Clementine tree: varieties & planting tips for the pot

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 mandarins and usually have no seeds. In addition, the clementines - compared to many other members of their citrus family - are very easy to peel. This makes the citrus plant particularly popular. The Mediterranean plant can also be cultivated in pots in this country.

Clementine tree: origin and characteristics

Both the geographical origin and the botanical Origin of the clementine

 are not clearly clarified. It is known that her name can be traced back to the French monk Frère Clément. Today it is widely believed that the clementine (Citrus clementina or Citrus × aurantium) as a hybrid by accidentally crossing mandarins (Citrus reticulata) and Bitter orange (Citrus × aurantium L.) was created. It has been cultivated in the Mediterranean for a long time. There are also large cultivation areas in some countries in North Africa and in Florida.

The clementine tree grows as an evergreen shrub or small tree with a round, compact crown. Clementines for the pot are usually raised as a half or standard trunk. Under the optimal growth conditions in the Mediterranean area, 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 have a lanceolate shape and a shiny, slightly leathery surface. In spring, delicate white flowers about 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters in size form. The flowers of the clementine smell pleasantly sweet. Sometimes there is a second bloom in autumn. Clementines are self-pollinating, but their flowers are also often visited by insects and thus pollinated by other people.

From the fertilized flowers the round fruits, which are botanically seen as berries, then form. The clementines are ready for harvest between November and March. With their orange peel, covered with numerous fragrant oil glands, they are very similar to mandarins. What we buy as mandarins in the supermarket are actually mostly clementines. Inside, however, the closely related citrus fruits have some differences. The pulp of the clementines is yellow-orange and therefore a little lighter than that of the mandarins. Clementines are divided into 8 to 12 mostly seedless segments. Mandarins, on the other hand, consist of nine segments and have many stones.

Clementine varieties for the pot

Clementine trees are not hardy in Germany and should therefore be planted in pots so that they can simply be placed in a frost-free place in autumn. The 'Commune' variety is an early variety whose fruits ripen quickly. The 'Red Rubin' variety produces fruits with a red skin and blackberry-red pulp. These have an intense sweetness and a tangerine-like taste. The 'Tardivo' and 'Mandared' varieties are late-ripening varieties. The cultivation of these clementine varieties is only recommended in our latitudes if one heated orangery or a winter garden is available, in which the fruits are safely ripe can be. The Clementine 'Mandared' is a relatively new breed from Italy that produces fruits with a slightly darker pulp. Their taste goes slightly towards blood orange.

Plant clementines and grow them yourself from seeds

Because of their low winter hardiness, clementine trees are planted in pots. From April onwards, clementines can be put outside on the balcony or terrace. Choose a location that is in full sun and protected from drafts. 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 the 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 large enough pot 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, lime-poor substrate with good water permeability and a pH value of 5.5 to 6. Special citrus earths are available in stores.

Alternatively, you can also produce a suitable substrate yourself: Choose a peat-free potting soil, such as ours Plantura organic universal soil, and mix one sixth each of sand and clay granules - such as bentonite - under the soil. Last but not least, we recommend adding some acidic primary rock flour, for example granite or basalt flour. The result is a slightly acidic, permeable substrate in which the irrigation water can seep away, but the moisture is retained for some time by the clay minerals it contains.
No matter what soil you use: You should cover the bottom of the pot with clay granules or potsherds so that excess water can run off when pouring and no waterlogging occurs. Then place the root ball in the partially filled planter and fill it up with substrate.

tip: Plant the clementines slightly higher in the pot than other plants so that the root neck dries off quickly when watering. Otherwise rot can easily develop at the root neck in the further culture.

If you don't want to buy a clementine tree, you can grow your clementine yourself from a seed. Before you can enjoy the first fruits of your own, however, you need patience. When you have found the seeds of your favorite clementines, you need to remove the pulp completely and then dry the seeds for about two days at room temperature. Fill the growing containers with a suitable substrate such as ours Plantura organic herb & seed compost, moisten them and stick the seeds inside. Place the vessels in a bright, warm place and keep the soil moist with a spray bottle. The clementine seeds germinate within about 4 to 6 weeks. When the plants have completely rooted through the growing vessels, they should be repotted in larger pots. With a little luck, the clementine will bear its first fruits after a few years.

Tip: Clementines can also be propagated from cuttings. To do this, cut a young, flexible and approximately 10 to 20 centimeter long shoot from another tree. Cut it diagonally at the bottom and stick it deep in a mixture of nutrient-poor potting soil and sand. Moisten the whole thing vigorously and press the shoot on. Then the pot is covered with a plastic bag and placed in a warm, not too bright place. By the way, it can take several months for the cutting to take root and form new leaves.

Maintain the clementine tree

The clementine is an easy-care citrus plant. Young plants should often be provided with a small amount of water, older clementine trees need less watering. Waterlogging is to be avoided as a matter of principle. You should therefore water a little cautiously. Too much water leads to rot on the trunk base. 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 particularly sparingly. A small amount of water is enough to keep the soil slightly moist at all times.

Clementine trees in pots should be fertilized regularly during the growing season from April to November. A liquid fertilizer like ours is suitable for this Plantura organic citrus & mediteranean fertilizer very good. It supports the plant in the formation of many flowers, powerful fruits and strong roots. Fertilize the clementine every 1 to 2 weeks over 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 that the clementines have an adequate supply of phosphorus.

In addition to watering and fertilizing, the clementine does not require any intensive care. Different pruning measures are necessary depending on the age of the plant. Basically, the plant sprouts stronger after the cut, but the flowering is reduced. Young plants have to be cut regularly in the first few years in order to maintain their compact shape. In old plants, entire shoots should be removed or long new shoots should be pruned, cuts in in the middle of the shoots should be avoided, otherwise strange and worthless ramifications develop. Dead twigs should also be removed, while green, leafless twigs are allowed to remain.

When caring for the clementine tree, it should also be noted that citrus plants are reluctant to repot. Therefore, always choose a sufficiently large container. If repotting is necessary, make sure that the "core ball" remains undamaged.

Hibernate clementine tree

Clementines are among the most cold-tolerant citrus plants. Older clementine trees usually survive short periods of frost up to a maximum of -5 ° C without damage. To make sure that your clementine 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 (for example 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 then go back to the balcony or terrace. During the winter months, the plant does not need any fertilizer and only rarely needs watering. Give them an occasional drink of water so that the substrate never dries out completely.

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 cellar, they will stay fresh and can be kept for several weeks.

Ingredients of clementines

The low-calorie clementines, like other citrus fruits, are real vitamin C bombs. About one third of the daily vitamin C requirement is covered with the consumption of a clementine. In addition, clementines contain other valuable vitamins and minerals such as calcium and potassium.

If you want to learn more about the clementine, you can check out our special article on the Difference between mandarin and clementine Learn interesting facts.