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.
contents
- Clementine tree: origin and properties
- Clementine varieties for the pot
- Plant clementines and grow them from seed yourself
- Maintain clementine tree
- Overwintering clementine tree
- Harvesting and storing clementines
- Clementine ingredients
Clementine tree: origin and properties
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 generally believed that the clementine (
Citrus clementina or Citrus × aurantium) as a hybrid by accidental crossing of tangerine (Citrus reticulata) and bitter orange (Citrus × aurantium L.) was created. 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 fertilized flowers then form the round fruits, which are botanically berries. 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. Mandarins, on the other hand, consist of nine segments and have many seeds.
Clementine varieties for the pot
Clementine trees are not hardy in Germany and should therefore be planted in pots so that they can easily be 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 conservatory is available where the fruit is sure to ripen can become. Clementine 'Mandared' is a relatively new variety from Italy that produces fruits with slightly darker flesh. Her taste leans towards blood orange.
Plant clementines and grow them from seed yourself
Clementine trees are planted in tubs 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 container 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 good water permeability and a pH of 5.5 to 6. Special citrus soils are commercially available.
Alternatively, you can also create 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 - into the soil. Last but not least, it is advisable to add some sour bedrock powder, for example granite or basalt powder. This creates 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.
It doesn't matter which soil you use: you should cover the bottom of the pot with clay granules or shards of clay so that excess water can run off easily when watering and there is no waterlogging. Then place the root ball in the partially filled planter and fill it with substrate.
tip: Plant the clementine slightly higher in the pot than other plants so that the root neck dries quickly when watering. Otherwise rot can easily occur in the further cultivation at the root neck.
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 pots with a suitable substrate such as ours Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil, moisten them and insert the seeds. 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 from 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 shoot. 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.
Maintain 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 frequently. 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.
Potted clementine trees should be fertilized regularly during the growing season from April to November. A liquid fertilizer like ours is suitable for this Plantura Organic Citrus & Mediterranean 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 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.
In addition to 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. With old plants, whole shoots should be removed or long new shoots should be trimmed, cuts into in the middle of shoots should be avoided, as otherwise strange and worthless branches will occur develop. Dead branches should also be removed, while still allowing green, leafless branches to remain.
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 vessel. If repotting is necessary, care must be taken to ensure that the "core ball" remains undamaged.
Overwintering 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. However, to ensure 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 (e.g. the stairwell) or in a garden shed and winter the clementine tree at a temperature between 5 and 15 °C In the 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: More information about Hibernation of citrus plants can be found in 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.
Clementine ingredients
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, you can read our special article on the Difference between tangerine and clementine find out interesting facts.
