A fragrant citrus tree is no more difficult to grow than any other fruit crop. Having learned how to grow tangerines, you can use the advantages of this tree - high immunity, ease of care and good yield will simplify the task for the most inexperienced gardener.

Where are tangerines grown?

Citrus fruits are sensitive to climate: their homeland is subtropics, so they require short, warm winters and long, humid summers. This rule applies to growing in open ground, since in an apartment a heat-loving tree can bloom and bear fruit practically all year round. Recommendations on how to grow tangerines at home vary depending on the growing conditions. Their main differences are that:

1. For planting in the garden, you should choose early-ripening crops with small, sweet fruits, so as not to worry about crop loss due to early frosts and heavy rains. Development indoor varieties can be adjusted artificially - the choice here is unlimited.
2. When experienced gardeners They tell you how to grow a tangerine, they first mention the planting location. It should be the sunniest in the garden and at the same time protected from the cold wind. On the windowsill or in winter garden additional lighting and sprayer are installed.

Growing tangerines in open ground

If a garden is still chosen as the planting site, the most suitable ones are selected. frost-resistant varieties from existing ones. It is worth paying attention to hybrids: they are bred artificially, which guarantees good varietal characteristics. In open ground they grow both through direct planting of seeds and after transplanting cuttings. To avoid having to rack your brains over whether it is possible to grow tangerines in a regular garden after purchasing seeds, you should pay attention to the following varieties:

• "Clementine";
• "Pioneer 80";
• "Kawano-Wase";
• "Sochi 23";
• "Unshiu latifolia."

How to grow tangerine in a pot?

It’s easier to grow any plant at home because you don’t have to deal with the vagaries of the weather and pest attacks. It is not worth purchasing a grown tree from flower shop sellers, if only because the plants are prepared for sale with the addition of strong fertilizers, without which the tree at home can die in a couple of days. The following knowledge about this culture will help you understand how to grow a tangerine on a window:

1. From planting a seed or cutting to the appearance of fruit, at least 2-3 years pass. During this time, the plant will change its thin leaves to dense leaves, as if covered with wax, and will strengthen the trunk, as well as root system.
2. The correct shape of a citrus tree is spherical or close to it. Experts who know how to grow tangerines insist on this form, because it allows timely detection of diseases of the trunk and upper part of the root.
3. The worst neighbors for tangerines, which affect the growth energy and taste of the fruit, are poisonous indoor plants (cyclamen, spurge, dieffenbachia or striped aloe).

How to grow tangerines from seeds at home?

Everything related to the answer to the question of whether it is possible to grow a tangerine from a seed at home is similar to the method of germinating any fruit on a windowsill. The bones are soaked in gauze for a week to swell. The gauze cloth should be slightly damp, but not wet. It can be replaced with a hydrogel that retains moisture. After pecking the shoots, they are replanted according to the following principle:

1. Seeds are buried 2-3 cm deep in a peat pot with a mixture of base soil and turf soil with the addition of clay.
2. The first feeding is carried out when the height of the sprout reaches 5-6 cm.
3. When the tangerine has strengthened, it, together with the earthen lump, is transplanted into a large pot.

Is it necessary to graft tangerines grown from seeds?

Without grafting, tangerine will certainly produce fruits, which in most cases will taste bitter. The guaranteed result of a full harvest with excellent taste can only be promised by the scion. Before grafting a tangerine grown from a seed, the future workplace disinfected to ensure the survival of shoots. The manipulation itself does not require any special skills:

1. A miniature T-shaped incision is made on the trunk of the plant, the vertical of which will be 2 times longer than the horizontal.
2. From a scion taken from a fruiting plant, a section of a branch with a bud, without a leaf plate and thorns, is taken. It is inserted into the cut, and then the injured area of ​​the trunk is wrapped with elastic tape - otherwise, how to grow a tangerine if it is ruined by an infection? The plant is placed under glass jar or cover with a bag.
3. When the bud has sprouted, the jar is removed and the incision site is treated.

When will a tangerine grown from a seed bloom?

Flowers on citrus are the main indicator that the plant is cared for according to all the rules. Flowers will appear on it 3-4 weeks after the first ovaries appear. If growing a tangerine from a seed takes too long and the buds do not appear, a beginner can speed up their appearance using proven methods:

• tying strong branches;
• deprivation of water for 1-2 weeks;
• refusal to replant into fresh soil, which is carried out 2 times a year.

Will a tangerine grown from a seed bear fruit?

There is no point in waiting for the harvest in the first year after planting. There are cases when citrus began to bear fruit in the second year after grafting, but the fruits could not be eaten due to excessive use of fertilizers. For anyone who wants to understand how to grow a decorative tangerine without eating the fruit, this option is suitable. Gardeners dreaming of a juicy harvest will need at least 2-3 years until suitable ovaries appear.

How to grow a tangerine from a cutting?

Propagating citrus from a fruiting tree is easier than through seed germination. To grow a tangerine from a twig, you need to find a healthy cutting with 1-2 green leaves, and then proceed as follows:

1. A cutting is planted in a plastic pot with drainage holes at the bottom and covered with a glass jar on top.
2. It spends at least 2-3 months on rooting, during which the plant cannot be disturbed by transplanting and spraying.
3. When the tangerine begins to grow and the thickness of the trunk in diameter is 1 cm, it can be transplanted into a large pot or box.

Mandarin - growing conditions

A comfortable atmosphere for a tree can be created without serious financial expenses and time investments. The recommendations on how to properly grow tangerines at home clearly outline the basic instructions:

1. Lighting. Daylight hours for shoots that have entered growth should be increased to 12 hours. In an apartment in winter period are used for this purpose.
2. Watering. Suitable for him boiled water without foreign impurities.
3. Transfer. As soon as the level of fruiting decreases or the tree begins to hurt, it is replanted. The best time in all respects is February, March, September and October.

Mandarin at home - care

When rooting and grafting become a thing of the past, citrus will need a slightly different kind of care. Those who know how to grow a tangerine in a pot say that the emphasis should be on forming a tree. The ball, consisting of branches, is adjusted as necessary:

1. When the plant reaches 30-40 cm in height, the side shoots of the first order are pinched off.
2. If the citrus begins to branch uncontrollably, form the lower branches, removing everything up to 4-5 leaves.
3. Up to 3-4 years from fruit indoor tree remove weak shoots as they grow.

How to grow tangerine - watering

Indoor citrus, like its ancestors, reacts negatively to dry periods, so you should not forget about watering it. Growing a tangerine on a windowsill with a lack of water, but an abundance of sunlight, will lead to shedding of leaves and wilting of flowers. Excessive watering is dangerous by reducing immunity to fungal diseases. The following subtleties of watering are considered optimal:

1. Selecting the volume of water based on the size of the pot, the area of ​​the leaves and the growth of the tangerine. The higher these indicators are, the more water needs to be used to moisten the soil.
2. Checking the soil after watering. You can pierce the soil with a wooden stick 5-6 cm. It should be slightly damp, and not completely soaked with water.
3. Watering should be done before 12 noon. Then the plant activates life processes to the maximum.
4. Compliance temperature regime. No matter how much you would like to grow a tangerine as soon as possible, you should follow it life cycle. If a plant goes into “hibernation” due to a decrease in temperature outside the window, it is watered only lightly to maintain its vital activity.

How to grow tangerines with fruits - feeding

Options for citrus fertilizer are divided into two types: root and foliar. If fertilizers of the first type help to increase the immunity of the trunk, then additives of the second type accelerate the growth and ripening of glossy fruits. Since you can grow a tangerine in an apartment only in a pot or box, responsibility for saturating the soil with organic substances lies with the owner of the tree. There is no point in overfeeding it - fertilizer is used no more than once every 2-3 weeks. You can use it to enrich water before watering and spraying:

• inkstone;
• magnesium;
• zinc oxide.

Growing tangerines at home - diseases and pests

At home, there is little threat to citrus because it is resistant to most known phytoinfections. External fruit defects caused by insufficient watering or lack of sunlight and micronutrients are common. Failure to follow the rules of care is rarely displayed on the tree, but its symptoms are important for everyone to know. Among them: dwarfism, yellowing of the leaves, drying out of the trunk, folds on the leaves and shedding of the ovaries. Before you grow tangerines at home, you should familiarize yourself with the list of pests that cause diseases on citrus crops:

Is it easy to grow tangerines from seeds at home? Today we will try to thoroughly understand this issue, guiding our dear readers through a long-term process - from a seed to a fruit-bearing tree, which is quite capable of becoming another symbol of the New Year, and in general - almost any holiday. A holiday of the soul, for sure.

Meet this mandarin, a resident of exotic countries, owner of a familiar aroma, easy to care for, hardy and long-lived. Graceful branches, shiny leaves, white fragrant flowers And delicious fruits(with due patient care) make it welcome guest in every house. The plant propagates either by transplanting seedlings or by planting seeds, which can simply be pulled out from any tangerine. The tree belongs to the Rutaceae family; evergreen foliage changes quite rarely - once every four years. Tangerines at home from seed eventually bear fruit, but they are “wild”, no different taste qualities. To change the situation, vaccination is then used. Next, we will step by step consider all the procedures that can get the most out of a tangerine seed.

The plant propagates either by transplanting seedlings or by planting seeds

Every gardener knows that if you plant a seed in the ground as it is, nothing may come of it. Therefore, as a rule, the seeds are first allowed to soak and germinate. They are soaked in gauze, and after a few days the “roots” hatch. Avoid excess moisture - the seeds should be constantly in a moist environment, but not floating in it. To guarantee, they germinate not one or two, but a dozen or one and a half seeds, since many of them will die before planting and rooting. A special hydrogel also creates a moist, effective environment for seed germination. It can be purchased at many garden stores. The advantage of hydrogel is that it not only nourishes the seeds, but also creates the best microclimate. Here it is important not just to scatter the seeds over the surface, but to immerse them in the middle of the layer.

Video about growing tangerines at home

The plant should be planted on the south side, avoiding the neighborhood poisonous plants, If there are any. When it sprouts, it’s time to transplant it. Both a flowerpot and a box are suitable for this purpose. Before pouring soil into the pot, line the bottom with small pebbles or expanded clay to ensure drainage. Select the soil carefully, avoiding peat soil - peat dries out too quickly, turns sour easily, and is not very nutritious. The most suitable soil composition for tangerines is made from the following ingredients:

• Three parts turf soil;
• One part each of leaf soil, sand and rotted manure;
• A little clay, or some clay soil.

If you do not have the opportunity to make such a composition yourself, which is quite common for urban residents, neutral soils purchased in the store will be no less nutritious. They have proven themselves to be excellent “ Vermicompost" And " Rose”.

The plant should be planted on the south side, avoiding the proximity of poisonous plants

If you do not have the means or opportunity even for this option, ordinary neutral soil mixed with a small amount of organic matter, superphosphates and ash will satisfy the plant’s needs.

So, the tangerine tree is planted, and within three weeks it begins to actively grow. How to care for it to get healthy lush bush? When the first sprouts appear, feed them with fertilizers; both mineral and organic ones will be required. The best option is special fertilizers for citrus plants. Fertilizing should be done once every two weeks, immediately after watering. In order for the tangerine to produce truly sweet fruits, it is especially actively fed from mid-spring to early autumn.

For the first eight years, replant the tangerine tree every spring, and then every two years. In this case, the root system is removed and replanted along with the soil into which it grew; only the surrounding layer changes.

Make sure that the air temperature where the tangerine grows is always above 13 degrees Celsius. Dry air is harmful to the plant, so it is recommended to place the flowerpot with it surrounded by dishes with water. In the hot season, the tangerine bush requires abundant watering room water- a lot, several times a day, in cold weather - as the soil dries out (about 2-3 times in 7 days). Spraying is done weekly.

For the first eight years, replant the tangerine tree every spring.

So that growing tangerines from seeds at home does not result in a personal tragedy, for example, damage to the leaves spider mite, scale insects or citrus whiteflies, as soon as you notice the finest cobwebs on them (and make sure that it is not just a spider), wipe them with special preparations. Both sides of the leaves are processed “ Fitoverm" or " Actellicom" It is important to strictly follow all instructions.

Although by the end of the first five-year period (or even a year earlier) your green pet will begin to produce fruits, they will not necessarily be suitable for food. If you are determined to end up with not a “wild” plant, but a full-fledged fruit-bearing bush that periodically gifts you with sweet tangerines, the tangerine should be grafted. This must be done quickly, carefully, in clean conditions, and not in any month, but only when there is active movement of juices in the tree - in April, August and early May. Since the work is carried out quickly, prepare everything you need in advance, namely:

Make sure that the air temperature where the tangerine grows is always above 13 degrees Celsius

• The bush itself that you grew is called the rootstock (“where we graft”). The trunk must be 6 mm or more thick.
• Grafted cuttings (eye can also be grafted). It is called a scion (“what we graft”) and must be fresh and young (2 years or less).
• A product for healing wounds on plants based on rosin, paraffin and vegetable oil, called garden var. The ingredients are mixed at a boil, the proportions are respectively 3:6:2. After hardening and kneading, the garden varnish is ready for use.
• Scotch tape and budding knife for grafting.

Video about growing tangerines

To understand more about how to grow a tangerine at home from a seed, you need to thoroughly study the process of grafting:

1. Remove from scion sheet plates and thorns.
2. Make a T-shaped cut on the trunk, approximately at a level of ten cm. The upper part is about a centimeter, the lower part is from 2 to 4.
3. As carefully as possible, cut off a small layer of wood with a bud from the scion; it must be immediately inserted into the cut.
4. Wrap the cut area with adhesive tape, securing the scion to the rootstock.
5. For a month, keep the grafted sprout under a cover made of a plastic bag or small jar. This is necessary to create the desired microclimate of high humidity.
6. Since in a month the period of sap flow will end, to guarantee, repeat the procedure several more times on the same day - at least one bud will germinate.
7. After germination, it is time to free the sprout from the bud from the windings, and then accustom it to fresh air, increasingly removing the bag from it.
8. Another month later, having made sure rapid growth new shoot, cut off the old trunk belonging to the rootstock. The cut should be made obliquely, close to the shoot (about 0.3 cm above).
9. To prevent the plant from losing juice, the cut is lubricated with garden varnish. Thus, the juice will now go to the new, fruit-bearing shoot. He also needs to be helped to grow vertically by installing a small rail nearby.

To prevent the plant from losing juice, the cut is lubricated with garden varnish.

Now you know everything about how to grow a tangerine from a seed. As you can see, it's not that difficult. The main thing is to follow all the rules and recommendations, and if now is one of the suitable months, you can start even tomorrow!

To plant a tangerine, you will need seeds, or rather seeds, which you can “obtain” by purchasing several ripe tangerines in the store.

For the success of the event, it is better to have more seeds (at least 5-10), since not all will be able to germinate.

Next, it is necessary for the seeds to hatch or swell. To do this, the bones need to be wrapped in gauze and lightly moistened with water for several days. Optimal soil for planting will be purchased at a flower shop special land for citrus fruits, but in principle any light mixture is suitable for tangerines.

For example, if you mix turf and leaf soil, completely rotted manure humus and compost in equal parts, your tangerine will probably like it. A peat-based mixture is not worth making or buying. Don't forget about the need for drainage. It takes quite a long time for tangerines to sprout; the first noticeable shoots appear only after two to three weeks, and sometimes even a whole month.

Mandarins generally grow very slowly, and sometimes even stop growing. But if you do not lose hope and enthusiasm and provide it with the necessary care, it will grow into a beautiful tree that pleases your eyes.

Certainly, tangerine is an unpretentious tree(not only among citrus fruits, but also among all other plants), but it still requires compliance with certain rules of care. The most important condition for him - an abundance of sunlight. The light-loving tangerine requires intense lighting 12 hours a day all year round.

Mandarin is also very sensitive to humidity. In summer, it needs to be watered abundantly, but just not overwatered, and in winter, watering should be reduced, but make sure that the soil does not dry out. In addition, tangerine leaves should be sprayed daily with filtered or boiled clean water to compensate for dry air; you can even place a small indoor fountain near the tangerine so that it additionally humidifies the air.

As the tangerine tree grows, it needs to be transplanted into a larger pot.. It is best to do this in late winter - early spring. You need to take a pot with a diameter 3-5 cm larger than the previous one. The tangerine tree is replanted using the transshipment method, preserving the old earthen ball as much as possible, so as not to damage the root system of the plant.

A few weeks after transplanting, the tree should begin a period active growth. Such periods will be repeated several times during the spring-summer season. During this period, you need to feed the tangerine with minerals and organic fertilizers. You can use dried tea leaves as fertilizer, which you need to dig into the soil.

Tangerines grown at home grow only up to 1.5 m and are miniature trees that fit perfectly into any interior, even without fruit. And when a tree is strewn with fragrant flowers and then colorful fruits, it becomes a universal center of attraction, giving beauty and causing sighs of admiration.

The tangerine requires grafting in order to receive fruit from it. It is possible that the tangerine will bear fruit without grafting, but this will not happen very soon. In addition, the fruits will be small and sour. With the help of grafting, you can accelerate the onset of fruiting and achieve higher quality tangerine fruits. best time for tangerine grafting - April or the very beginning of May. At this time, the plant experiences the most active sap flow. But nothing bad will happen if you decide to plant a tangerine in August. This is no less favorable time for grafting this plant.

How to properly graft a tangerine? It is best to graft a tangerine tree onto seedlings of other citrus plants. Moreover, the grafting process itself must occur quickly, carefully and in clean conditions. To begin, prepare everything you need: a scion with wood that has matured enough, a scion from a cultivated fruit-bearing citrus plant, a garden varnish, an elastic tape and a special budding knife.

At a height of approximately 7 cm from the ground, thoroughly wipe the plant, remove all dust and dirt from it. Then, using a clean budding knife (which should be very sharp), make a cut in the bark in the shape of the letter T. Try not to touch the wood, otherwise all the work will be in vain. The top of the cut should be about 1 cm and the bottom 2.5 cm.

Next, we press down the bark with the tip of a knife and insert an “eye” into the hole, while holding it by the petiole leaf. Then we cover this leaf with bark, pressing lightly with a budding knife. Lubricate the cut made with garden varnish and carefully wrap the area with adhesive tape. Only the petiole with a leaf on it should remain on the surface.

When your plant is already grafted, place it in a small greenhouse, which you can easily make yourself from a large plastic bag or special film for greenhouses. But you shouldn’t leave the plant in the greenhouse all the time. Periodically open the film to ventilate the tree. When two to three weeks have passed after you have grafted the tangerine tree, you can appearance judge how successful your vaccination was. If the petiole has dried to the shield and turned black, you have done something wrong and the grafting should be repeated. And if the petiole turns yellow and can be easily separated from the tree trunk, your grafting was successful.

Once the scion has budded and is well established, you can remove the adhesive tape. She is no longer needed. After about three weeks, a young shoot will begin to sprout from the swollen bud. At this time you will need to trim the rootstock trunk at a height of about 5 mm above the base. The cut should be oblique. The cut itself should be treated with garden varnish.

Exist different types citrus trees that you can grow at home. Mandarin is one of the most unpretentious ones; even a novice amateur can cope with growing it. Let's consider how to properly grow tangerines at home: what should be the planting and care of seedlings; how to graft a plant to get tasty fruits; what kind of care does an adult tree need?

It is recommended to soak tangerine seeds for five days before planting. Proper soaking is carried out as follows: place 2-3 layers of gauze on a saucer, place seeds on them and cover with gauze again. Then we moisturize. There should not be a lot of water; it should be completely absorbed into the gauze. You can use cotton pads or thin cotton. You need to ensure that the material remains wet for all five days. The saucer itself must be placed in a lighted place, avoiding direct sunlight.

Necessary conditions and care of seedlings

Finally, when the tangerine seeds are sufficiently swollen, you can begin sowing. We place drainage at the bottom of the cups or a common container: small pebbles or nutshells will do. Seeds should be planted to a depth of 1–1.5 cm. If a white shoot has already appeared on a tangerine seed, this is a root, and it should be directed downward. Immediately after planting, the soil needs to be watered. Personally, after planting the seeds, I covered the top of the container with polyethylene. This creates the effect of a mini-greenhouse and improves germination, although it is not a prerequisite.

Of course, in this case, the “greenhouse” needs to be ventilated from time to time, and when the sprouts appear, “accustom” them to the microclimate in the house, gradually increasing the ventilation time. In order for tangerines to germinate successfully at home, the correct temperature should be 20–25 °C. Watering should be regular and the air should be moist.

Transplanting seedlings

Now let's look at how to plant a tangerine on permanent place. The germination time of tangerine seedlings may vary due to different conditions in houses. Sometimes the first shoots appear already on the 15th day, sometimes it may take a whole month.

When the grown tangerine seedlings have produced the first four leaves, they should be picked, that is, replanted. We plant the strongest shoots in a new container; weak plants can be immediately discarded. If one seed produces two sprouts, and they are of equal strength, plant them in separate containers, since each has its own roots. If one sprout is noticeably weaker, it is easier to pin it. Choose a pot of suitable size, fill it with drainage and some soil.

Then carefully remove the lump of earth around the roots of the seedling from the planting container. This method - waddling along with the ground - is minimally traumatic young plant. Finally, add soil to the pot. Tangerines that have not yet begun to bear fruit are replanted annually, choosing a pot 1 cm larger than the previous one. After the start of fruiting, the “living space” is increased by 4–6 cm. Large trees are not replanted; they only remove part of the top soil and fill it with fresh soil so that the plant has food.

Formation and further care

It should be taken into account that the fruits are set only on the branches of the 4th branch, so the tangerine needs to be pinched. The first is done when the shoot reaches 40 cm, removing the top. This will cause the plant to produce side shoots. They also need to be pinched into 4-5 sheets until the required ones are formed. Another way is to slightly tilt the 1st order branches towards the ground using wire.

In addition to regular care, you can form a beautiful crown of indoor citrus fruits. To do this, you need to think about the form in advance. indoor plant. Tangerine trees look good with a rounded crown, which is obtained by cutting off “stray” branches.

A house plant also needs sanitary pruning: you need to remove old, diseased and dried branches.

If the crown is very thick, it can be thinned out. Gardeners who want tangerines to produce tasty fruits at home should take into account: as a rule, when planted from a seed, a tree produces inedible fruit. To fix this, you need a grafting from a varietal cutting.

When the trunk of a plant grown from seed is the size of a pencil, a T-shaped cut of 2.5x1 cm is made on the bark at a height of 6–7 cm from the ground. Having spread the bark, insert a bud with a leaf petiole from a varietal tree and press the bark back. We treat the grafting site with garden varnish. The bark can be secured with electrical tape. Then the plant is placed in a mini-greenhouse (you can use a bag) for about a month, gradually increasing the ventilation time. If the grafting has taken root, the trunk of the rootstock must be cut diagonally with pruning shears, 5 mm beyond the grafting site, and treated with varnish. After this, remove the electrical tape.

To properly care for tangerine trees, they need to be watered regularly as the soil dries out and the crown must be sprayed. In addition to spraying, you can place containers of water next to the tree. This is especially important in the heat of summer and in winter when the air is dry due to central heating.

After flowering begins, watering is reduced, and for the winter the tree is placed in a cool place (10–12 °C) - this stimulates the setting of buds. When spraying, you need to make sure that water does not get on the flowers. Homemade tangerine requires plenty of diffused lighting. Best options there will be southern, eastern and south-eastern windows. It is advisable to disturb the plant as little as possible by rearranging. To ensure that the crown develops evenly, you can rotate the pot once every two weeks and no more than 10 degrees. Follow the rules, and your homemade tangerine will be admired!

Video “Planting a tangerine tree”

From this video you will learn how to plant a tangerine tree correctly.

Most often, people get acquainted with botany, starting with tangerines - orange, fragrant, with bright slices and inconspicuous seeds. Of course, each of us would like to grow this wonderful fruit with your own hands at home.
Therefore, when eating a tangerine, we most often bury its seed in a pot of soil where it grows. home plant. But few people know how to organize proper care to grow homemade tangerine from the seed from A to Z, and get a good harvest.

Growing tangerine from seed

Before you decide to growing tangerine from seed, think about the fact that you will have to work hard to achieve positive results. And also decide why you will grow the tangerine tree - as an ornamental one, or to produce fruit.

In addition, be prepared for a long wait, since growing a tangerine from a seed is a rather lengthy process that will continue for more than one year. And will you be prepared if the tree doesn’t bloom at all?

How to grow a tangerine from a seed yourself.

You must understand that even if you grow a tangerine tree from a seed, it can produce fruits, but they will not be at all similar to those from the seed of which it grew, because to preserve the variety, plants are propagated vegetatively - by cuttings or grafting.

Choosing the right seeds

It is better to grow tangerines from the seeds of any of the many hybrids that are sold in markets and supermarkets. They will sprout faster, bloom earlier, are easier to graft and can most often be obtained from them. edible fruits. A real tangerine is easy to distinguish from a hybrid - its fruits have no seeds.

Try to select seeds for planting so that they do not include:

1. Thin;
2. Withered;
3. Deformed;
4. With blackened ends.

How to properly prepare the soil for planting

After preparing the seeds, you need to prepare a substrate that should not contain peat, since tangerines do not like acidic soil. You can buy soil in the store, finding a mark on the package pH = 6.5 - 7 (which corresponds to neutral soil), or prepare it yourself.

Preparing the soil for planting.

The recipe for preparing the soil is simple - mix well-rotted humus in two parts with two parts of forest soil dug up under deciduous trees, and one part of sifted river sand. If there is no humus, mix non-acidic soil with sand.

Choosing a pot for growing tangerine

There is nothing difficult in choosing a container for growing tangerines. As the first pots in which young tangerines will grow, you can use 200 ml plastic cups, bowls with a depth of 7-9 cm, or use small flower pots. Any container needs drainage holes.

All citrus fruits obey one rule: what earlier seed from the fruit enters the soil, the greater the likelihood of its germination. As soon as you eat a tangerine, do not dry its seeds, but place them in the soil - dig them 4 cm deep.

Germination of tangerine seeds.

But it’s not always possible to dig in right away tangerine seeds into the ground, so to speed up the germination process, soak them for several days. To do this, choose a flat container and use a damp cloth rather than soaking the seeds in water.

Place the container with the seeds in a warm place, but make sure they are not exposed to sunlight. Do not let the fabric in which the bones are wrapped dry out. You can place a saucer with seeds in plastic bag, but leave it untied so that air can flow into it.

How to grow a tangerine from a seed.

No one can know how long it will take for the seed to germinate and sprout. This can be 15 days, but most often it takes about a month from sowing to the emergence of seedlings. During this time, make sure that the soil is sufficiently moist and the air temperature is between + 20°C and + 25°C.

At this time, do not place the pots in mini-greenhouses, since tangerines already have sufficient germination, and if you grow them in greenhouses, then you will need to accustom them to room conditions, which can be problematic.

How to replant a tangerine seedling

You can plant tangerine seeds not separately in pots, but in one bowl. Then, after four leaves appear, they can be transplanted into separate cups. After examining the resulting seedlings, choose larger and stronger ones, because using weak and deformed sprouts is not advisable. As a result, there remain strong plants that will grow and develop normally.

It may turn out that one tangerine seed will produce two sprouts. Then either:

1. Pinch the weaker sprout.
2. Plant both sprouts different pots(they must have separate root systems).

You have read the first transplant. To carry out the second transplant, it is necessary to focus on the development of the roots: when they no longer fit in the cups, the tangerine is transplanted into a larger pot along with a lump of earth.

It is not advisable to plant seedlings immediately in large pots, since the soil may become waterlogged, which has an adverse effect on the plant.

It is recommended to replant young tangerine trees Every year. If they bear fruit, there is no need to replant them more than once every 2-3 years. At the same time, you need to increase the diameters of the pots by 4-6 cm. When replanting plants, make sure that their root collar is not buried.

How is a tangerine formed?

Tangerines are plants that require frequent shaping. If the tree does not begin to branch on its own, you need to do the first pinching when the seedling grows to 30-40 cm. Thanks to pinching, the tree produces lateral shoots of the first order.

But they are not sufficient for the plant to bloom - tangerine fruiting possible only on branches of the 4th-5th order. This means that pinching continues - you need to remove the ends of the shoots after 4-5 leaves, rid the plants of weak shoots and those that grow inside the crown. The formation of the tree continues for 3-4 years.

The appearance of tangerine flowers and fruits.

In order for first-order branches to branch, reject the shoots using fixation. This interesting method is more labor-intensive, and is performed as follows: the wire is fixed at one end to a branch, and the other end is fixed with a pin on the edge of the pot so that the tangerine shoot that you are forming bends parallel to the soil.

We grow tangerines with our own hands

Tangerine trees of various ages and purposes require special care. If the tree is young (no older than five years), or it is grown not for fruit, but as a beautiful green tree ornamental plant, it is necessary:

1. Water regularly (the soil should be constantly moist, but it should not be flooded).
2. Spray frequently.
3. Provide sufficient lighting, but shade on hot summer days from the bright rays of the midday sun, and highlight on short winter days.
4. When it’s warm outside, the trees are taken out into the fresh air to gradually accustom them to outdoor conditions, but the place where they are installed must be protected from the wind.
5. Once a month, the tangerines are given a warm shower.

A blooming tangerine requires not only regular care, but also a period of winter dormancy:

1. The room temperature should be +10 +12°C.
2. Water more rarely than usual to allow the soil to dry out slightly.

A gradual increase in temperature in spring is also ensured; it is necessary to create an optimal temperature regime in order for buds to form (+16-+18°C). In the summer heat, moderate warmth is provided to the plants - the air temperature should not rise above + 25°C, since more heat may cause flowers to fall off. It must be done carefully - drops of water should not fall on the flowers.

Rules for growing tangerines from seeds.

Like others citrus plants, tangerines turn their leaves towards the light. Therefore, in order for the crown to form evenly, the tree is periodically turned. However, this is done by a maximum of 10° at a time, no more than once every couple of weeks, since citrus fruits do not like rearrangements and react negatively to this.

The process of tangerines achieving ripeness lasts almost six months, so it is necessary to arrange for the trees winter holidays, placing them in a room with a temperature of +10-+12°C, at which they will slowly ripen.

How to feed a tangerine

Small tangerine trees do not need feeding as they are transferred to larger pots. Older trees are fertilized starting from their spring growth and ending in the fall.

To do this, use a special fertilizer for citrus fruits or an infusion of mullein in water (proportion 1:10). The frequency of feeding is once every two weeks. You can also fertilize the soil with chicken droppings, and the tincture 1:20 is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:20.

If you plan to replant your tangerine, do not feed it for three days before replanting and two weeks after replanting. There is no need to feed tangerines in winter.

Features of tangerine fruiting

Fruiting of tangerines, which are grown from seeds, occurs in the 5th-6th year. At the same time, the fruits do not have the taste of the mother variety, perhaps they will differ from it in size, sweetness, aroma, but not necessarily a deterioration in the listed qualities. Their improvement is also possible.

How to increase the yield of home-grown tangerine.

During the first fruiting, all plant characteristics are not revealed. Therefore, when the tangerine tree has bloomed and bears fruit, be sure to provide it with the most suitable conditions for the manifestation of its properties during repeated fruiting.

What to do to make the tangerine bloom

A tangerine tree grown from a seed can bloom on its own, but if this does not happen, it needs stimulation.

Take copper wire and wrap it around the base of the tree trunk so that it is pressed into the bark. This will disrupt the process of sap flow in the plant, and it will “think” that it is time to bloom. The wire should remain on the trunk for six months, after which it is removed by treating the wounded area with garden varnish, which quickly restores the bark.

But if the tangerine does not have a formed crown and has not been in a dormant period, this method will not be able to force the plant to bloom. In this case, before the experiment, help the tree grow 4-5 order branches and provide it with a cold winter.

We graft tangerine

To enjoy the fruits of tangerine, it is necessary to graft trees. To do this, grow a rootstock (tangerine obtained from a seed), the thickness of the trunk of which should have a diameter a simple pencil(6 mm), and look for a scion in the form of a small piece of shoot taken from a varietal mandarin (that is, a bud or eye with a leaf petiole is taken).

At a distance of 7 cm from the soil on the rootstock bark, using a very sharp, or best of all, a special calibrating knife, make a cut with the letter “T” so as not to completely cut through the wood. The incision is approximately 2.5 cm long, and the length of the upper bridge (letter “T”) is approximately 1 cm.

Carefully bend the ends of the bark with a knife and insert a cut bud of a varietal tangerine with a leaf petiole into them, and then press the skin back into place. Then the grafting site is treated with garden varnish and tightly wrapped with blue electrical tape - only the petiole remains outside. Make a greenhouse out of the bag and place the grafted tangerine in it.

With successful grafting, the bud takes root within three weeks, and the leaf petiole turns yellow and falls off. If grafting is unsuccessful, the petiole turns black.

If the grafting is successful, the greenhouse is gradually ventilated so that the plant gets used to fresh air. A month after the shoot appears from the new bud, using a sharp pruner, you need to cut off the rootstock trunk at a minimum height of 5 mm from the grafting site. The cut should be oblique. The bandage is removed, and using garden varnish, you need to treat the cut.

Caring for tangerines during flowering and fruiting

When a tangerine tree blooms and bears fruit, it needs:

1. Phosphorus and potash fertilizers.
2. Regular, but not excessive watering.
3. After the tangerine blooms, it is sprayed so that water does not get on the flowers.

Most often, the tangerine sheds excess flowers and ovaries on its own - it regulates the load itself. When he doesn’t do this, he needs help - remove excess flowers and tangerines, leaving one fruit for every 15-20 leaves.

If you water the tangerine irregularly or with too much nitrogen, the fruits begin to burst.

For laying flower buds The tangerine tree needs to be provided with winter rest.

What pests and diseases can harm tangerine

A tangerine tree grown with your own hands from a seed is much more resistant than store-bought varieties in terms of impact external factors and pests. But he can also be “attacked” by his worst enemies, most of whom he cannot tolerate ultra-violet rays And high humidity, therefore, subject to proper plant maintenance conditions, you apply preventive measures against pests.

Mandarin can be damaged by the following pests:

Spider mite- has a body size of 0.3-0.6 mm, so it is almost impossible to notice it with the naked eye. However, if you see small light dots and the finest cobwebs on the underside of plant leaves, it means they are affected by this pest.

Having discovered it, immediately engage in a fight with it. First, thoroughly wash each leaf of the plant using warm water. running water and laundry soap.

After this, spray the tangerine tree with insecticides several times (you can use Fitoverm, Intavir, Actelik and others). The interval between treatments is 7-10 days.

Spraying tangerines to protect against pests.

Shchitovka- has the form of convex oval-shaped plates, the size of which does not exceed 4 mm. Its main symptoms are the release of a sticky syrup-like coating that appears on the leaves of plants. The pest must be destroyed in a timely manner, otherwise the tree will quickly become depleted and dry out.

First, you need to treat the tangerine with a soap solution, adding kerosene to it: dilute 5 grams of soap and 10 grams of kerosene in 1 liter of water. Spray twice a week.

If such treatment turns out to be ineffective, you can use insecticides (actara, fitoverm or others) - apply them 3-5 times, the interval between them is 15 days. Unfortunately, with this treatment, the fruits become unfit for consumption, and the top layer of soil will have to be replaced.

Mealyworm- it looks like a white fluffy coating scattered over the affected plants in small dots with a diameter of 3-6 mm. Chervets:

1. Collected by hand;
2. The plants are treated with insecticides (karbofos, decis, intavir);
3. Use an infusion of soap;
4. Use an infusion of garlic: finely chop 2 cloves and pour half a liter of boiling water. After it sits for 4 hours, it can be used for processing.

Aphid- everyone knows. It is 1-3 mm long, the color is light green. Aphids are able to reproduce quickly and form colonies. Swarms of aphids suck juices from young plants, deforming them and depleting them.

You can fight aphids with:

1. Repeated (5-7 days interval) washing of all parts of the plant with a solution of water and laundry soap.
2. Spraying with garlic infusion (finely chop 1 head of garlic and place in a glass of water. Leave for 2 days).
3. Spraying with tobacco infusion (infuse 40 grams of tobacco in 1 liter of water).

Problems when growing tangerines at home

The most common problem is that tangerine foliage turns yellow and falls off. This can happen by various reasons. The main thing is to analyze the condition of the plants without haste in order to find out the correct reason.

Mature tangerine trees sometimes begin to shed yellowed leaves due to their old age. But despite this, the tree seems healthy and continues to develop normally.

The foliage may lighten due to insufficient lighting of the tangerine. Move the tree closer to the light or take care of organizing artificial lighting.

A tangerine can shed its foliage if:

1. The air is excessively dry (this happens if the tree is not regularly sprayed. The problem is especially acute during the heating season).
2. The transplant was carried out incorrectly (the root collar was buried, or the pot was chosen too large).
3. There are drafts in the room.

It is enough to eliminate the detected causes for the tree to recover.

What problems may arise when growing tangerines at home?

If the soil is regularly waterlogged, lower leaves tangerines begin to dry out and fall off, and the leaves dry out starting from the tip. This happens when the plant is over-cared for or when it is transplanted into a pot that is too large. Replant the tree in a pot of appropriate size, containing fresh, loose and breathable soil (rotten roots must be removed from the soil).

When yellowing begins from the bottom of the crown and spreads upward, the plant is experiencing a lack of nitrogen. To solve the problem, feed the tangerine with nitrogen fertilizer.

If the young leaves of a tangerine tree have acquired a light yellow color, which gradually turns to older leaves, then the plant is susceptible to chlorosis (iron deficiency). Treat the plant with iron chelate.

If the leaves from the tree begin to fall, but there is no visible reason - perhaps the plant is suffering from a lack of potassium - feed it with potassium nitrate.

You need to know that:

1. Young trees often produce long thorns - don't do anything to them.
2. IN winter time Citrus fruits grow foliage, forming larger leaf blades compared to spring and summer leaves.
3. A tangerine seedling differs from a lemon one in that lemon leaves have a citrus scent, while tangerine leaves smell of a light aroma of fresh herbs.
4. Older plants differ in leaf petioles - they have simple petioles, and the tangerine has narrow long wings.