When do tangerines ripen in Hunan, and do tangerines in the north ripen later?

Citrus is one of the most widely cultivated fruit trees in the world, and China is the world's largest citrus-growing country, with Hunan Province being a major citrus-producing province. So when do Hunan tangerines ripen? Do tangerines in the north ripen later?

1. When do Hunan tangerines ripen?

Hunan is a major tangerine-producing province. Some early-maturing varieties begin to appear on the market one after another around mid-August, but the bulk of them reach the market mainly in October and November.

However, different varieties have different ripening periods. Early-maturing varieties ripen by National Day, ordinary ones generally from November to January of the following year, and late-maturing ones generally from November to March or April of the following year.

Among these, Shimen in Hunan has a long history of citrus cultivation. As early as more than two thousand years ago, the great patriotic poet Qu Yuan wrote the famous piece "Ode to the Tangerine" in his hometown. According to research, citrus originated in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau of China, traveled down the Yangtze River, and spread to the south of the Huai River, the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and all the way to the Lingnan region. Through the long-term cultivation and selection by the people of China, citrus became a precious fruit for humankind.

Every year Hunan holds a carnival tangerine festival in Shimen, and Shimen tangerines are first-rate in both taste and appearance. The price is generally between 1600 and 2400 per ton. Chenxi, Xupu and Mayang in Hunan are all places rich in tangerines, and the quality is good.

2. When do tangerines ripen in the north? Do they ripen later?

Tangerines grown in the north can generally only be cultivated in greenhouses. They usually begin to ripen after October, later than in the Hunan region, and overall they are grown relatively little.

Open-field tangerine cultivation generally needs to meet the following conditions:

1. Temperature

Tangerine growth requires a temperature of 12.5-37°C. Temperature has the greatest influence on citrus production conditions; even a temperature difference of 0.5°C can sometimes produce completely different results.

2. Light

Tangerine trees are relatively shade-tolerant, but a high yield also requires sunlight. Generally, areas with an annual sunshine duration of 1200-2200 hours can grow normally. Compared with tangerine-producing areas with little sunshine, areas with good sunshine and abundant heat have higher sugar content, lower acid content and a higher sugar-acid ratio in the fruit.

3. Precipitation

Generally, tropical and subtropical areas with an annual precipitation of around 1000 ml are suitable for growing tangerines. Too much rain, causing waterlogging in the soil or a high groundwater table, and poorly drained citrus orchards will cause the root system to die. Citrus trees require an air relative humidity of around 75%.

4. Soil

Soils suitable for growing tangerines include purple soil, red-yellow soil, sandy beach and coastal mudflat. A pH value of 5.5-6.5 is most suitable for growing tangerines