Compact and hardy mandarin tree that produces extremely juicy fruit early in the season with an excellent flavour. It is does well in cooler conditions.
- CLIMATE SUITABILITY
Subtropical and warm temperate zones. It can also be grown in cool temperate zones in sheltered areas. Can be grown in Ballarat’s climate. - HEIGHT WHEN ESTABLISHED
2 to 4 metres. - FROST TOLERANCE
Yes. - POLLINATION
REQUIREMENT
1 (self pollinating). - LEAF GROWTH
Evergreen. - SUITABILITY FOR POTS
Yes. 35 Litre + pots. - SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENT
Full (80%-100%). - TIME TO FRUIT AND FLOWER
2 to 3 years. - HARVEST MONTHS
April to July. - WATER REQUIREMENTS
Moderate. - PREFERRED SOIL TYPE
Good Drainage. Soil pH: Neutral (6.6 to 7.3).
Like all citrus varieties Wheeny grapefruit do best when planted in well-drained soil that gets plenty of sunlight and is sheltered from strong winds. See Planting Citrus Trees for planting information.
Citrus trees are heavy feeders, requiring lots of rich organic composted matter to produce a tree ladened with juicy fruit. They also need a fertiliser high in nitrogen with fertiliser additives that contain all the nutrients and trace elements needed for strong growth. Suitable fertilisers include:-
- CHICKEN MANURE
Very high in nitrogen. - DYNAMIC LIFTER
Pelletised chicken manure that is high in nitrogen. - BLACK MARVEL FRUIT & CITRUS FOOD
Apply as directed by the instructions on the package. - UREA
Soluble nitrogen. EPSOM SALTS (MAGNESIUM SULPHATE)
Australian soils are low in Magnesium sulphate and citrus trees need it to thrive.
Fertilise every four to six weeks during the growing season or as directed by the instructions on fertilser bags.
The main pests of all citrus varieties are mealy bugs, (small, white, furry looking insects that are sticky to touch), scale and aphids, all of which are sap sucking insects. The sugary substance they excrete discolours the leaves with a black sooty mould, which impedes the ability of the leaves to photosynthesize. Spraying with white oil and pyrethrum will usually control these sap sucking insects, though you will usually have to spray two or three times.
Another citrus pest is the citrus gall wasp. This insect lays its eggs in the branch, which swells so the hatching insect can get food. To control gall wasp, prune the gall out and get rid of it before September, when the adult hatches.
Queensland fruit fly is also a serious pest for citrus trees in areas where fruit flies are active.
Okitsu Wase (Satsuma) mandarin trees do extremely well in Ballarat’s cool climate (Cool Mountainous zone). I have tried other mandarin varieties but they all produced semi desiccated fruit that was almost inedible. Whereas Satsuma mandarins are both juicy and tasty. Its main drawback is that it is a slow growing tree (grows at about a quarter of the pace of a lemon tree).
