- Clementine tree: origin and properties
- Clementine varieties for the pot
- Plant clementines and grow them from seed yourself
- Care for the clementine tree
- Winter Clementine Tree
- Harvesting and storing clementines
- Ingredients of Clementine
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Clementine trees can also be planted in our latitudes, you just have to know how. We present suitable varieties for the pot and reveal what you should consider when caring for a clementine tree.
The fruits of the clementine tree taste a little sweeter and milder than the closely related tangerines and usually have no seeds. In addition, the clementines are very easy to peel compared to many other members of their citrus family. This makes the citrus plant particularly popular. The Mediterranean plant can also be cultivated in pots in this country.
Clementine tree: origin and properties
Both the geographical origin and the botanical origin of the clementine have not been clearly clarified. It is known that her name can be traced back to the French monk Frère Clément. Today it is generally believed that the Clementine (Citrus clementina or Citrus × aurantium) was created as a hybrid by accidental crossing of Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and bitter orange (Citrus × aurantium L.). It has been cultivated in the Mediterranean region for a long time. There are also large growing areas in some countries in North Africa and in Florida.
The clementine tree grows as an evergreen shrub or small tree with a rounded, compact crown. Clementines for the pot are usually raised as a half-stem or high-stem. Under the optimal growing conditions in the Mediterranean region, clementines can also develop into trees up to 6 meters high. The branches of the clementine are thin and rarely have thorns. The lush green leaves of the clementine are lanceolate in shape and have a shiny, slightly leathery surface. Delicate, white flowers about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters in size form in spring. The flowers of the clementine smell pleasantly sweet. A second flowering sometimes occurs in autumn. Clementines are self-pollinating, but insects like to visit their flowers and thus cross-pollinate them.
The round fruits then form from the fertilized flowers, which botanicallyseen berries are. The clementines are ready to harvest between November and March. With their orange skin covered with numerous fragrant oil glands, they are very similar to tangerines. What we buy in the supermarket as tangerines are actually mostly clementines. Inside, however, the closely related citrus fruits have some differences. The flesh of the clementines is yellow-orange and therefore slightly lighter than that of the tangerines. Clementines are divided into 8 to 12 mostly seedless segments. Tangerines, on the other hand, consist of nine segments and have many pips.
Clementine varieties for the pot
Clementine trees are not hardy in Germany and should therefore be planted in pots so that they can be easily moved to a frost-free spot in autumn. The 'Commune' variety is an early variety whose fruits ripen quickly. The 'Red Rubin' variety produces fruits with red skin and blackberry-red flesh. These have an intense sweetness and a tangerine-like taste. The varieties 'Tardivo' and 'Mandared' are late-ripening varieties. The cultivation of these clementine varieties is only recommended in our latitudes if a heated orangery or a winter garden is available in which the fruits can safely ripen. Clementine 'Mandared' is a relatively new variety from Italy that produces fruits with slightly darker flesh. They taste slightly blood orange.
Plant clementines and grow them from seed yourself
Clementine trees are planted in containers because of their low winter hardiness. From April, clementines can be placed outside on the balcony or terrace. Choose a location in full sun that is protected from draughts. Since there is a risk that the roots of the clementine will overheat in summer, you should opt for a planter in a light shade when planting. White pots reflect light and cannot heat up as quickly as dark pots. In addition, the vessel must have a drainage hole so that excess water can drain off and no waterlogging can occur. Choose a pot large enough for the clementine tree to grow and grow old in. Citrus plants do not tolerate repotting as well as other plants. Like all citrus plants, the clementine does not like lime. Therefore, choose a nutrient-rich, low-lime substrate with agood water permeability and a pH value of 5.5 to 6. Special citrus soils are available on the market.
Alternatively, you can also make a suitable substrate yourself: choose a peat-free potting soil, such as our Plantura organic universal soil, and mix a sixth of sand and clay granules - such as bentonite - under the soil. Last but not least, it is advisable to add some sour bedrock powder, for example granite or bas alt powder. This creates a slightly acidic, permeable substrate in which the irrigation water can seep away easily, but the moisture is retained for some time by the clay minerals it contains.
Regardless of the soil you use: You should cover the bottom of the pot with clay granules or broken pieces of clay cover so that excess water can drain off well when watering and no waterlogging occurs. Then place the root ball in the partially filled planter and fill it up with substrate.
Tip: Plant the clementine slightly higher in the pot than other plants so that the root neck dries off quickly when watering. Otherwise rot can easily occur on the root neck in further cultivation.
If you don't want to buy a clementine tree, you can grow your own clementine from seed. However, you will need patience before you can enjoy the first fruits of your own. Once you've found seeds from your favorite clementine, you need to completely remove the pulp, and then dry the seeds at room temperature for about two days. Fill the growing containers with a suitable substrate such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil, moisten them and put the seeds in. Place the pots in a bright, warm spot and keep the soil moist with a spray bottle. The clementine seeds will germinate in about 4 to 6 weeks. When the plants have fully rooted in the seed trays, they should be repotted into larger pots. With a bit of luck, the clementine will bear the first fruits after a few years.
Tip: Clementines can also be propagated by cuttings. To do this, cut off a young, flexible shoot about 10 to 20 centimeters long from another tree. Cut it off diagonally at the bottom and stick it deep into a mixture of nutrient-poor potting soil and sand. Moisten the whole thing vigorously and press the shootat. The pot is then covered with a plastic bag and placed in a warm, not too bright place. Incidentally, it can take several months for the cutting to take root and form new leaves.
Care for the clementine tree
The clementine is an easy-care citrus plant. Young plants should be supplied with a small amount of water frequently, older clementine trees need to be watered less often. Waterlogging should always be avoided. Therefore, it is better to water a little cautiously. Too much water leads to rot at the base of the trunk. Too little water, on the other hand, causes the leaves to curl up and fall off. But then they drift through again. In winter, citrus plants should be watered very sparingly. A small amount of water is enough to keep the soil slightly moist.
Clementine trees in pots should be fertilized regularly during the growing season from April to November. A liquid fertilizer such as our Plantura Organic Citrus & Mediterranean Fertilizer is very suitable for this. It supports the plant in the formation of many flowers, powerful fruits and strong roots. Fertilize the clementine every 1 to 2 weeks with the irrigation water. The dosage is 3 to 5 ml of fertilizer per liter of water. In addition, you should use a phosphate fertilizer such as superphosphate or double superphosphate once a year to ensure the clementines have an adequate supply of phosphorus.
Apart from watering and fertilizing, the clementine does not require any intensive care. Depending on the age of the plant, different pruning measures are necessary. Basically, the plant sprout more strongly after cutting, but the flowering is reduced. Young plants must be pruned regularly in the first few years to maintain their compact shape. Entire shoots should be removed from old plants or long new shoots trimmed, but avoid cutting in the middle of shoots as this will result in strange and worthless branches. Dead branches should also be removed while leaving green, leafless branches.
When caring for the clementine tree, it should also be noted that citrus plants are reluctant to be repotted. Therefore, always choose a sufficiently large container. If repotting is necessary, care must be taken to ensure that the "core ball" remains undamaged.
Winter Clementine Tree
Clementines are among the most cold-tolerant citrus plants. Older clementine trees usually survive short periods of frost down to a maximum of -5 °C without damage. To make sure yourclementine tree survives the cold season well, it is better to overwinter it in a frost-free, bright place. In autumn, place the pot in an unheated room in the apartment (e.g. the stairwell) or in a garden shed and overwinter the clementine tree at a temperature between 5 and 15 °C. In spring, when late frosts are no longer to be expected, the clementine can go back onto the balcony or terrace. During the winter months, the plant does not need fertilizer and only needs to be watered infrequently. Give them an occasional sip of water so the substrate never dries out completely.
Tip: For more information on overwintering citrus plants, see our special article.
Harvesting and storing clementines
Depending on the variety, the fruits can be harvested between November and March. If the clementines are stored in a cool place, for example in the refrigerator or in the cellar, they stay fresh and can be kept for several weeks.
Ingredients of Clementine
Like other citrus fruits, the low-calorie clementines are real vitamin C bombs. With the consumption of a clementine, the daily vitamin C requirement is covered by about a third. In addition, clementines contain other valuable vitamins and minerals such as calcium and potassium.
If you want to learn more about the clementine, check out our special article on the difference between a tangerine and a clementine for some fun facts.