How to Grow Clementines & Mandarin Oranges From Seeds

Extract two clementine seeds from the fresh fruit and rinse away remaining flesh or juice under cool, running water. Set the washed seeds on a paper towel and allow them to dry for 12 hours. Wrap the paper towel around the seeds and refrigerate them for two to four weeks.

Fill a planter with a 1-to-1 mixture of fertilized potting soil and sand, stopping one inch from the top. The sand provides the necessary drainage required for the clementine. Apply a small amount of water to the soil mixture to dampen, but not soak, it.

Poke a 1/2-inch-deep hole in the center of the soil mixture in the clementine’s pot. Place the two seeds into the hole and cover them with the soil mixture. Cover the planter with a sheet of clear plastic wrap, and place the clementine seeds in a sunny, warm area.

Peel back the plastic wrap and moisten the soil mixture once a week. At least one of the clementine seeds should sprout within two to six weeks. When you see a sprout, remove and discard the plastic wrap. Place the planter in a warm area that receives two to three hours of sunlight per day. If two seedlings sprouted, pluck the smaller one to allow the larger one to grow.

Water the clementine plant once a week as it continues to grow. Once every two months, apply a potassium-based fertilizer with the water per manufacturer’s instructions. Sandy soil retains moisture better than does normal soil, but requires the fertilizer to provide the clementine with necessary nutrients.

Transfer the planter to a warm area that receives five to six hours of sunlight per day when the clementine has grown at least 10 leaves. Keep the soil damp, but never wet, to avoid damaging or killing the tree.