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Gold Nugget Mandarin Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide
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The Gold Nugget mandarin tree produces some of the most sought-after fruits in the entire citrus family. The mandarins this plant grows are juicy, delicious, seedless, and quite easy to peel. However, fruit production is not the only benefit of growing Citrus reticulata 'Gold Nugget.' This small tree also blooms with fragrant white flowers and holds a set of glossy green leaves that can act as a reliable privacy screen. The Gold Nugget mandarin tree also survives well in containers, giving those in colder climates the chance to overwinter this plant.
- Offers seedless fruits with some of the best flavors you can find.
- White flowers look and smell great.
- Adapts well to both container and in-ground growing settings.
Plant Care
Sunlight
This tree requires full sun settings, with at least six to eight hours of direct exposure daily.
Watering
Water often after planting. Continue watering about once per week after establishment.
Fertilizing
Use a citrus-specific fertilizer about twice per year or more.
Planting and Care
Planting instructions
Plant your Gold Nugget mandarin tree where there is full sunlight and excellent soil drainage. While these plants require plenty of water, they do not enjoy sitting in excessive moisture. If you grow this plant outdoors, ensure you give it enough space to expand. Although these trees are not huge at maturity, they can spread somewhat vigorously. Those living in regions colder than zone 8 will need to find a container for their Gold Nugget mandarin tree that is large enough to accommodate the entire root system.
Watering and nutrients
After you plant your Gold Nugget mandarin tree, you should give it water multiple times per week. Once the tree has become established, you can continue to give it water about once per week or about once every two weeks, depending on the weather and the overall soil dryness. Gold nugget mandarin trees also appreciate having plenty of fertilizer. Fertilize this tree once in early spring and at least once more in the late summer or fall. When fertilizing, use a blend that is specific to citrus trees or a general-purpose fertilizer with an equal mix of macronutrients.
Pollination
Gold Nugget mandarin trees hold both male and female reproductive organs on a single tree and attract insects to conduct pollination. As is typically the case, this variety is self-fertile but often produces a better harvest when cross-pollination takes place. However, since this plant produces seedless fruit, its chances of reproduction are limited. Rather than relying on seeds to create new trees, you should graft your Gold Nugget mandarin tree if you wish to create more.
Pruning
The branches of your Gold Nugget mandarin tree can be somewhat long and may struggle to support the weight of the fruits they bear. It’s wise to prune this plant to encourage a stronger growth habit so that it can hold more fruit until harvest time arrives. You’ll also want to prune to control the spread of this plant. While it is not exceptionally large, a Gold Nugget mandarin tree does produce vigorous growth and can appear a bit unkempt when you don’t prune it to shape.
Pests, diseases, and animals
Gold Nugget mandarin trees can encounter several common issues, such as citrus canker, anthracnose, and various forms of rot. Those rot issues are often the result of a Gold Nugget mandarin tree receiving too much soil moisture. Pests can also be a problem for this plant: Aphids, citrus leaf miners, and several types of scale insects can infest this cultivar. Fortunately, many of these insect issues can be resolved if you apply an insecticide.
Harvesting
Gold Nugget mandarin trees can become harvestable as early as March and will often continue to bear fruit throughout the entire spring season — and into the summer too. This longer harvest season is one of the top reasons why gardeners choose the Gold Nugget mandarin tree over other citrus options. During harvest, there should be plenty of fruits hanging from the branches. When ready for harvest, these fruits should have a consistent, bright orange color.
Achieving maximum results
Those who grow this plant in a container should take extra care to choose one that has great drainage. The Gold Nugget mandarin tree is not tolerant of standing water. Likewise, these plants are quite vulnerable to cold weather. When temperatures drop close to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, it is time to bring yours inside or protect it from the cold in some other way. These plants also may sprawl while they grow. Providing structural support can be beneficial for the overall form, especially when this plant is young.
FAQs
Why do people prefer the Gold Nugget mandarin tree?
Compared to other citrus fruits, there are many advantages to the Gold Nugget mandarin. These fruits have an excellent flavor and are full of juice. Their lack of seeds and the ease with which you can peel and separate these fruits only add to their allure. Gold Nugget mandarin trees are also on the smaller side, which makes them a convenient planting option for most.
Where does the Gold Nugget mandarin tree come from?
The Gold Nugget mandarin tree is a hybrid variety that is relatively new. This cultivated plant came into being as a cross between the Wilking mandarin and another type, called the Kincy mandarin, both of which are rarely commercially available. Botanists at the University of California, Riverside, were the first to create the Gold Nugget mandarin variety around the 1950s. They created this plant to have better fruiting qualities than most other citruses.
How large do Gold Nugget mandarin trees grow?
A mature Gold Nugget mandarin tree will grow to be about 12 feet tall by 12 feet wide if you allow it to develop without pruning. However, most gardeners prune this plant for shaping and to encourage a stronger structure. As a result of those cuts, many Gold Nugget mandarin trees end up being much shorter, about 8 feet by 8 feet. Container settings are also likely to cause this plant to be somewhat small.
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Mature height |
8 ft. pruned |
Mature width |
8-12 ft. |
Sunlight requirement |
Full-Partial |
Growth rate |
Moderate |
Botanical name |
Citrus reticulata |
Shipping exclusions |
AL,AZ,CA,FL,GA,LA,OR,TX |
Grows Well In Zones |
4-11 patio / 8-11 outdoors |
Growing Zones: 4-11 patio / 8-11 outdoors i Growing zones help determine if a particular plant is likely to grow well in a location. It identifies the average annual minimum winter temperatures across the U.S. provided as a map by the USDA.
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