Citrus reticulata 'Ellendale' – Ellendale Mandarin

Site: Choose a free draining position in full sun with shelter from cold wind, and room for a pollinating citrus nearby.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Set level with the surrounding soil, keeping the graft union clear of the surface, backfill, firm in and water deeply.

Home orchard: 3 metres apart, which also places a pollinating citrus comfortably within bee range.

Feature tree: 3.5 metres apart to allow the full rounded canopy to develop.

Pot or container: A 60 centimetre or wider pot suits a single tree, though garden planting gives the better crop.

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months, then weekly in dry weather. Even moisture from flowering to harvest prevents fruit drop and splitting.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Prune lightly after harvest to open the centre and hold picking height. Thin heavy crops on young trees and remove any shoots below the graft.

Fertilising: Apply a complete citrus fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer, adding trace elements if leaves yellow between the veins.

Pest and disease: Watch new flushes for citrus leaf miner, and check for scale, aphids and bronze orange bug. Remove fallen fruit to reduce fruit fly pressure.

Citrus reticulata performs best in fertile, free draining loam or sandy loam at a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free draining and suitable. Mulch well and feed regularly to offset leaching.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting, or raise the bed.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent fruit size.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

Q: What is an Ellendale mandarin?
A: Citrus reticulata 'Ellendale' is an Australian raised tangor, a natural cross between mandarin and orange, found in Queensland in the early twentieth century. It has the easy peeling habit and shape of a mandarin with the size and richer flavour of an orange, and it has been a mainstay of the Australian citrus industry.

Q: When is Ellendale mandarin ready to pick?
A: Ellendale is a mid to late season variety, ripening through the middle and later part of winter, roughly July into September. That is well after the early mandarins, which is precisely why it is planted. Leave fruit on the tree until fully coloured, since mandarins do not develop further sugar once picked.

Q: Does Ellendale need a pollinator?
A: It sets a much better crop with another citrus flowering nearby, so plant a second mandarin or an orange within bee range. On its own it will still fruit, but yields are lighter and more variable year to year. Cross pollination also means more seeds in the fruit, which is the trade off.

Q: How big does an Ellendale mandarin tree grow?
A: About 3 to 4 metres tall and 2 to 3 metres wide in the ground, with a rounded canopy. Growth is moderate at 30 to 50 centimetres a year. Pruning after harvest keeps the fruit within reach and opens the centre, which matters on a variety that carries a heavy crop.

Q: Is Ellendale frost tolerant?
A: Once established it handles light to moderate frost, making it one of the hardier citrus for cool temperate gardens. Young trees need protection for their first two winters with frost cloth or a sheltered position. Hard frost during flowering will still cost you the following crop, so avoid open low lying frost hollows.

Q: How far apart should mandarins be planted?
A: Allow about 3 metres between trees in a home orchard so each canopy develops fully and air moves through. Since Ellendale wants a pollinator, that spacing also puts a partner tree comfortably within bee range. Keep trees at least 2 metres clear of walls, fences and paving to avoid crowding the roots.

Q: How do I care for an Ellendale mandarin?
A: Water deeply and consistently from flowering to harvest, and mulch the root zone leaving a gap at the trunk. Apply citrus fertiliser in early spring and again in late summer. Thin heavy crops on young trees, prune lightly after picking, remove any growth below the graft, and watch for leaf miner and scale.