Ishikawa Satsuma

Description

Ishikawa is a Satsuma-type mandarin that produces easy-peel, seedless, juicy fruit in winter. It follows the earliest Satsumas, extending the Satsuma season through into winter, which places it Early on the relative NZ mandarin scale. Like all Satsumas it has the characteristic puffy, very easy-peel rind and fruit whose segments children can pull apart without mess. The tree is a very heavy cropper and should be thinned in the first few years after planting so it puts energy into establishing roots and framework rather than fruit. Do not judge ripeness by colour alone — Satsumas colour up while still tangy, and fruit left longer on the tree sweetens markedly. Best for fresh dessert use. Plant in a warm sunny position, protect from harsh frost when young, feed spring to harvest and mulch clear of the trunk; trees on dwarfing stock suit large pots.