How to grow Tangelo in Australia
Tangelos are citrus hybrids of mandarin with pomelo or grapefruit. They are juicy, tangy and easier to peel than an orange, and the best known, Minneola, has bright reddish-orange fruit with a knob at the stem end. Grow a tangelo much as you would an orange or mandarin, in full sun with good drainage and regular water.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Tangelo in Australia
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to September | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to September | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to September | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | September to November | Plant Sep to Nov after frost in a warm sheltered spot. Fruit sweetens best after a hot summer. |
| Adelaide & SA | March and April, September and October | Plant Mar to Apr or Sep to Oct. Minneola suits the hot dry summers; water deeply while the fruit sizes. |
| Perth & WA | March to September | |
| Tasmania | October and November | Marginal. Plant Oct to Nov against a warm north facing wall. Fruit stays sharp after cool summers. |
| Canberra & ACT | November | Marginal. Plant in November after the last frost against a north facing wall and protect young trees with frost cloth. |
| North Queensland | May to September | Plant May to Sep in the dry with regular watering. Fruit is juicy but colours poorly without cool nights. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to August | Plant May to Aug in the dry with regular watering. Juicy fruit, but it colours poorly without cool nights. |
Not to be confused with: Mandarin and Orange Tree. Tangelos sit between the two: juicier and tangier than most mandarins, and easier to peel than an orange.
Where to plant
Tangelos need full sun, shelter from strong, cold winds and, above all, good drainage. Waterlogged soil causes root and collar rot, so plant on a mound in heavy or wet soil. Aim for a soil pH of about 6 to 7.5, and dig in compost before planting.
Fruit sweetens and colours best where there are warm summers and cool nights in autumn and winter. In the tropics trees grow well but fruit colours poorly.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers, Sydney and Perth: plant from March to September.
- Adelaide: plant in March and April or September and October. Minneola suits the hot, dry summers; water deeply while the fruit sizes.
- Melbourne: plant from September to November after frost, in a warm, sheltered spot. Fruit is sweetest after a hot summer.
- Hobart and Canberra: marginal. Plant in spring against a warm, north-facing wall and protect young trees with frost cloth. Fruit stays sharp after cool summers.
- North Queensland and Darwin: plant in the dry season and water regularly. Fruit is juicy but colours poorly without cool nights.
Choosing a variety
Minneola is the tangelo most often sold in Australia. It is not strongly self-fruitful and tends to crop better with another citrus nearby, such as a mandarin, to cross-pollinate; some Minneolas bear heavily in alternate years. Buy a grafted tree, and choose a dwarfing rootstock for pots or small gardens.
How to plant
- Choose a sunny, sheltered, well-drained spot. Mound the soil in heavy or wet ground.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot and mix in compost.
- Check for circling roots and tease them out gently. Plant at the same depth as the pot, with the graft union well above the soil.
- Water in deeply and mulch over the root area, keeping mulch clear of the trunk.
- Water at least weekly while the tree establishes.
Watering and feeding
Give a deep soak rather than a light sprinkle, then let the top few centimetres dry before watering again. Water most from flowering until the fruit has set and while it sizes through summer. Do not leave the roots in soggy soil.
Feed with a citrus fertiliser in late winter or early spring, again in summer and in early autumn, spreading it around the edge of the canopy and watering it in. Young trees need only small amounts, little and often. Too much nitrogen gives thick-skinned, less juicy fruit.
Pruning and care through the year
- Pick off most fruit in the first year or two so the tree builds a strong frame.
- Prune lightly to remove dead wood, crossing branches, low branches touching the ground and any shoots from below the graft. Dead twigs carry melanose, so cut them out.
- Keep grass and weeds away from the root zone, which is shallow.
- Cut out citrus gall wasp swellings on young stems between autumn and late winter, before the wasps emerge in spring.
Harvesting
Tangelos ripen through winter into spring, roughly July to October. They do not ripen further once picked, so taste one before picking the crop. Snip the fruit off with secateurs, leaving a short stalk, rather than pulling. Fruit holds on the tree for some weeks once ripe, and keeps two to three weeks in the fridge.
Growing in pots
A tangelo on a dwarfing rootstock can grow in a large pot, at least 50 cm wide, with a quality citrus or premium potting mix. Water regularly, feed little and often, and repot or root prune every few years.
Using it
Eat tangelos fresh, peel them for lunchboxes, or juice them; Minneolas are very juicy. The zest and juice are good in dressings, cakes and marmalade.
Companion planting
Citrus trees like a clear, mulched root zone free of grass and weeds.
Good companions
- Comfrey Its leaves can be cut and laid around the tree as a nutrient-rich mulch.
Pests and diseases
Tangelos share the usual citrus pests. Most problems are insects on new growth and poor drainage.
Pests to watch for
- Citrus gall wasp Lumpy, woody swellings on young stems, visible from autumn. Prune them out before the wasps emerge in spring.
- Bronze orange bug Shield-shaped bugs, green to orange when young and bronze-black as adults, on new shoots. They squirt a liquid that burns, so wear eye protection.
- Leaf miner Silvery, winding trails in new leaves, which curl and distort. Mostly cosmetic on established trees.
- Scale Small bumps on leaves and stems, sticky honeydew, sooty mould and ants.
Diseases to watch for
- Melanose Small, raised, dark brown spots on leaves and fruit, spread from dead twigs in wet weather.
- Collar rot Bark at the base of the trunk cracks and oozes gum. Keep mulch and soil off the trunk and avoid waterlogging.
Common questions
What is a tangelo?
A citrus hybrid of a mandarin with a pomelo or grapefruit. Tangelos are juicy and tangy and peel more easily than oranges. Minneola, with its knob at the stem end, is the best known.
Why does my Minneola tangelo have little fruit?
Minneola is not strongly self-fruitful, so it often crops better with another citrus such as a mandarin nearby for cross-pollination. It can also bear heavily one year and lightly the next. Young age, drought at flowering and too much nitrogen also reduce the crop.
When are tangelos ripe?
Mostly from about July to October. They do not ripen further after picking, so taste one first. Ripe fruit holds on the tree for a while.
Can I grow a tangelo in a pot?
Yes, a tree on a dwarfing rootstock in a pot at least 50 cm wide with good potting mix, regular water and little-and-often feeding.
Can I grow tangelos in Melbourne?
Yes, in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot, planted in spring after frost. Fruit is sweetest after a hot summer. Hobart and Canberra are marginal and need a warm north-facing wall.
When should I feed my tangelo?
With a citrus fertiliser in late winter or early spring, in summer and in early autumn, spread around the edge of the canopy and watered in. Avoid heavy feeding while the tree is in full flower.
Sources we checked: NSW DPI: Caring for young citrus trees; NSW DPI: Growing lemons in Australia, a production manual (nutrition), for citrus feeding; Agriculture Victoria: Citrus gall wasp; Yates: Caring for citrus; Wikipedia: Tangelo.