How to Grow Really Juicy Clementines Easily

Clementine or Algerian tangerines are known for their sweet and tangy flavor. Here is how you can grow them at home or in orchards for commercial purposes.
Anuja Marathe Kanhere
Last Updated: Nov 21, 2018
Clementines are a sub-variety of mandarin oranges. They derive this unique name because they were first discovered in the garden of an Algerian orphanage by Father Clement Rodier.
Although there have been arguments about previous existence of similar fruits in a Chinese province. Grown from November to February, clementines are popularly known as Christmas oranges. Here are some tips to help you grow Clementine plantation.
Clementine developed out of a hybrid pollination, is known for its sweet and tangy flavor, seedless interior and smooth, glossy, easy to peel orange coating. Unlike typical oranges like satsuma, clementines are less acidic, more juicy and can be sectioned to a maximum of 14 pieces.
They are rich in citric acid as well as myrcene, α-pinene, limonene and linamool. Some of the best varieties of clementines are grown in U.S. and European countries like Spain, Morocco and Bosnia Herzegovina. The fruit is commercially grown in states of Florida and California. The fruit remains seedless and tastes best only when it is not cross-pollinated.
► The best season to grow clementines in your gardens or in the orchards is when you experience sub-tropical climate in your province. Clementine can go well with moderate freezing but the blossoms are likely to wither in extremely cold climatic conditions.
► Demarcate spots for planting the grafts with a proportionate distance of 10 feet between each graft in a single row. Leave approximately 15 feet space on either side of each row.
► Prune your plants throughout the year for uniformity in heights.
► Prune your plants throughout the year for uniformity in heights.
► Your plant needs water irrigation, ideally through drip irrigation. The approximate annual requirement of water ranges 35 inches. You need to provide liquid fertilizers during growing season of your plants.
► Since their feeding requirements are on the higher side, it is recommended that fertilizers should be provided in proportion of 12-4-4 at least once at intervals of 7 weeks. The fertilizer proportion may be reduced by two-thirds in the fall.
► Use small pots that have more than one hole. Pot size should be proportionate to the size of the plant. In case, you place a small clementine plant in a large pot, the soil is likely to retain the moisture in the pot, which leads to rotting of roots.
► Since these plants are placed indoors, natural pollination by birds and insects is out of question. As planters, you may induce pollination using old toothbrush or paint brush. Rub gently on one flower and transfer the pollen on the next flower. Avoid cross-pollination with any other mandarin variety if you want original, sweet and seedless clementines.
► Ideal temperature for clementine plants during major part of the year is 85° F. However, once the plant enters the blossoming season and starts bearing fruits, the temperature requirement falls to 65° F. Care be taken to avoid exposing the plant to extremely freezing temperatures lest the blossoms wither away. Prune the plant often so that it looks bushy.
As mentioned earlier, it is hard to fetch original clementine seeds. Even if you get hold of some, the maturing time till the plant bears fruits might be approximately 6 to 7 years. Ideally, get some cuttings from a reputed nursery in your vicinity.
Clementine plants are usually moderate in height, easy to maintain and resistant to diseases and pests. So you will enjoy growing them and harvesting their fruits.