How to Grow Sweet Satsuma Mandarin in California

Test Your Soil

• 1

  Dig a 2-foot hole to check the soil drainage in the location you’ve chosen for your tree. Like all citrus, satsumas need fast draining soil to keep its roots from rotting.

• 2

  Fill the hole with water and let it drain.

• 3

  Refill the hole again and time how long it takes for the water to drain. Water that remains after 12 hours indicates that you have poorly draining soil and need to add organic matter to the soil so water drains more quickly.

Growing Requirements

• 4

  Plant your satsuma in full sun or very bright light. Satsumas need high heat to develop the best flavor. If you live in cool, coastal areas of California, plant your tree against a wall so it gets reflected heat.

• 5

  Wrap the trunk of a newly planted tree with commercial paper trunk banding if you live in a hot, inland California location where summer sun can sunburn new trees.

• 6

  Water newly planted satsumas twice a week in the summer and established trees every two weeks. In either case, water thoroughly until the soil is moist down 3 to 4 inches. Test the depth of moisture by lifting some soil with your hand or a shovel outside the tree’s root line to ensure that you’ve watered deeply enough.

• 7

  Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch over the soil to help it retain moisture. Use compost or organic mulch in hot, inland valley areas and large pebbles or gravel in coastal areas with mild summers to increase reflected heat.

• 8

  Apply 2 ounces of nitrogen as fertilizer in the first year after planting your satsuma and 4 ounces in the second to fourth years. Apply once you see new growth beginning in the spring.

• 9

  Apply 1 to 1 ½ pounds of nitrogen yearly to mature trees, dividing it throughout the growing season. In inland areas of California subject to frosts, apply the fertilizer beginning in late winter and stop in late summer.

• 10

  Prune any suckers growing on your satsuma. Prune to remove branches that interfere with walking or to balance the tree’s shape.

• 11

  Drape your tree with fabric cloth or burlap is heavy frost is predicted and ensure that the fabric reaches all the way to the ground.

• 12

  Spray your tree with strong jets of water from a hose if you see aphids, mites or scale insects. If water doesn't ride your tree of scales, spray with tree with a mixture of 2 to 4 parts of horticultural oil to 100 parts water.