Tangelo Trees, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Tangelo is a mandarin and grapefruit cross with juicy, easy-peeling fruit that ripens in winter, and it grows well in Southwest Florida's sun and sandy soil. It needs full sun, good drainage and a spot away from salt spray. Citrus greening is present across Florida, so plan to feed the tree well and watch for psyllids. We deliver and plant 15 and 25 gallon trees.
- Light:
- Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours
- Water:
- Moderate; deep, regular watering while young and during fruit set, never soggy
- Salt:
- Low; keep it out of salt spray and brackish water
Tangelo Tree
Ask for a photo of the actual plant we would deliver.
Tangelo Tree sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Tangelo Tree | 15 Gallon, 25 Gallon |
Tangelo Tree in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 12 to 20 ft tall and 10 to 15 ft wide; easy to hold lower with pruning
- Light
- Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours
- Water
- Moderate; deep, regular watering while young and during fruit set, never soggy
- Salt tolerance
- Low; keep it out of salt spray and brackish water
- Cold tolerance
- Leaves and fruit are damaged in the upper 20s°F; cover young trees on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 15 to 20 ft between trees
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Citrus × tangelo
Where Tangelo Tree works in a SW Florida yard
Give tangelo a sunny, open spot with room to spread: a corner of the back yard or the edge of a lawn, at least 15 ft from the house and other trees. Keep a 3 to 4 ft grass-free ring around the trunk.
Pair it with another citrus, since many tangelos set a better crop with a second variety nearby. Avoid septic drain fields and low, wet spots.
- Backyard citrus
- Winter fruit for juice
- Edible landscape tree
How our crew plants it
The graft union must stay well above the soil, so plant at the same level as the container, in a hole twice as wide as the pot. Mulch 3 inches deep, pulled back a foot from the trunk, and keep string trimmers away.
The crew sets it, waters it in and cleans up. Lee and Collier allow extra watering for new plantings.
Care after planting
- Water young trees deeply instead of often, and keep the soil moist during flowering and fruit set.
- Feed in late winter and again in fall with a citrus fertilizer that includes micronutrients, and skip nitrogen and phosphorus from June 1 to September 30.
- Keep mulch and lawn grass away from the trunk to prevent foot rot.
- Cover young trees on frost nights and remove the cover in the morning.
- Harvest runs roughly November to February depending on variety, so pick when the fruit is fully colored and sweet.
What to watch for
- Citrus greening (HLB), spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, is established across Florida and causes blotchy leaves, small lopsided fruit and a shorter tree life with no cure, so regular feeding and psyllid control matter.
- Common tangelos like Minneola and Orlando set little fruit without another citrus variety blooming nearby to pollinate them.
- Soggy ground causes root rot, so plant on a low mound where water stands.
Tangelo Tree questions we hear
When are tangelos ripe in Southwest Florida?+
Most tangelos ripen from about November to February, depending on the variety. Minneola, the honeybell type, runs roughly December to February, while Orlando comes a bit earlier. Pick when the fruit is fully colored and sweet, because citrus does not ripen further off the tree.
Do tangelo trees need another tree to produce fruit?+
Many do. Common tangelos such as Minneola and Orlando are self-incompatible, so they set a better crop when another citrus variety blooms nearby, such as a tangerine or Temple orange. A second citrus tree in the yard usually solves it. Fruit from a cross-pollinated tree tends to have seeds.
How far apart should I plant tangelo trees in Cape Coral?+
Plant tangelo trees 15 to 20 ft apart, and at least 15 ft from the house, pool and septic drain field. Lots here are often small, so plan the spot before you buy, and prune to keep the tree at a manageable 10 to 12 ft.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Tangelo Tree
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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See it in 3D first
We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.