Description
The Miho Satsuma Tree is a type of seedless Mandarin tree that can withstand temperatures down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit
The Miho Satsuma Tree is a type of seedless Mandarin that has been bred to withstand temperatures as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Miho Satsumas are easy to peel, have thin skin, and since they have no seeds, are a favorite to eat out of hand. Their cold-hardy nature allows you to grow this small tree in the ground in USDA Zones 8 to 10, and in a container in colder areas.
The fruit is small, bright orange, and the perfect blend of sweet and tart. Like their fruit, the Miho Satsuma Tree is also considered small, and will only reach a mature height of about 12 feet. You can even keep the tree smaller by pruning, or growing it in a container. This combination of a smaller citrus tree, combined with the ability to tolerate colder winter temperatures, has made the Miho Satsuma a perfect choice for many household gardeners looking to add citrus to their yard.
Citrus Tree Care
If you plan to grow your Miho Satsuma tree in the ground, we suggest planting in March, after all chance of frost has passed. Choose a well-drained location that never has standing water. Dig your hole to be twice as wide as the root ball of your potted tree, and as deep. Do not over-burry. You want the surface of the potted tree’s soil to be even with the finished ground once planted. Water the tree in thoroughly, then water once every week, but only if the surface of the soil has dried.
When growing a Miho Satsuma tree in a container, be sure to have a sturdy pot with adequate holes for drainage. Choose a pot that is the next standard size larger than your tree’s current pot. A good guideline is to select a new pot that gives the roots at least three inches all the way around. Once potted, you can grow your Miho Satsuma Tree outdoors in the spring and summer, and only bring it in if you expect a harsh winter or prolonged freezes. While the Miho Satsuma Tree can take periods of very cold weather, if it is in a pot, it is always better to bring it indoors where you can.
Fruit & Harvesting
The Miho Satsuma tree will bloom in spring, and you can expect to have mature fruit in the fall and throughout November. In fact, Miho Satsumas are a favorite at Thanksgiving time, since the trees are usually loaded with the bright orange, delicious citrus.
Miho Satsumas are extremely easy to peel. Once you pull the initial tab of rind away at the stem end, the thin, loose peel pulls away in large, wide strips. Often you can peel away the skin of a Miho Satsuma in a single piece. Due to this, it is best to harvest the mature fruit with clippers. The trees have very few, if any, thorns. Do a taste test when the fruit is deep, bright orange and smooth. These trees are heavy producers, so be ready to share your crop.
Advice
The Miho Satsuma tree is self-fertile, and produces fruit without a second tree for pollination. However, you can pair it with a second mandarin for higher yields on both trees. The Miho Satsuma Tree is considered to be very low maintenance. The trees are drought tollerant and prefer to be under-watered, as opposed to over-watered. Always trim away any dead branches.
The Miho Satsuma Tree need not be pruned, unless you wish to maintain the tree’s size for your specific situation. If you are going to prune the tree, do so after all fruit has been harvested, but before the tree blooms again. Miho Satsumas love to be fed, so use a fertilizer formulated for citrus and feed them every six weeks in the warm months, and every three months in the winter. Always water fertilizer in thoroughly, and keep the ground beneath your tree free of weeds, fallen fruit, and dead branches.
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