Mandarin

Where does Mandarin grow?

Found in: Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bolivia, Bougainville, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, Ghana, Guam, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Uganda, United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are 20 Citrus species. Several hybrids have been formed.

Status: Not widely grown in Papua New Guinea but more are being planted. It is a cultivated food plant.

Growing Mandarin

Cultivation: Often trees are grown from seed. Some breed true from seed. Seedling trees take a long time to start producing fruit. Budded trees are best. A spacing of about 8 m between trees is suitable. From one seed, several seedlings can grow. Using seedlings of seeds with 3 or more shoots helps produce trees true to type. Cuttings or layering can also be used.

Edible Uses: The fruit are eaten fresh and raw. They are also used for juice, preserved in syrup, added to salads or used in sweets, cakes, and drinks. The peel is dried and is used as a condiment. The oil from the peel is used to flavour ice cream, chewing gum, and baked goods. The flower petals are eaten.

Production: Seedling trees take 4-6 years to fruit. Grafted trees fruit after 2-4 years. Fruit tend to be produced seasonally. The season is often from April to August in the Southern Hemisphere.

Nutrition Info

Mandarin Photos

References

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