Citrus thrives in full sun. This plant needs eight to ten hours each day, even during the summer months. It tolerates some shade, but less sun means less fruit. In warm areas along the coast, satsumas may be grown in the ground against the sunny, southern wall of a home, if they are covered and heated during severe freezes. Contrast this to the 30 seeds of Changsha tangerine, satsuma's closest competitor.
Children often prefer satsumas because of the milder flavor.
For maximum sweetness at harvest, leave fruit on the tree for about one week after it has completely assumed its orange color. The fruit from a young tree averages 1.8 inches in diameter, approximately three-quarters the size of a tennis ball. Satsumas grow and produce fruit for many years but may remain at a height of only 4 to 6 feet even after several years in a container. Young satsuma trees are sold primarily in 5-gallon containers. If they are to be grown as container plants, they should be shifted to a container of at least 20-gallon capacity soon after purchase.