at least 40cm above the clayey soil) with free draining garden soil, dig in gypsum to help break up the clay and add Yates Nature's Way Organic Compost & Soil Improver.
- Before planting, raise the level of the bed as much as possible, dig in gypsum and plenty of composted organic matter, such as Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.
- If you’re short of sunny spots in the garden, grow citrus in pots that can be moved to take advantage of changing patterns of sunlight.
- Potted citrus should be grown in a good quality mix (such as Yates Nature's Way Organic Citrus & Fruit Mix) and moved into larger containers as they grow.
More Plants
Apples
Apples can grow into large trees, but you can also find dwarf forms. Be sure to find a self-fertile variety or two which can cross-pollinate.
Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Granular Plant Food
Specially formulated to grow citrus & fruit trees, with high potassium for more abundant fruit & added magnesium to help prevent leaf yellowing.
Yates Thrive Citrus Liquid Plant Food
Provides your citrus trees with the balanced nutrients they require for healthy growth, fruit production and development.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
Yates Nature's Way Organic Citrus & Fruit Mix
This nutrient-rich versatile mix can be used for all types of organic fruit including citrus, limes and mandarins as well as fruit trees.
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