These fruits were first brought to North America in the 18th century.
The small to medium-sized trees are low-growing with a spreading and droopy habit.
The pretty white blooms appear in spring and are attractive to early pollinators.
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For best results, plant your satsuma tree in early spring.
Location is also important.
Light
Most fruit trees require full sun conditions, and Satsumas are no exception.
Soil
Citrus trees prefer sandy,loamy soilwith a slightly acidic pH.
The soil must have good drainage.
Cool (not cold) winters and hot, humid summers produce the best fruit harvest.
Mature trees can easily survive in short periods down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter.
Alternatively, you could invest in a trunk wrap.
Winter temperatures between 25 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit are actually said to enhance the sweetness of the fruits.
Fertilizer
Satsuma trees benefit from regular fertilizing.
It’s best to fertilize in late January to early February when the tree is producing new growth.
You may use a balanced 8-8-8 citrusfertilizerthat contains nitrogen.
A two-year-old tree can handle one to 1.5 pounds of fertilizer.
Types of Satsuma Orange
There are over 100 Satsumacultivarsto choose from.
The best time to prune your tree is early spring after the danger of frost.
Prune any branches growing below 18 inches above the ground.
Remove leaf debris from beneath the trees to help keep them clean and disease-free.
However, it is certainly possible to propagate a Satsuma tree by rooting a branch cutting.
You may have trouble finding them since satsumas are nearly seedless.
Plant the seeds in small pots filled with a citrus tree potting mix, just barely covering the seeds.
Periodically mist the potting mix to keep it damp.
Within 30 to 60 days, the seeds should germinate and sprout.
While they are in pots, move the plants to a sheltered location for each winter period.
double-check the pot has ample drainage holes.
In-ground trees can be protected with a frost blanket in regions where winter frost is common.
Harvesting
Satsumas are generally harvested between October and December, depending on the cultivar grown.
The fruit doesn’t do well hanging on the tree after maturity.
The ripe fruit coloring can vary depending on the climate.
Because the rinds are loose, it is best to clip the fruit from the tree rather than plucking.
If you damage the rind when picking, it will lead to fast decay.
This causes lesions on leaves, branches, and fruit.
Thankfully, it doesn’t usually affect the quality of the fruit flesh.
Other fungal diseases are also possible, all best treated with a preventive fungicide spray.
The green fruit becomes evident in August, turning orange in late September through December.
A lack of nutrients can also compromise the blooming period.
Mature trees need a hefty feeding in January or February to support bud development.
The main symptom is leaves that develop a light green color, often with darker veins.
Take steps to lower the soil pH to a more acidic level to rectify this problem.
The other common complaint is from growers who take the “cold resistant” label too literally.
Fortunately, it’s an easy matter to prune off these damaged branches.
Unless the cold spell is prolonged, Satsuma trees usually survive in zones 8 to 11.
Under some classification systems,Citrus unshiuis considered a species in its own right.
Under others, they are considered to be a variety of mandarin.
Genetics show the fruit is actually a mandarin-pomelo hybrid.
Provided it remains disease-free, a citrus tree like Satsuma lives, on average, about 50 years.
But under ideal circumstances, lifespans of 100 years or more are possible.
Louisiana Home Citrus Production.
