Citrus Reticulata "Naartjie" 5Liter

Botanical Name: Citrus reticulata
Common Names: Naartjie, Mandarin Orange, Easy-Peel Citrus

📌 Product Description

Citrus reticulata, commonly known as Naartjie, is a popular citrus variety prized for its sweet, juicy flavour and easy-to-peel skin. The fruit is typically seedless or contains few seeds, with soft, tender segments that make it ideal for fresh eating.

This variety is highly productive and produces abundant crops of bright orange fruit during the cooler months. The evergreen tree features glossy foliage and fragrant white blossoms, adding both ornamental and edible value to the garden.

Naartjies are a household favourite in South Africa, enjoyed fresh or used in juices and desserts.

📏 Size When Fully Grown

Height: 3 – 5 m
Spread: 2 – 4 m
Growth Habit: Medium-sized evergreen citrus tree
Growth Rate: Moderate

🌱 Best Growing Conditions

Light: Full sun
Soil: Well-draining, slightly acidic soil enriched with organic matter

Water:

• Water regularly during establishment
• Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged
• Reduce watering slightly in cooler months

Feeding: Apply a citrus-specific fertiliser during spring and summer

Maintenance:

• Prune lightly to maintain shape and remove dead or overcrowded branches
• Protect from heavy frost, especially when young
• Monitor for pests such as aphids, scale, and citrus leaf miner

🌦️ Planting & Growing Season (South Africa)

Best Planting Time: Spring to early summer
Active Growth: Spring and summer
Flowering Season: Spring
Harvest Time: Autumn to winter
Climate Suitability: Best suited to warm, temperate and subtropical regions of South Africa
Chill Requirement: Low (light frost tolerance)

🌼 Additional Benefits

• Sweet, juicy and easy to peel
• Popular and widely loved fruit
• Good productivity
• Fragrant blossoms
• Suitable for home gardens and containers

🌿 Ideal Uses

✔ Home gardens
✔ Fresh eating
✔ Juicing
✔ Lunchbox fruit
✔ Edible landscaping