Yuzu Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on October 26, 2022

Planting instructions

Choose a spot for planting in acidic soil that drains well and that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Unpot your sapling and tease out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place your tree in the hole, spreading out the roots. Holding it upright and steady, fill in around the roots with topsoil, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a two to three-inch layer of organic mulch around the root zone to conserve moisture and hinder weed growth but keep it from touching the trunk to avoid problems with rot.

Watering and nutrients

Once established, your Yuzu Tree needs about an inch of water a week, either from rain or supplemental watering. If you’re unsure whether you need to water it, check the soil about two inches below the surface. If it’s dry there, give your tree a drink. Fertilize your Yuzu in spring and throughout the growing season with a balanced, slow-release product that is designed for citrus trees. In winter, you can cut back on fertilizing.

Pollination

Bees, wasps and other pollinators are drawn to the Yuzu Tree’s small white flowers in spring. Yuzu trees are monoecious, or self-fertile, meaning that you will be able to harvest fruit even if you only have one tree. You will, however, reap a larger harvest from each tree if you have two or more planted in close proximity to each other.

Pruning

Prune out dead, diseased or damaged limbs whenever you see them and any suckers that appear at the base of the trunk. You may also prune the interior of the canopy to remove branches that are rubbing against each other and to allow for better air circulation through the tree. This is best done after the tree bears fruit.

Pests and diseases

Pests that may be seen on your Yuzu tree include several types of scale insects, mites and aphids, which can be controlled with horticultural oil. Diseases that are common to citrus trees include citrus black spot, which is a fungal disease, and citrus canker, which is caused by bacteria. To keep fungal issues at a minimum, always water at the base of the trunk and keep the area around the trunk free of leaf litter or other debris.

Harvesting

Yuzu fruits are harvested in the fall, usually in October and November. When ripe, the fruit will turn from green to a bright yellow and will pull easily off the tree. Store in a cool location and use your Yuzu fruits within a week or so.

Achieving maximum results

If you live north of USDA hardiness zone eight, you’ll want to grow your Yuzu Tree in a container that can be brought inside when the temperatures go below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This isn’t difficult and will allow you to harvest tasty fruit as far north as New England or the Great Lakes region. Choose a pot for your Yuzu that is about twice the size of the root ball, with large drainage holes in the bottom. Use a good-quality potting mix and plant according to our directions above. Plan on repotting your Yuzu in fresh soil every four or five years to keep it healthy. Also, note that potted plants tend to need more supplemental water and fertilizer than those planted in the ground. In the winter, bring your tree inside and place it in a sunny window, turning it occasionally so that all sides get some sun.

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