There are many reasons why you might consider growing a seedless clementine tree. They’re easier to peel, and there isn’t a mess left behind. You can plant them in your orchard or farm and produce fruit with better flavor and consumer appeal.
This blog post will teach you everything you need to know about growing seedless clementine trees.
But before that, let’s get what clementine trees are.
What is Seedless Clementine Trees?
Seedless Clementine oranges are high-quality mandarin oranges. Though tangerines and clementines are both related to Mandarins, clementines are very sweet, while tangerines are a bit sour.
The seedless clementine is grown under citrus bee netting or citrus tree netting. you can choose among the four different types namely square, triangle, triangle plus, and diamond. This is a method for ensuring that your clementine fruit harvest is profitable.
The citrus netting acts as a barrier, keeping pests such as bees and other insects away from your clementine fruits.
Citrus fruits with seeds are a pain to eat, thus buyers prefer seedless varieties.
Planting Clementine Trees
We all want to enjoy the fruits of our hard work. To enjoy the bumper harvest of clementine fruits, plant the fruit trees in the manner described below.
Plant clementine trees once they reach three to four feet in height in regions where temperatures remain above forty degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. Make holes for the fruit trees in a farm or orchard with full sun and well-draining soil.
The holes must be deep and wide enough to accommodate the root system.
Fill the holes with the soil you removed and place the tree in them.
You can mulch the tree’s base to protect the roots from cold weather and keep moisture in.
To give the trees a nice drink, irrigate them with water.
Ensure your clementine trees has reasonable drainage.
Water your fruit trees extensively after planting. When watering, be certain that excess water drains out.
Too much water can cause root rot and inhibit your tree growth.
Protect Your Citrus Fruit from Bee Pollination
Clementines are seedless, but when they are cross-pollinated by bees with another fruit, they lose this quality. If bees cross your farmland, cross-pollination becomes a major issue.
As a result, you must safeguard your seedless Clementine fruit from cross-pollination from surrounding citrus tree blossoms. Bees are drawn to your clementine blooms because they are high in nectar. The bees and other insects transmit pollen between clementine trees, allowing the fruit to have seeds.
Your Clementines are a type of citrus fruit known as a ‘parthenocarpic’ citrus fruit. It does not require cross-pollination to yield fruit
As a result, you’ll need to use bee netting to protect your clementine trees while they’re blossoming. This keeps pollination insects (such as bees) from transferring pollen from another citrus tree into the area. Your clementines would still produce fruit if you covered them, but they would be seedless. The citrus netting can be removed once flowering is complete.
Protect Your Seedless Clementine from Frost
When a frost or freezing is expected, protect your clementine. It’s critical to protect citrus against frost and freeze, as the cold temperatures not only harm the fruit but also threaten the tree’s survival. Citrus plants can endure temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit in general. Young citrus trees are more prone to cold damage.
The fruit tree will be healthier and better equipped to resist cold weather if it is properly cared for throughout the year.
Choose a frost protection netting to use to protect your tree from the elements. Frost cloth is comprised of permeable fabric and is intended to keep you warm in the cold. These function by trapping warm air that rises from the ground, so make sure it’s big enough to cover the fruit tree and reach the ground.
Pruning Clementine Trees
Clementine trees do not need pruning in most cases. However, prune them right away if you notice dead, diseased, or broken limbs. If you want to ensure that the shade under your tree is speckled, prune in the spring.
Pruning fruiting or flowering branches should be avoided at all costs. If you have to prune it, play safe and never cut more than one-third of the tree at a time. Your tree might dry and fail to produce the desired fruits if you do so.
The Best Time for Harvesting
Clementine trees will bear fruit two or three years after planting, but you might find some nurseries selling clementines that bear fruit in the first year.
Clementines start to ripen from late October to February. Once picked, they won’t ripen anymore. So, wait for them to ripen fully before harvesting them to avoid wastage. You know it’s safe t harvest them once they’re entirely orange.
Picking Clementines
Clementines’ thin, easily peeled skin is one of their most appealing characteristics. Nevertheless, this makes selecting them a little more challenging. Because the skin easily dislodges, it is excellent to sever the fruit stem instead of grasping and pulling the sweet fruit away from the branch.
This method of Harvesting is more time-consuming, but it prevents fruit loss in the long term. After picking the fruit, you can remove the stem by slowly pulling it loose after a few days.
Proper Storage
Because of their thin skin and massive sugar content, clementines do not store exceptionally well as other citrus variants. They will stay fresh for a week if you keep them away from environmental factors like heat, moisture, and sunlight.
To keep them fresh and edible for a long time before the sale:
- Store them in a high-quality store for a week.
- Sell these fruits as fast as you can, in whichever way you can, to reap all the benefits of the best quality fruit.
- Throw away those fruits that have started to soften as they’ll begin to produce a bad smell.
FAQs for clementine bush
How big do clementine trees get?
Clementine trees are a variety of mandarin oranges, so they share many similar characteristics. Their fruits have thin skin, and the fruit itself is easy to peel. They’re also seedless and easy to eat, making them great for people who don’t like seeds or the texture of seeds in their citrus fruit.
The clementine tree grows well in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 9 through 10, but it can survive in other areas as long as you protect it from cold weather or frost. The tree can reach up to 10 feet (3 m) tall, making it suitable for growing indoors if you want to grow your own fruit without needing a large space outside.
How do clementines grow?
Clementines are bright orange fruit with a tangy taste that’s loved by many. They’re often used in salads, soups, and other dishes that require a little citrus zest. Clementines are also a great way to add some vitamin C to your diet!
Clementines grow on dwarf trees, which means they can be grown indoors or outdoors in pots. They have beautiful flowers that bloom during the winter months, so they’re great for indoor decorations as well as food crops.
Conclusion
That’s all you need to know about growing seedless clementine trees. Plant them in sandy, well-drained soil, keep them moist, and Store the fruit in a cool and dry place. Use citrus netting to protect your citrus trees from pollination by bees and other pollinators, so they can produce seedless fruits, and you’ll enjoy the fruits of your hard work for a long time.
Eyouagro netting is UV resistant and will not harm trees or animals in any way. It also reduces wind stress and hail damage during pollination season, which helps your citrus produce bigger, juicier fruits
Order yours by visiting our website Eyouagro or contacting our customer service at info@eyouagro.com.