It looks great! Are you fertilizing the tree at all?

Most trees start producing at age 3, but your tree is huge compared to a 3 y/o tree in a pot. I would think yours should be producing quite a bounty. I have learned that fertilizer makes a big difference as it takes a lot of energy to produce fruit compared to growing leaves. Citrus are suppose to be fertilized at least 3x a year if growing in the ground. In a pot, at least monthly as the water flushes out whatever is given. Any good citrus fertilizer would make a difference in your situation.

Hi Denise, the tree is probably about 3 years ago; I'm guessing it was about 6 months old when we planted it in the ground. We are going the organic route as we have other citrus trees nearby that produce a lot and have never fertilized (we put the grass clippings around it once in awhile to organically compost).

Hi Lynda - thank you for your comment. Yes, I'm guessing it's just a matter of time. But it is what weird that it has flowered a little, we get the tiny tiny mandarin, but then it doesn't continue growing. But, based on the health of tree (I have had to fight aphids a few times with neem oil), I think we'll just let it continue to grow and hopefully it will produce when really ready. Often times, patience is the name of the game :).

That tree looks very close to producing fruit. If you are giving the tree excessive fertilizer it could be possible that the rapid growth of the tree is coming at the cost of fruit production. Fertilizer can give a tree a jump start in growth and ultimately bring it closer to fruit production, but paradoxically, if a tree is heavily fertilized and rapidly growing it is less likely to produce fruit that same year.

Another possible thing to consider is that, depending on the mandarin variety, it's possible it could need pollination from a different variety to produce fruit. That's probably not the case, but just something else for you to possibly look into. (Does the mandarin variety happen to be Clementine?)

Also, another very unlikely possibility, is there any chance this mandarin wasn't grafted and is growing on its own roots? That would also lead to rapid growth but at the same time you likely wouldn't see any fruits for many years.

Hi Socalnolympia, all great questions. I can rule out the fertilizer issue, because we have never fertilized once. In regards to pollination, not sure, but as you can see from one of the pictures, it seems to have pollinated and grown a fruit, albeit small one. The final theory, about grafting, great question and I'm not 100% year, but again, seems to have flowered 9-10 times in the last 4-5 months, but the fruit never really grew.

Thanks for the insight.

Young trees abort fruit when something is lacking. Many times it's age related, related to stress of some sort, incorrect pollination or lack of fertilizer. I have just read recently that you should fertilize prior to the spring bloom which I was not aware of. So I am going to mark my calendar to fertilize in February rather than in March.

There are organic fertilizers on the market. Jobes Organic Citrus and Fruit Tree is one that I have used for many years. My trees have done really well with it too. You may even consider fish emulsion as it has many nutrients that other fertilizers lack. It wouldn't hurt to try it because both products I mentioned are organic.

If your tree is getting enough sun, mature enough, receiving correct amounts of water and has good drainage, then there is no problem with your tree. Citrus trees usually need some sort of fertilizer, not just nitrogen which is coming from the decomposing grass, but you don't want to do that. Keep in mind too that just because your trees in one area of your property are doing well, it doesn't mean that another part is just as good soil wise. I have areas in my yard that are sandy loam and another part of the yard is red clay which is horrible. Anyway, because you don't want to fertilize, the only option for you is to wait and see what happens.