Why do I have less fruit on my tangerine tree than last year?

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

My husband and I bought our house in 2017, complete with a large, mature tangerine tree. The first year or two I was still getting used to the idea of having fresh citrus so I only picked what I could eat, which were deliciously sweet fruit, though very seedy. In 2020 I finally decided to actually do something with the fruit. I was giving away bagfuls to neighbors who would trade for other citrus (via dead drop since COVID)... I felt bad for not being able to pick/use more sine there was so much of it. I even learned how to make marmalade and made three batches before getting it right.

But this year, the tree barely has any fruit at all. Only about 1/4 of the tree (the backside where I didn't pick as much last year) had any fruit. The rest was bare of fruit. What could be the issues? What can I do to ensure a better yield next year?

The first photo is from 2017. The yield was immense for a few years and now it isn't. The second photo is this year (taken in late November before the fruit ripened - it's green still but it's there).

We live in Los Angeles County, so the weather is pretty much always warm & dry except for winter and early Spring, and we don't typically get frost.

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Comments (5)

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
3 years ago
Have you been feeding it? It's surrounded by concrete?
Jesse T
Original Author
3 years ago
I have not been feeding it but the yield was bonkers for three years in a row. It's just this year that it's wimpy. It is surrounded by a slab but the base itself has about a 3' square area that isn't concrete, with some rocks stacked around the trunk. I'm pretty sure there is a squirrel burrow underneath it too. I will try feeding it this year but wondered if there's anything else I should be aware of or that I should try.
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Silica
3 years ago
The reason is because your tangerine (mandarin) is alternate bearing. If you want to stop, or at least slow down the alternate bearing habit of the tree, you need to thin the crop during heavy crop years. As your tree has a small crop this year you can expect a heavy crop nest year.
Jesse T
Original Author
3 years ago
So basically pick more fruit the next time it's a heavy crop?
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Silica
3 years ago
There are many reasons that perpetuate alternate bearing: excessive crop load, and its associated tree stress, Competition between vegetative and fruit growth, depletion of carbohydrate and mineral reserves, and changes in hormones, also late harvest dates and the presence of fruit on the tree during flowering also contribute. A great deal of evidence points to severe depletion of carbohydrate reserves, particularly starch, during the on year (heavy load year). Starch levels in the leaves, stems, trunk, and roots are all depressed. Depletion of mineral elements also occurs during the on years. The large number of fruit from the on year competes for carbohydrates and reduces the amount of vegetative growth which will be the primary source of flowering the subsequent year. (T.A. Watson research)

Why do I have less fruit on my tangerine tree than last year?

Comments (5)

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A

Jesse T
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Why do I have less fruit on my tangerine tree than last year?

Comments (5)

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A

Jesse TOriginal Author

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Jesse TOriginal Author

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Jesse T
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