Mandarin Growing Guide

Mandarin Quick Start Checklist

1. Choose a hardy variety suitable for your climate.
2. Plant in the right spot. Select a sunny, sheltered and frost-free location for optimal growth.
3. Prepare your soil by mixing in organic matter like Tui Compost and Tui Sheep Pellets.  Plant into a citrus-friendly potting mix like Tui Citrus & Fruit Mix.
4. Feed regularly in spring and summer using a fertiliser option that best suits how you want to garden. For quick visible results try Tui Citrus & Fruit Liquid Superfood.
5. Mulch and water: keep roots cool and moist with Tui Mulch & Feed and regular watering especially during warm months.

Choose your perfect mandarin

The most popular mandarin varieties in New Zealand are:

• Satsuma: known for their easy peeling, sweetness, and seedlessness.
• Clementine: enjoyed for their flavour and compact growing.
• Encore: have firm flesh, excellent flavour, and ease of peeling.

Prepare the soil

• Mandarins thrive in hot, humid conditions and are more susceptible to cold damage than larger citrus varieties.
• Ensure your chosen location is sunny, sheltered, and frost-free to provide the best growing conditions.
• Prepare existing garden beds by mixing in Tui Sheep Pellets and Tui Compost to enrich the soil with nutrients and improve it’s structure.

Get Planting

• It’s best to plant in the early morning or late afternoon, when the sun isn’t too intense.
• Fill a bucket with water and add two capfuls of Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic. Place the tree (still in its bag or container) in this bucket and soak for a few minutes until bubbles stop appearing. This help with strong root growth and reduces transplant shock.
• In the garden, dig a hole approximately twice the depth and width of the root ball of your plant. Partly fill the hole with Tui Citrus & Fruit Mix. If you’re planting in pots and containers, fill with Tui Citrus & Fruit Mix.
• Remove the tree from its bag or container and gently loosen the root ball.
• Place the tree in the hole and fill with Tui Citrus & Fruit Mix, ensuring the tree is no deeper than it was in the bag or container. For planting in containers, centre the tree in the pot and fill with mix up to 3cm below the rim.
• Stake the tree if necessary to provide support.
• Water your tree well.

Feed and Nourish

• Feed your mandarin tree in spring and summer to encourage maximum fruiting and flowering and juicy crops.
• Citrus are frost‑tender, so in frost‑prone regions it’s best to feed them in early spring and again in late summer or early autumn. Feeding encourages soft new growth, which needs time to harden off and can be damaged by frost. In frost‑free areas, you can feed citrus more regularly through spring, summer, and autumn.
• Choose from four different Tui fertiliser options for your mandarin tree:  
  
  • Tui Citrus & Fruit Liquid Superfood is perfect for quick results as plants are able to absorb the nutrients immediately. For best results feed weekly. 
  • Tui Citrus Food is a granular option formulated specifically for citrus planted in gardens. Rich in potassium and magnesium, it can be applied every four weeks. 
  • Tui Performance Organics Citrus & Fruit Fertiliser is and organic option that can be used both in the garden and for potted limes.   
  • Tui Enrich Fruit, Citrus, Tree & Shrub Controlled Release Fertiliser lasts up to six months, making it perfect for gardeners who prefer a ‘feed and forget’ option. It’s also suitable for pots and containers.
• To retain moisture, add a layer of Tui Mulch & Feed and ensure you water consistently especially during dry periods. A well-watered, well-nourished mandarin tree will have a better chance of keeping insect pests and diseases at bay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will my mandarin tree take to fruit?

• In New Zealand, mandarin trees usually take 2 to 3 years to start producing fruit after planting.
• To support strong growth, it's a good idea to remove flowers and small fruit in the first couple of years. This encourages better branch development and helps ensure heavier harvests later on.

Do I need to prune my mandarin tree?

• Pruning a mandarin tree is optional but can be helpful to:
  • Shape the tree
  • Remove diseased or damaged branches
  • Improve airflow and light
• Avoid over-pruning, especially in young trees because leaves are essential for healthy growth and fruit production. Always prune with care and only when necessary.

Why are my mandarin tree leaves turning yellow?

• If you don’t see any signs of sap‑sucking insects, yellowing leaves are often caused by a nutrient deficiency. Common sap‑suckers include aphids, scale insects, mealybugs, and whitefly.
• Use a balanced fertiliser that includes trace elements, like Tui Citrus & Fruit Liquid Superfood, to support overall plant health. 
• Yellow leaves could be a sign of magnesium deficiency.  To fix this, apply Tui Epsom Salts around the tree’s drip line to boost your lemon tree’s health.

Discover more advice and inspiration for growing your own citrus at the Citrus Hub >