Keraji Mandarin
A cold hardy mandarin originally from Japan that can vary in flavor from a sweet but nearly acidless mandarin to a sweet lemon, not too dissimilar from the New Zealand Lemonade Citrus. It is valued by growers in zone 8 looking for cold hardy citrus and, as far as cold hardy citrus go, is a great fresh eating one. Can also be juiced to make a no sugar added lemonade. Very vigorous grower, it can eventually reach 15-20 feet tall in the right climate.
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Latin Name: Citrus reticulata
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full sun and well drained soil. If growing it in a pot, in the winter place your plant in a well-lit room. Potting soil should be coarse, acidic, and well-drained.
Rootstock Description: US-942
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile. You can help it set fruit by taking a small brush and moving pollen from flower to flower.
Hardiness: Hardy to at least 13° F but sustained cold and wet temperatures can be damaging
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting
Size at Maturity: Can reach 15-20 feet, though often smaller
Taste: Variable throughout the season
Fruit Skin: yellow to orange
Fruit Flesh: orange
Bloom Time: Spring
Ripening Time: Year round, but heaviest harvests in summer through winter
Yield: 20+ lbs.
Care: Fertilize with citrus mix 3-4 times per year with typical applications in late winter (Jan-Feb), late spring (May-June) and early fall (Sept-Oct).
Pests & Diseases: While outside, Citrus plants will likely not be bothered by insect pests. Be on the lookout for slugs. Indoors, Citrus can have mites, scales and/or aphids. Watch carefully for any problems and treat with an insecticidal soap or wash them off. We have not seen any disease problems on our Citrus plants, though citrus greening virus has become a huge problem in California and Florida.
USDA Zone: 9a, possibly 8b