SRA Clementine
What's special about SRA Clementine
Group of French research-station clementine selections (SRA 63, 92, etc.).
Growing this variety
SRA Clementine follows the same growing basics as Mandarin. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Mandarin family.
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Best grown from a grafted nursery tree for true-to-type fruit and faster harvest. From seed: use fresh seed, plant 1/2 in deep in a well-drained mix, keep 75–85°F and moist. Transplant to a sunny, well-drained site sheltered from cold winds, or grow in a large container (15+ gal) that can be moved indoors below 30°F.
Grower's tip
Loose-skinned easy-peel citrus. Satsumas are the most cold-hardy true citrus; clementines are the classic seedless winter mandarin; tangors are mandarin × sweet orange crosses.
Soil preferences
Deep, well-drained native soil. Avoid amending the planting hole heavily — roots should learn to grow into the surrounding earth.
5.5–7.5 depending on species (conifers lean acidic; most hardwoods neutral).
Top-dress with compost and mulch in a wide ring; don't backfill with pure compost.
Watering
Deep soak weekly the first two years while roots establish; taper once the tree self-supports.
Slow trickle at the drip line, not the trunk. A 5-gal bucket with a pinhole is ideal.
Overwatered: yellowing, root rot, mushroom collar. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop.
Prefers top-watering — Trees are always top-watered — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering only makes sense for nursery seedlings.
Temperature tolerance
Broad — most species tolerate 40–90°F once established
Down to species-rated USDA zone minimum
Hardy once established; young seedlings need protection their first winter.
Special germination requirements
Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
Deep tree pots (root trainers) for the first 1–2 seasons; permanent site required for full growth.
Only dwarf, patio, or bonsai forms live long-term in containers.
Detailed harvesting
Not applicable for ornamental/timber trees. Nut and fruit species — pick when they drop naturally.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Nuts: keep damp and cool, sow promptly. Winged/coned seed: dry, cool, dark in a sealed jar.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Shade, windbreak, wildlife habitat, timber, ornament, and long-term carbon storage.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Wind- or insect-pollinated; seedlings rarely match the parent exactly (especially named cultivars — those must be grafted or cutting-grown).
Not practical for trees. Expect variation.
Collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean, dry or keep damp per species, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for mandarin in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My SRA Clementine Mandarin notes
SRA Clementine Mandarin seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
From your kitchen — grow mandarin from what you already have
Trees usually mean patience — collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean pulp off, and give most species a cold winter (real or in the fridge) before they'll germinate.
- 1Collect ripe seed/nuts/cones in autumn from a healthy parent.
- 2Clean off any fleshy pulp; dry cones warm to release seed.
- 3Cold-stratify in a bag of damp sand or peat in the fridge (34–41°F) for the time listed on the species.
- 4Sow in deep tree pots and grow on 1–2 seasons before planting to a permanent spot.
Storage: Most tree seed keeps 1–3 years cool and dry; oak/hickory/chestnut nuts must stay damp and be sown promptly.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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Other Mandarin varieties
Algerian Clementine
The classic small seedless winter mandarin — the original clementine.
Marisol Clementine
Very early Spanish clementine; deep orange, tender flesh.
Nules Clementine
Late Spanish clementine — the standard commercial clementine, seedless when isolated.
Ain Taoujdate Clementine
Moroccan late-season clementine with excellent flavor.
Owari Satsuma
The classic Japanese satsuma — cold-hardy to ~18°F, seedless, ripens early winter, zipper-skin peel.
Aoshima Satsuma
Late-ripening Japanese satsuma; large fruit, holds well on the tree.
Armstrong Satsuma
Early California satsuma selection; small tree, heavy bearer.
Tahoe Gold
Late-season seedless mandarin (Temple × Dancy × Encore); rich flavor.
Dancy
The classic American 'Christmas tangerine' — deep orange, tart-sweet, seedy.
Sunburst
Florida mid-season mandarin with deep red-orange rind and rich flavor.
Kinnow
Punjabi/Pakistani commercial mandarin — vigorous tree, juicy fruit, many seeds.
Ponkan
Large sweet Asian mandarin; loose skin, low acid, very fragrant.
Murcott
Rich sweet late-season tangor; deep orange, moderately seedy.
Tango
Seedless improved-Murcott selection; late season, easy peel.
Lee
Sweet mid-season hybrid (Clementine × Orlando tangelo); rich flavor, seedy.
Kara
Late-season mandarin (Owari × King); large fruit, tart-sweet, seedy.
Imperial
Early Australian mandarin — small, sweet, easy peel.
Szinkom
Southeast Asian mandarin selection; fragrant, sweet.
Sun Chu Sha Kat
Traditional Chinese mandarin used both as fruit and rootstock.
Temple
Classic Florida tangor (mandarin × sweet orange); rich spicy-sweet flavor, seedy.
Kiyomi
Japanese tangor (Miyagawa satsuma × Trovita orange); parent of many modern mandarins.
Tankan
Taiwanese/Japanese tangor; large, sweet, moderate seeds.
Ortanique
Jamaican tangor — juicy, aromatic, late-ripening, holds long on tree.
Sue Linda
Rare tangor selection; sweet aromatic flesh.