Best mandarin tree to pant? - or What's a tangerine?

[4_Legs_Good]

I live in Southern Califonria. My dad has an incredible "tangerine" tree, but I've had a very hard time trying to find one of my own. They calls 'em all "Mandarins" these days!

So what's the difference between a tangerine and a mandarin orange? What's the best one to buy? I think it's a Satsuma(?), the one I'm looking for - easy to peel, sweet, no seeds.

Can they be grown well in a wine cask? I have an algerian mandarin, I think, but the fruits are small, very sour and with lots of seeds - closer to a kumquat than the "tangerine" I'm familiar with.

Help?

david

[NV Whino]

1. Mandarins aren't tangerines

Mandarins are oranges. Tangerines are a cross between an orange and something--I forget which. But I second your choice of Satusuma mandarins. Easy to peel, sweet, no seeds. Wish I could grow them in NoCal.

You could grow a dwarf in a tub for a while, but even dwarfs need room to expand.

[demosincebirth]

2. Cross between orange and lemon.

[demosincebirth]

3. All citrus grows well in N.Ca

I have orange, lemon and grapefuit trees in my yard. They are falling off the branches. I can't drink the juice fast enough.

[NV Whino]

6. Freezes at my place

Citrus grows in some areas of the Napa Valley, but not at my place.

[demosincebirth]

7. Ok, I live in the E.Bay

[4_Legs_Good]

5. Okey dok. I think it's a Satusuma then.

I'll pick up a good looking one and try it in a wine cask. If my not so good looking Avocado doesn't perk up by next year I'll swap the two.

Thanks for the tip!

david

[murphymom]

4. Here's a site to check

I've bought a couple of trees from them with good results.

www.fourwindsgrowers.com

They sell dwarf citrus which would be perfect for your wine barrel. They're a California company so you may find their trees in your local nurseries as well.

I think the difference between mandarins and tangerines is that mandarins is the overall classification, and tangerines are a type of mandarin. Sounds like Satsumas are what you want if you are looking for easy to peel - they have the really loose skins.

Good luck!