Citrus made easy for growers, nurseries, and distributors

TheOkitsu Wase satsuma is desirable for commercial production because of its early ripening and consistent production. Its flavor isn’t as good as other later mandarins, but fills a gap in the early season market. It matures weeks ahead of many other mandarins, usually in late September to October, allowing growers to capture premium early-season markets when competition is low and prices are higher. The fruit itself is seedless, very easy to peel, and has a sweet, mild flavor with low acidity, making it attractive to a wide range of consumers, including children and export buyers who prefer convenience and uniformity. Their ability to bear heavy crops of uniform fruit provides orchard efficiency, while the early maturity reduces risk of frost damage compared to later-ripening mandarins.

Okitsu Wase Satsuma mandarin trees are considered the most cold-hardy of the commercial citrus types. Mature, well-established trees can generally tolerate temperatures down to about 22–24 °F without serious injury, and with good orchard management and favorable conditions they have been known to survive brief drops close to 20 °F. This makes them significantly more resilient than varieties like Eureka lemon, Clementine, or Tango mandarin, which are typically damaged at higher temperatures.

For Okitsu Wase satsuma trees, several rootstocks are commonly used, each offering different strengths depending on the orchard’s goals. Trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) is a classic choice because it provides excellent cold tolerance and resistance to soil-borne diseases like Phytophthora, making it especially valuable in regions with winter risk. Carrizo citrange is also widely used, giving strong vigor, adaptability to many soils, and reliable yields, while C-35 citrange offers a slightly smaller tree with good disease resistance, which can be helpful in higher-density systems or where more controlled growth is desired. Swingle citrumelo is another option that balances vigor with cold-hardiness and is often considered in areas where both resilience and productivity are important.

Research trials with Okitsu Wase have shown that performance varies across rootstocks, with trifoliate selections often excelling in fruit quality and cold resistance, while citranges and citrumelos provide more vigor and higher yields. For a grower whose priority is cold protection and high fruit quality, trifoliate orange or dwarfing trifoliate selections such as Flying Dragon are well suited. For those seeking a balance of growth, yield, and adaptability in commercial orchards, Carrizo or C-35 citrange remain dependable choices. Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether the orchard is focused on premium fruit in colder margins, efficient production in denser systems, or maximizing tonnage in favorable conditions.

It’s not as good as other citrus selections. Okitsu Wase is generally a better variety for commercial growers.

TreeSource Large Pot trees are palletized in heavy-duty triwall boxes. Each tree is secured upright with pots stabilized to prevent movement. They are stacked 100 per pallet and loaded into curtain van semis for wind protection and easy unloading with a field forklift.