Where do tangerines grow? Moroccan tangerines: description, properties, taste

In the fall, we wait for citrus fruits to appear on the shelves. Tangerines are one of the favorite delicacies of children and adults. The riper the fruits, the tastier they are and the more nutrients they contain. But when can we expect the first harvest?

Tangerine season: when does it start?

The ripening period depends on several factors - variety, region, care. The very first fruits begin to ripen towards the end of October, beginning of November. The last harvest is harvested in January. Why, then, are citrus fruits sold in stores and on the market almost until spring? It's simple, they're convenient and easy to store, and can stay fresh for weeks.

Despite the fact that today tangerines are grown in many countries and regions, in Russia you can most often find fruit from Abkhazia and the Krasnodar Territory. Spanish tangerines and citrus fruits from Georgia and Turkey are also imported to Russia.

The world leader in growing tangerines is China, followed by Spain. The list of leading countries includes Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, USA, Brazil.

When does the tangerine season begin in Abkhazia and other countries? The volume of Abkhazian citrus fruits is not as large as their counterparts from Spain. In this region, citrus fruits are harvested in November or December.

If we talk about tangerines from Abkhazia, the total volume of citrus fruits grown is about 60 thousand tons, which is not so small.

Georgian tangerines ripen a little earlier, back in October. They have a sweet, juicy texture. Turkish tangerines begin to delight us a little later, in December. The latest varieties are brought to us from Morocco.

Alas, Russia cannot boast of a large volume of tangerines grown, since the climate here is not suitable for this heat-loving plant.

In which country do they grow the most delicious tangerines?

The taste of citrus fruits depends on the variety and region. Some varieties are very sweet and juicy, while others are sour. If you believe the reviews, the most delicious fruits are from Abkhazia and Georgia. Turkish fruits are sour, which explains their more affordable price. High in price are Spanish, Italian and Chinese tangerines. They clean well and have a pleasant taste.

When does tangerine season start? Don’t be surprised if you see tangerines on the shelves already in October, because in some regions they begin to be collected during this period. Tangerine paradise will delight us until the end of winter.

The sweetest orange fruit is loved by both adults and children. In addition to the excellent taste and pleasant aroma, our compatriots buy kilograms of citruses to saturate their bodies with vitamin C, which has been depleted during the fall, which helps fight colds and infections. But how many of us think about where tangerines grow?

Where does tangerine grow?

In general, the southern lands of China and Cochin China, the historical territory of modern South Vietnam, are considered the birthplace of this sunny fruit. There, the cultivation of sweet round fruits has been practiced for thousands of years; it was revered and considered a symbol of the nobility. When tangerine arrived in European countries only at the beginning of the 19th century, it quickly gained popularity and even began to be grown in the warm climatic conditions of the Mediterranean. Today, in the list of countries where tangerines grow, the leading positions are occupied by Spain, Italy and the southern regions of France. Speaking of Europe, tangerines also grow in cooler areas of Greece.

Some countries of North Africa, where excellent climatic conditions reign - Algeria, Egypt, are also considered to be growing habitats. If we talk about which Asian countries tangerines grow in, then these are primarily the Philippines, India, southern China, Japan, and Korea. In the Middle East, Turkey is worth mentioning first.

Today, tangerines are grown on an industrial scale in the southern states of the United States, where seedlings of this citrus crop were brought at the end of the 19th century by the Italian ambassador. The places where you can find tangerine plantations are New Orleans, California, Texas, Georgia and Florida.

They grow these citrus fruits in Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala and in small quantities in some other regions of Latin America.

Do tangerines grow in Russia?

The territories of the Russian Federation include not only regions with a harsh climate. There are regions where the most favorable conditions are available for the cultivation of these wonderful fruits. The place where tangerines grow in Russia is, of course, the North Caucasus and the south of the Krasnodar Territory. The plantations are small in size, but, nevertheless, there has been some success in growing these citrus fruits.

In addition, they are engaged in sufficient cultivation of tangerines in Abkhazia. This is a partially recognized state, a territory belonging to Georgia.

Today these are the northernmost tangerine growing areas.

Mandarin is one of the most beloved tropical fruits by our compatriots, which is also popular because such a product is very affordable - fortunately, it is grown in many neighboring countries. However, other than a description of the color and taste, our people don’t know much about this fruit, and this situation needs to be corrected.

Homeland of the fruit

Erudite people will most likely remember that the main dialect of the Chinese language is called Mandarin, but their assumption is incorrect - modern scientists believe that the original homeland of mandarins is India. This fruit came to China two thousand years ago - this was its first “travel abroad”.

In those days, only the emperor himself could afford such imports, and only after a few centuries, with the establishment of stable trade relations, simply high-ranking officials were able to pamper themselves with this delicacy, who were nicknamed tangerines for this, and the language they and the emperor himself spoke was Mandarin. Although the climate of China allows it, this wonderful fruit became available to the public only in the Middle Ages.

The popularization of tangerines in China coincided with a sharp increase in travelers around the world, so it was this country that discovered this wonderful fruit to the world. From here, tangerines were brought not only to neighboring Japan, but also to Europe, where they arrived in the form of single copies around the Middle Ages through the mediation of Arab and Turkish merchants, as well as crusaders.

The fruit was liked by all the peoples who tried it, and it also turned out to be relatively resistant to cold, so without any selection it took root in the relatively cold countries of the Mediterranean.

The word “greenhouse,” by the way, is of French origin and implies a garden for oranges, that is, oranges, but in the cool France of the Middle Ages, tangerines would have taken root more likely - then, most likely, they would not have seen much of a difference.

If we talk about the post-Soviet space, then tangerines came here through territories that previously belonged to Ottoman Turkey, and then ceded to the Russian Empire - we are talking about Georgia. From there they eventually spread to the entire Transcaucasus and even reached the southern coast of Crimea.

Today this fruit, perhaps, will not be called a curiosity in any region of the world. Even in northern countries, many grow this short (from one and a half meters) tree right in the apartment as a decoration with tasty bonuses.

Where do they grow and when do they ripen?

Nowadays, tangerines grow almost anywhere – it’s easier to name a country where they don’t exist. Interestingly, this plant has not survived in the wild, so the crop can only be domesticated. In private households, tangerines traditionally ripen during a season that is completely atypical for our region - from November to January. But selection and active care have led to the fact that today these fruits ripen almost all year round. You can eat them fresh even in May, even in October, even in February.

Tens of millions of tons of this tasty and healthy fruit are grown annually around the world. The undoubted leader in terms of production is China, where it comes from. In 2016, 17.3 million tons of such citrus fruits were grown, while in second place Spain, their production lags significantly behind - “only” 2.94 million tons were harvested. But the top five countries that exceeded the harvest of one million tons in 2016, except China, are completed exclusively by countries in the Mediterranean region - this also includes Turkey (1.34 million tons), Morocco (1.08 million tons) and Egypt (1.02 million tons) ).

If we talk about the world as a whole, then in fact similar fruits are grown en masse in any tropical country. Moreover, they are absolutely everywhere, but in the north their number is simply not counted - the value is too small. Moreover, in each region there are local leaders who may not export their harvest, but at least provide it for themselves. Such leaders, in addition to those mentioned above, include the following:

in South America - Brazil, Argentina and Peru;
in Asia - Japan, Iran, South Korea, Pakistan, Thailand and Nepal;
in Europe – Italy;
in North America - USA and Mexico;
in Africa - Algeria.

In Russia, as in most other post-Soviet countries, the situation with local tangerines is rather bad - they grow here more in theory than in practice, and such a number is not even included in the UN statistics. If you still want to try Russian mandarin, the easiest way to do this is in the vicinity of Sochi - this culture is highly valued there. As for the shelves, tangerines end up on them from other countries, for example, from the top five in world production.

Many domestic stores offer Georgian tangerines, which are relatively inexpensive due to good logistics (international statistics also include those grown in unrecognized Abkhazia) - 60 thousand tons of these were grown in 2016, but this is enough for export to almost the entire post-Soviet space. Among other countries in the region, only Azerbaijan (39 thousand tons) and Uzbekistan (1.6 thousand tons) can boast of relatively noticeable production.

Properties and taste

The taste of tangerine is familiar to everyone - this pleasant citrus has pronounced sweet notes that oranges do not have. It should be noted that there are two separate varieties of this fruit, very popular in the world - tangerine and clementine. Tangerine, named after the Moroccan city of Tangier, is actually grown primarily in China, where it is considered even more common than its “standard” cousin.

According to the description, such a fruit does not differ from an ordinary tangerine in any way, except for its redder color. Clementine is often called the Moroccan tangerine, and it actually comes mainly from this country, but it is distinguished by increased sweetness and the absence of seeds with somewhat complicated cleaning.

Tangerine is one of those delicacies that you shouldn’t deny yourself, although excessive consumption, of course, will also only do harm. With its taste and smell alone, such a fruit can significantly lift your mood, but its benefits do not end there - it contains many useful substances, among which relatively rare ones are especially valuable.

These, for example, include choline - it can be obtained either from tangerines or from egg yolk, and there are no other publicly available sources. This substance is absolutely indispensable during pregnancy, because scientists have proven that its deficiency can more than double the risk of birth defects. It is not surprising, because choline takes an active part in the development of the brain, and even neutralizes some of the unpleasant consequences of diseases of the cardiovascular system, including inflammatory processes.

Two more substances - lutein and zeaxanthin - work together to improve vision. They are generally responsible for the good sensitivity of the nerve endings in the eyes, but, in addition, they also protect the visual apparatus from the destructive effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Contrary to popular belief, we receive the main dose of light from the blue part of the spectrum, which is ultraviolet, not from space, even in view of the growing ozone holes, but precisely due to the active use of computers and other similar equipment.

Almost the only available alternative for tangerines as a source of lutein in this case is egg yolk.

If we talk about vitamins, then most of all there are B vitamins, which support absolutely all body systems, as well as C - the famous ascorbic acid, so necessary for strengthening the immune system. One cannot fail to note the presence of vitamin K, without which the vascular walls would not be so elastic. Tangerines also contain a complex of microelements, including calcium and iron, magnesium and sodium, phosphorus and potassium.

If we talk about the complex of beneficial effects of tangerines on the human body, then we cannot fail to note their extremely positive effect in improving appetite, as well as accelerating metabolism and removing toxins from the body. As befits a citrus fruit, and one that ripens in the winter, tangerine is an incredibly effective remedy for vitamin deficiency, which is characteristic of this, and with regular use it can become a worthy prevention of various colds.

Recently, theories have also been studied that the juice of this fruit can prevent the development of certain skin diseases.

What are the differences and how to choose?

The extremely extensive growing area of tangerines a priori suggests certain differences between regional varieties, so you can get an idea of the fruit based on where it grew. There is a certain risk of not meeting expectations, but it is usually small, so it is worth considering reasonable stereotypes.

From Turkey They bring the cheapest fruits - this is possible due to large volumes of supplies. To be honest, it’s not worth asking a high price for such a product, because the Turks clearly focus on quantity rather than quality. Their fruits are distinguished by their sour taste, the presence of several seeds in each specimen and a firmly “adherent” skin.
Abkhazian or generally Georgian mandarins It’s not difficult to find – it is this region that supplies the bulk of this product to our country. This product can be classified as a product of average quality - there are still a lot of seeds, but the taste is less sour, and the peel is much easier to remove than from Turkish competitors. This fruit can also be distinguished by its unusually yellow skin.

Moroccan clementines are not tangerines in the full sense - they are, rather, a hybrid of them with one of the varieties of orange. The product is distinguished by a rich orange color of dark shades, the peel is very easy to remove, and the pulp has no seeds or any significant sourness.
Spanish tangerines– this is an elite product, you can rarely find it, but you will have to pay quite a lot. This fruit is not without several seeds, but it is extremely easy to peel, and most importantly, it has an atypical, extremely sweet taste without any hint of sourness.
Chinese tangerines For most of our fellow citizens they are exotic, but in areas directly bordering China, such a fruit is not so difficult to get. Its shape is unusual - it looks more like a pumpkin. There are few seeds here, and the taste can be described as sweet and sour.

As for freshness, the choice here is extremely simple - it’s easy to see from tangerines if they are spoiled. A good fruit should have a smooth skin without any dents or signs of mold, not to mention spots of rot. A truly ripe fruit necessarily has a high juice content. It is enough to squeeze it a little in your hand so that it sprays with aromatic liquid. At the same time, a certain discount must also be made for the season. For example, in the midst of winter we are often brought sweet Israeli tangerines, which even when ripe do not splash much juice due to the fact that they are, in principle, rather dry.

To learn how to grow tangerines at home, watch the following video.

Citrus reticulata) is an evergreen flowering plant and its fruit. Tangerines belong to the dicotyledonous class, order Sapindaceae, family Rutaceae, genus Citrus.

The word “tangerine” has Spanish roots: mondar in Spanish means “to peel,” and the pulp of the tangerine peels off easily compared to other citrus fruits. The Spaniards gave this fruit the name mandarino, after which the word entered the Russian language.

Mandarin – description, characteristics, photo. How do tangerines grow?

Mandarin is an evergreen tree, reaching a height of 4 meters, although the height of a 30-year-old tree can reach up to 5 m, and the harvest can range from 5 to 7 thousand fruits.

The tangerine has a rather spreading, rounded crown, the diameter of which can exceed 3.5 meters. The bark of the tangerine tree is light gray, and the young shoots are dark green. Tangerine leaves are small, leathery, pointed or ovate, and do not change color throughout the season. Each leaf lives about 4 years.

Mandarin flowers are often single or collected in pairs and located in the axils of the leaves.

The tree blooms from April to early summer, when the tree looks especially beautiful: the crown of the tangerine is as if wrapped in a cloud of white or cream inflorescences, emitting a bright, pleasant aroma, somewhat similar to the smell of bergamot.

Tangerines are self-fertile plants and are pollinated by their own pollen, as a result of which many ovaries are formed and fruits begin to develop. Mandarin is a fairly early-bearing tree, and produces the first harvest 3-4 years after planting. The first growth of shoots occurs at the beginning of spring, the second wave of growth begins in mid-August.

Fruit formation occurs on the second growth of last year or on the first growth of this year. Tangerines ripen in October, and in December the harvest is completely harvested. Thus, tangerines grow and bear fruit within 7 months.

Mandarin differs from other citruses in its thin, easily peelable orange peel, and in a number of varieties the skin and pulp are separated by an air layer and practically do not touch each other.

The size of tangerine fruits ranges from 4 to 6 cm in diameter, and due to their flattened shape, the width of the fruit is noticeably greater than its height. Each tangerine fruit consists of several nests - lobules, usually 10-12, each of which contains 1-2 seeds.

Some varieties of tangerines contain no seeds at all.

The structure of the yellow-orange pulp of tangerine is similar to many citrus fruits (orange, lemon, orange) and is represented by numerous juice-containing sacs - spindle-shaped hairs filled with juice.

This structure is called hesperidium - one of the forms of a berry-like fruit.

Approximately 600-800 fruits are obtained from one plant per year; with age, fruiting becomes more abundant.

On average, a tangerine tree lives about 70 years.

Where do tangerines grow?

The homeland of mandarin is southern China and Cochin China (southeast of the Indochina Peninsula). Currently, orange fruits are widely cultivated not only in their homeland, but also in India, South Korea, Japan, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Iran, USA, Abkhazia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Spain, the south of France, Italy, Brazil and other countries with a climate favorable for this crop.

Calorie content of tangerine

The calorie content of tangerine is 53 kcal per 100 grams of product.

Nutritional value of tangerine

Water – 85.17 g,

Proteins – 0.81 g,

Fats – 0.31 g,

Carbohydrates – 13.34 g,

Dietary fiber – 1.8 g.

Tangerines - benefits and harm

Beneficial features

Thanks to its rich chemical composition, tangerine is considered a very healthy fruit. Tangerines have long and firmly established themselves as the main source of vitamins needed by the body during the cold season. The juicy pulp of tangerine contains the following substances:

vitamins B, A, C, E, rutin;
organic acids (including citric and folic) and sugars;
minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc.
phytoncides with antifungal and bactericidal properties.

The pulp and juice of tangerine improve appetite, and due to its low calorie content, the fruit can be consumed without fear for your figure.

The peel of tangerines contains 1-2% tangerine essential oil, as well as biological pigments, including carotene. These substances stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, promoting better digestion of food. The peel also contains glycosides that have a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels.

A decoction of dried tangerine peel calms the nervous system, also has expectorant properties and helps with lung diseases (bronchitis, tracheitis). Rubbing tangerine pulp into the affected areas of the skin and nails helps get rid of fungus.

Tangerine seeds have also found their use in medicine:

Potassium and sodium, which are contained in tangerine seeds, strengthen the cardiovascular system.
Vitamins B and C prevent the development of heart attacks and strokes.
Vitamin A takes part in the formation of collagen and prevents the development of skin diseases.
Tangerine seeds are rich in polyphenols, the main function of which is to suppress the development of cancer.

Contraindications

Be careful! People suffering from chronic diseases of the stomach and kidneys should consume tangerines with extreme caution. It is not recommended to consume tangerines for the following diseases:

Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
Gastritis with high acidity;
Enteritis;
Colitis;
Cholecystitis;
Hepatitis;
Acute nephritis;
Diabetes;
Allergy to citrus fruits.

Types of tangerines, varieties and photos

There is currently no single generally accepted classification of tangerines, so below is one of the many classifications of this fruit. In 1955 V.P. Alekseev identified 7 main groups of tangerines:

unshiu or satsuma ( Citrus unshiu)

It is actively grown in Russia and Europe as a houseplant, and is also cultivated in Crimea. The main advantage of this citrus is its resistance to low temperatures and full ripening even with a lack of sunlight.

Unshiu mandarin is a low tree that grows outdoors up to 2-3 meters in height, and as a houseplant - no more than 1.5 meters in height. The shoots of the spreading crown are slightly drooping, the tangerine leaves are leathery, dense, elongated oval in shape, with visible veins. Unshiu fruits are distinguished by thin, yellowish-orange skin with green color. Unshiu tangerine begins to bear fruit at the age of 3 years. Flowering occurs in May, when the tree is covered with numerous clusters of white oblong flowers, collected in groups of 4-6 pieces. In October, flattened fruits with an easily peelable peel and a weight of about 70 g appear. The fruits of unshiu mandarin do not contain seeds, so the main method of propagation of these plants is grafting onto another plant of the citrus genus.

Apogamous seedlings of unshiu mandarin gave birth to the following released varieties:

- Pioneer 80 - a cold-resistant variety of tangerines intended for cultivation in the Krasnodar region. A tree up to 4.5 meters high with a spreading pyramidal crown produces a harvest in the second half of November. The fruits are distinguished by thin, easily peelable orange skin, tender pulp and a sour-sweet taste. The shape of the fruit is round-flat, and the weight is about 60-80 g;
- Sochinsky 23 - an early-ripening, productive variety of tangerines with large, fragrant orange-colored fruits with sweet pulp with a slight sourness. The weight of the fruit is 65-80 grams. The shape of the fruit is pear-shaped or flat or rounded. This variety of tangerines is grown in Georgia and the Krasnodar region.

Citrus austere

a group of tangerine varieties of Chinese origin, which are distinguished by their rich red-orange peel color and sweeter taste than unshiu tangerines. All varieties of the Chinese group are characterized by a high sugar content (up to 13%) and low acid content.

One of the most famous varieties of this group is tangerine(lat. Citrus Tangerina)- a low compact tree with a dense crown and narrow leaves. Tangerine ripens earlier than unshiu tangerine, has a thicker peel and, like unshiu, does not contain seeds. The fruiting period lasts from October to April. In addition to the red-orange fruits, tangerine varieties with green peel color have been developed. Compared to mandarin, the citrus aroma of tangerine is weaker. The taste of the fruit is sweeter than that of an orange. The fruits themselves are easy to peel and divide into slices. Today, the main supplier of tangerines is the United States, where this plant is cultivated to produce oil from the peel of the fruit. A small number of tangerines are grown in Italy, on the island of Sicily.

Citrus deliciosa

Sino-Mediterranean group, whose representatives have a similar morphology to the Chinese group. One of the famous varieties is mandarin orange- a tree with a compact crown and dense dark green lanceolate-shaped leaves, up to 8 cm long and about 3 cm wide. The fruits are medium-sized, about 6-7 cm in diameter, have an oval-flattened shape.

Citrus reticulata

Sino-Indian varietal group of tangerines of great industrial importance in China and India. The most popular is considered golden mandarin or ponkan ( Citrus chrysocarpa), known in India as suntara (Suntara, Ponkan)- a variety of large orange tangerines with a round or oblong shape, some specimens have a navel. The peel is of medium thickness, easily peels off, the flesh is juicy, tender, sweet and sour, the seeds are small and few in number. The fruiting period is December and January. Grows in China, India, Brazil, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Mandarin noble (royal) ( Citrus nobilis)

Indo-Chinese-Malay group. Distinctive features of the varieties are large fruits, thick lumpy skin and excellent, sweet taste of the pulp. The best varieties of tangerines:

- Siamese King (King);
- Uvatin-mikan;
- Tsao-tse.

A group of small-fruited tangerines, or Chinese-Japanese varietal group, includes varieties popular among those who like to grow tangerines at home:
- Shiva-mikan (with sour taste);
- Mukaku-kishiu (sweet);
- Kishiu (sweet).

Mandarin hybrids

This is a group of hybrid forms, including many varieties bred by selectively crossing mandarins with different species and varieties of citrus fruits. Below is a description of some tangerine hybrids.

Mandarin hybrids, photos, names and descriptions

Calamondin or citrofortunella(Citrofortunella mic rocarpa )

a hybrid of tangerine and kumquat (kincana, fortunella). It is a highly ornamental plant with small leaves and white fragrant flowers that attract bees. The height of calamondin can reach 6 meters. At home, the tree grows up to 60-150 cm. Calamondin fruits have a diameter of 25-45 mm, they are orange, similar to tangerines, but with a thinner, sweetish-tasting peel and sour pulp that contains the seeds. Calamondin fruits are edible.

Rangpur ( Citrus rangpuriensis)

a hybrid of tangerine and lime, according to other sources - a hybrid of tangerine and lemon, called limandarine. The supposed homeland of this citrus is India, and due to its high drought resistance and productivity, rangpur is cultivated in some regions for its fruit. The tree, 2.5 to 5 m tall, produces small fruits about 5 cm in diameter, with thin dark orange skin and very sour orange pulp.

Clementine (Citrus clementina)

a hybrid of mandarin and king orange from the subspecies quinotto (orange), is a tree up to 5 m high, grown in long dense alleys. The shape of the clementine fruit is similar to the tangerine, but has a sweeter taste. The second variety of clementines is a product of hybridization of mandarin and bitter Seville orange, characterized by small fruits with a hard, poorly peeling peel.

Clementines are divided into 3 main types:

Corsican, seedless, is easily recognized by its bright, orange-red color and the pair of leaves that adorn each fruit.
Spanish presented in 2 varieties: with relatively small and rather large fruits containing from 2 to 10 seeds.
Montreal- the rarest clementine, grown in Spain and Algeria, the pulp of which contains from 10 to 12 seeds.

a hybrid of tangerine and grapefruit (or pomelo). Tangelo trees are distinguished by their strong growth and good frost resistance. The rounded fruits, reminiscent of a medium-sized orange, have an orange peel that peels off easily, yellowish-orange flesh and a pleasant taste with a slight sourness. The most famous tangelo variety is Mineola.

Thornton (eng.Thornton tangelo)

One of the varieties of tangelo, is a hybrid of tangerine and grapefruit. First grown in 1899. Almost round and quite large fruits have a diameter of about 8 cm and are covered with a bright orange peel. The peel of the fruit is quite thick. Thornton pulp is yellow-orange, tender, juicy, sweet, with a slight sourness.

Tangelo's closest relative, a hybrid of the "Dancy" variety of mandarin and the "Duncan" variety of grapefruit. Mineola fruits are distinguished by their round, slightly flattened shape with an elongated neck, up to 8 cm in diameter and thin skin of a rich reddish-orange color. The juicy pulp contains from 7 to 12 small seeds. Mineola has an excellent citrus aroma and a refreshing sweet and sour taste. The main suppliers of mineola are Israel, Türkiye, China and the American state of Florida.

Tangor

a hybrid of tangerine and sweet orange. Tangor is a fairly large fruit with a diameter of up to 15 cm. It is distinguished by a slightly flattened shape, a dense porous red-orange rind and aromatic sweet and sour pulp. One of the varieties of tangor is Ellendale.

Mandor (mandora) (eng.Mandora)

natural tangor, a hybrid of mandarin and sweet orange. It grows in Cyprus, but originally appeared in Jamaica. The fruit is similar to a tangerine and a clementine, but unlike a clementine it contains seeds. The shape of the fruit is round, slightly flattened. The peel is thin, bright orange, and peels off easily. The pulp of the fruit is tender, very juicy, sweet, with a slight sourness. The plant bears fruit from January to mid-April.

a hybrid of mandarin, tangerine and orange. The large orange-red fruit has a thin, easy-to-peel skin, few or no seeds, a refreshing taste and a subtle citrus aroma. The juicy pulp of ellendale has a rich dark orange color and a pleasant sweet taste.

a hybrid of mandarin and poncirus trifolia, the small fruits of which are unsuitable for consumption due to their unpleasant taste, but are used for the industrial production of vitamin drinks. The peel of the fruit is quite thin, rough, and orange in color. The pulp is orange, juicy. Some citrandarines do not have seeds.

a hybrid of clementine and orlando, the fruits of which are characterized by a rich orange color and tasty sweet pulp. The fruits can have both medium and large sizes.

Agli, aka agli-fruit

a hybrid of tangerine, orange and grapefruit, the name of which is translated from English as “ugly”. The not particularly beautiful agli fruit, up to 15 cm in diameter, is distinguished by a rough, wrinkled peel of a greenish-yellow or reddish color, easily separated from the pulp. Agli has a light grapefruit flavor and an excellent citrus aroma. Cultivated in the USA and Jamaica.

Ichandarin

It is a tangerine crossed with a citrus fruit called Ichang papeda. The fruits of the hybrid have a rather sour taste. Among the inchandarins, there are several varieties, for example, yuzu and sudachi.

Yuzu. Ripe yuzu fruits are yellow in color, from 7 to 10 or more cm in diameter, sour, with a small amount of dryish pulp, their smell resembles a combination of the aroma of grapefruit and tangerine.
Sudachi. Ripe sudachi fruits are yellowish-orange in color and have a lime or lemon aroma, but with a “softer” citrus note. Sudachi is not consumed as a delicacy fruit; its green fruits are used as a seasoning when preparing fish, mushrooms and national Japanese dishes.

On the left is an inchandarin yuzu, on the right is a regular tangerine. Photo credit: Mycomp

OrangequatNippon orangequat)

a hybrid of unshiu mandarin and kumquat that grows in Hawaii. A slightly elongated fruit of medium size, smaller than a tangerine, but larger than a kumquat. The circumference of the fruit is 2-4 cm. The thick, spongy skin has a sweet taste and an orange or red-orange color. The orangequat pulp is juicy, sour, with a slight note of bitterness. Contains seeds. The plant can withstand temperatures down to -12 degrees Celsius.

Pomeranian (bigaradia, cinotto) (Citrus aurantium )

hybrid of tangerine and pomelo. The medium-sized, 6-7 cm in diameter, slightly flattened fruits are practically not consumed fresh due to their very strong, pungent aroma and bitter-sour pulp. The orange peel is bright orange and lumpy. Essential oils from orange flowers and leaves are used in perfumery; the zest and juice of the fruit are used in cooking, as well as in the production of tinctures and liqueurs.

Meyer lemon (Citrus meyerii )

a hybrid of lemon and orange or lemon and tangerine. The fruits are quite large, round, with a thin peel of a rich yellow color, which when ripe acquires a light orange tint. The pulp is juicy, less sour than a regular lemon, dark yellow in color and contains seeds.

Kabosu (kabusu) (eng.Kabosu, Citrus sphaerocarpa )

This is the result of crossing the Ichang Papeda and the Pomeranian. The fruit is grown in China and is popular in Japanese national cuisine. The fruits are medium-sized, about 5.2 cm in diameter, yellow when ripe with dark yellow flesh, with a sour, tart taste and lemon aroma. One fruit contains about 17 seeds. Used as a seasoning, often unripe when the kabosu skin is still green. Gives dishes a unique aroma.

Homemade tangerine, varieties and photos

To grow tangerine as an ornamental houseplant, breeders have developed many low-growing varieties and hybrids. Some are more decorative, and their fruits are unsuitable for consumption, others have good consumer qualities, which allows you to harvest in your own apartment.

The following varieties of tangerines are considered the most suitable for growing at home:

Shiva Mikan- a neat tree with large dark green leaves. It is distinguished by rich flowering and a predisposition to falling ovaries. The ripened fruits are small, weighing up to 30 g, sweet and sour;
Kovano-Vase- a strong tangerine tree with a height of 80 to 180 cm, produces few side shoots, blooms and bears abundantly, produces tasty, orange-yellow, sweet and sour fruits 2 years after planting. The pulp does not contain seeds;
Unshiu- the most popular variety of the Japanese Satsuma varietal group. The tangerine tree, 80-150 cm high, is distinguished by flexible shoots that form a spreading crown. It begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting; with additional winter lighting it can bear fruit all year round;
Murcott is a variety of tangor, that is, a hybrid of tangerine and sweet orange. The plant bears sweet fruits, the name of which (Murcott Honey) translates as “honey”. The tree has a compact shape and produces fruit in the summer. Murcott seedlings are expensive, but are easily propagated from cuttings;
Clementine- a hybrid of tangerine and orange, begins to bear fruit in the 2nd year and bears about 50 fragrant, flattened fruits.

How to grow tangerines at home from seeds?

You can grow a tangerine at home from a seed, but you should keep in mind that the resulting fruits, although they will retain the decorative properties of the mother variety, usually change the basic taste qualities for the worse or for the better. To preserve their consumer properties, tangerines should be propagated vegetatively - by grafting or cuttings.

To plant tangerines, seeds are taken from any commercially available hybrids. The seeds should be thick, smooth, without deformation or damage. It is better to plant tangerine seeds immediately, without waiting for them to dry out: the sooner the seed is in the ground, the higher the likelihood of its germination. There is a second option: you can pre-germinate the tangerine seeds before planting. To do this, wrap the seeds in gauze and moisten it with water. After a few days, the seeds will swell and hatch. The main thing is to moisten the gauze with tangerine seeds as it dries.

Tangerines do not tolerate acidic soil, so it is not recommended to use peat for planting. It is better to buy ready-made soil with a neutral reaction (pH 6.5-7). You can also prepare soil for tangerines yourself: mix 2 parts humus (or non-acidic soil), 2 parts forest soil and 1 part sand.

To plant tangerine seeds (seeds), you need to take 250 ml plastic cups or pots at least 7-10 cm deep with a hole in the bottom. It is better to prepare at least 5 containers for planting, and if subsequent grafting is planned, then at least 10. The appropriate number of seeds is taken.

Tangerine seeds are planted in the ground to a depth of about 4 cm. Germination time for all varieties and hybrids is different and averages from 16 to 30 days. Now it is necessary to keep the soil moist, and the ambient temperature should be within +20-25 degrees. It is not advisable to build a temporary greenhouse, then the hatching tangerine sprouts will not experience stress. Multi-embryo seeds can produce several sprouts from one seed; in this case, the weak sprout is pinched, or the seedlings are planted in different containers.

The first transplant of a homemade tangerine should be timed to coincide with the time when the roots fill the entire container, so it is convenient to plant the seeds in transparent glasses for visual observation of the root system of the seedling. To replant a tangerine, you just need to carefully transfer it with a lump of earth into a larger pot. This is done annually before fruiting begins.

Mandarin at home, care and photos

Temperature

Caring for indoor tangerine is easy. It is better to place purchased tangerine seedlings and plants grown from seeds near the south or east window of the apartment. Tangerines love bright, diffused light, and shade the plant only from the scorching rays of the sun. For normal development, an indoor tree needs an air and soil temperature of at least +16-20 degrees in the warm season and about +12-15 degrees in winter. The need to keep tangerines in winter at low temperatures is due to the growth characteristics of the tangerine tree: if the plant is not provided with a cool winter, most of the flowers will be infertile.

Lighting

In winter, the home tangerine needs additional lighting, for which they use a regular phytolamp, but gradually accustom the tree to additional light, otherwise the plant will become stressed and may shed its leaves. In summer, it is advisable to take the tangerine tree out into the open air, to a place protected from drafts. On hot days and during the flowering period, the air should not be overheated: this can lead to wilting of flowers and dropping of fruits, and direct sunlight can cause burns to the leaves.

An important feature of growing tangerines is the one-sided illumination of the plant. Any citrus trees should not be frequently rotated or moved from place to place, as they get used to lighting from one side. Otherwise, the metabolism of nutrients is disrupted, which leads to massive falling of tangerine leaves, and sometimes to the death of the plant.

How to water a tangerine?

In summer and spring, homemade tangerines are especially demanding of moisture, so the tree should be watered every other day. In winter, watering tangerines is reduced to once a week. Water for irrigation must be settled or passed through a kitchen filter, and before watering, make sure that the water is warm.

Humidity and spraying

Air humidity is very important for indoor tangerines, so in winter the tree is sprayed once a day, but only if the air in the apartment is very dry. In summer, tangerines are sprayed several times a day, and there should always be a container of water next to the plant. When spraying a fruit-bearing tree, make sure that water does not get on the flowers.

Tangerine transplant

Young trees need annual replanting; for this, turf, leaf soil and sand are used in a ratio of 2:1:1. After the tangerine tree begins to bear fruit, it is replanted once every 2-3 years, increasing the width of the pot by 4-6 cm. It is not recommended to replant adult and large specimens; you just need to carefully remove the top layer of soil and add fertile soil.

Top dressing

Intensive feeding of indoor tangerine is carried out from March to September, when vegetative and generative buds develop. For this, a complex mineral fertilizer with a high content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as mullein manure diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10, is suitable. Mandarins should be fed once every 10 days, alternating fertilizers. In winter, the plant only needs one feeding per month.

Stimulation of fruiting

Often, homemade tangerines grown from seed need to stimulate fruiting: if the tree has not bloomed 5-6 years after planting, take a small piece of copper wire and wrap the trunk just above the root collar so that the wire strongly compresses the bark. The movement of sap will be disrupted, and the tree should “think” about bearing fruit.

After 6 months, the wire is removed and the damaged area is covered with garden pitch. The method will work if the tree has overwintered in a cool room, and its crown is sufficiently formed and has shoots of the 4th and 5th order.

Caring for tangerines during the flowering period

Caring for a tangerine tree during the flowering period involves increasing phosphorus and potassium fertilizing and reducing nitrogen fertilizing. Usually the tangerine itself regulates the number of ovaries and sheds the excess ones, but 1 fruit for every 15-20 leaves is considered a feasible load; it is better to remove the remaining flowers and ovaries. Cracking of ripening fruits is observed in 2 cases: if the tree is not watered regularly, or if excess nitrogen has formed in the soil.

Crown formation

Selected varieties of tangerines do not require crown formation. The shoots of a tangerine tree grown from a seed are pinched, and the fruiting shoots with heavy fruits are tied to supports.

Grafting tangerine at home

Another way to propagate tangerines is by grafting onto a rootstock (the plant on which the graft will be given). To do this, the thickness of the rootstock trunk must be at least 6 mm, and the age of the rootstock must be at least 1-3 years. As a scion, take a small piece of shoot from a varietal tangerine, which has one bud with a leaf. Approximately 7 cm are removed from the ground and a T-shaped cut about 2.5 cm long is made on the bark of the tree. The edges of the bark are carefully pushed back with a knife, a petiole is placed in the cut, covered with bark, covered with garden varnish and wrapped with electrical tape. The grafted tree is placed in a greenhouse made of a plastic bag. An indicator of successful grafting will be a slightly yellowed petiole and falling leaves; otherwise, the grafted shoot will turn black. If successful, the greenhouse is periodically opened, and after a month the rootstock is cut diagonally with pruning shears, 3-5 mm above the grafting site, the electrical tape is removed, and the cut is covered with garden pitch.

Mandarin diseases, description and photo

Mandarin, like other plants, is susceptible to disease and pest attacks. This is especially true for plants grown in apartments or greenhouses. Excessively dry or, on the contrary, excessively humid indoor air, as well as an imbalance of important microelements in the soil, often provokes various mandarin diseases:

According to historians, the first tangerines came to Europe thanks to Alexander the Great, who in 325 BC. e. brought this exotic fruit from India for his teacher and mentor, Aristotle. For unknown reasons, the mandarin was not appreciated and was only mentioned in chronicles as the “golden apple.” Tangerines gained popularity only at the beginning of the 19th century.
Approximately 95% of tangerine trees grown in the CIS are from the Unshu varietal group, whose representatives are distinguished by increased frost resistance.

Tangerines are loved by both adults and children. In addition to their wonderful taste, tangerines provide us with vitamins that are essential in winter. It’s just a pity that tangerines cannot be grown in our summer cottages. It’s too cold for them here, and only in Abkhazia and the south of the North Caucasus can they grow.

Our country buys tangerines not only in Abkhazia and Azerbaijan, but also in China, which is considered the birthplace of tangerines. But it is believed that the most delicious fruits grow in the south of Vietnam, where they have been grown for a long time and their selection has stepped far forward in favor of better taste and long-term storage.

From the East, tangerines quickly moved to France and other Mediterranean countries. Now tangerines are produced in large quantities by countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Morocco... In Asia, the largest producers of this fruit are the Philippines, India, South Korea, Japan.

But most of all tangerines are brought to us from Turkey. They are not the most delicious and often have a lot of seeds, but they are cheap and can be shipped nearby, which is very important for sellers, since most varieties have fruits that are not very transportable.

Tangerines are not imported into the USA, since they are grown in large quantities in California, Texas, Georgia and Florida. Moreover, in such quantities that in good years, some of the fruits are closed up with a bulldozer, so as not to bring down prices due to overproduction.

In our country, tangerines are grown in the south of the Krasnodar Territory. This is the northernmost region where they are grown. True, the taste and keeping quality of our tangerines are not up to par. By the way, Italians believe that the sweetest tangerines are grown in Sicily, and not in Vietnam.