For more information on Alternaria, see Fact Sheet PP-152, Alternaria Brown Spot.Īlternate bearing is a problem with Dancy which affects fruit size and quality. Pruning produces additional flushes, making the disease more difficult to control. Each flush should be protected with fungicide to control the disease. Reasons for grower dissatisfaction are listed below for your consideration.ĭancy is susceptible to Alternaria which will require sprays over and above those required for most other varieties. This once-popular variety has been replaced by several newer tangerine types. Credit: UF/IFAS CRECĭancy has been successfully produced on many rootstocks over the years and Cleopatra mandarin has been the most popular since it is a tangerine type and seems quite compatible with the Dancy. The tree is moderately cold hardy, but the thin-skinned fruit are not.īoth the tree and the fruit are susceptible to the Alternaria fungus disease (Figure 2) which can result in defoliation and crop loss unless carefully controlled.įigure 2. The tree is usually productive, but does have the aforementioned problem with alternate bearing. The tree is nearly thornless with thick foliage. Tree Characteristicsĭancy produces a rather large tree at maturity and tends to be vigorous with an upright growth habit. Crop thinning by judicious pruning is advised in these situations. This variety has a tendency to be alternate bearing, producing large crops of small fruit one year, followed by small crops of large fruit the following year. The fruit matures in the December-January time period. The fruit surface is smooth and glossy until almost over-mature when it may become bumpy. The apex of the fruit is usually depressed.

The fruit shape is flattened and often somewhat pear-shaped due to the development of a neck at the stem end. There are always a few seeds in each fruit ranging from a low of around 6 to perhaps as many as 20. These same characteristics make the fruit easy to damage at harvest, and the fruit are usually clipped so as to prevent peel tearing or plugging. The rind has deep reddish-orange color at maturity and is easily peeled due to the thin, leathery peel.

Average size is 2¼ - 2½ inches in diameter. Credit: UF/IFAS CRECįruit size of Dancy is quite variable, depending upon crop load on the tree.

Tangerine florida