Author Topic: Tqangerines have little flavor  (Read 1200 times)

voyager

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 47
    • Pahoa, HI - USDA 12a/12b
    • View Profile
    • Mike's Photo Gallery - Alaska - Hawai'i & Elsewhere
Tqangerines have little flavor
« on: November 19, 2018, 03:21:48 PM »
We have a tangerine tree that was planted by the previous owner.
I'm guessing that it is either a Dancy or Fremont, and assume it is a grafted tree.
EDIT:  Fairchild not Fremont

It began producing fruit 2 or 3 years ago.
This year it has begun to take off, had over a dozen fruit on it.
It is producing large 3-1/2 to 4" dia fruit that are completely seedless.
I do not pick them until the skin is loose from the sections.
They are juicy but have very little little flavor and are not sour or tart.
The lack of flavor has been consistent through the few years it has been producing fruit.

What could be the cause of the lack of flavor for the fruit from this tree?




« Last Edit: November 19, 2018, 06:47:21 PM by voyager »

SoCal2warm

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1554
    • zone 10 and zone 8a
    • View Profile
Re: Tqangerines have little flavor
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2018, 11:32:18 PM »
Lots of things can lead to more watery insipid flavor in mandarins. For some varieties, it takes several years to develop decent flavor, and many more years for that flavor to slowly improve.

Dancy is supposedly supposed to be the gold standard for mandarin flavor (or so I have read), but I personally do not care for that type of flavor myself.
(I am wondering, are you sure it's not just personal preference and mandarin variety?)

Sometimes too much watering while the fruits are developing can lead to more washed out flavor.

Also sometimes climate can make a difference with some citrus.
« Last Edit: November 19, 2018, 11:37:55 PM by SoCal2warm »

Millet

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4798
    • Colorado
    • View Profile
Re: Tqangerines have little flavor
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2018, 12:25:02 PM »
Two major factors relating to fruit flavor are: 1) Age of the tree, and 2) time of harvest.   Most citrus trees do not produce quality fruit until the tree reaches approximately 5- 7 years of age.  In the case of mandarins  waiting to pick the fruit until the fruit becomes puffy, you have waited to long,

SoCal2warm

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1554
    • zone 10 and zone 8a
    • View Profile
Re: Tqangerines have little flavor
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2018, 03:31:56 PM »
I know Meyer lemons can develop an off flavor if you wait too long to pick them.