How to grow Orange Tree

Where to plant

Plant oranges in full sun, at least 15 feet from other trees, and away from buildings, septic tanks and drain fields. Citrus tolerate light shade but crop much better in full sun, and they will not tolerate waterlogged soil.

Freezes are the limit. Where they come every few years, plant the hardiest types and avoid late-season varieties, whose fruit may be frozen before it ripens. A long freeze does more damage than a brief, colder dip.

• Central and South Florida: the heart of US orange growing. Plant container trees at any time; in South Florida, the cooler, drier months let roots settle before the summer rains.
• North Florida and the Gulf South: risky. Plant after the last frost in your warmest spot and cover young trees on freeze nights. Satsuma is the safer citrus.
• Texas: outdoors only in the Rio Grande Valley; elsewhere grow a dwarf tree in a container.
• The Desert Southwest: plant in late winter or October to miss the summer heat, wrap or paint the trunk against sunburn, and water deeply.
• Southern and Northern California: plant in spring after frost or in October. Inland trees need more water than coastal ones.
• Hawaii: grows well in the lowlands; water through the dry season.
• Colder regions: grow a dwarf tree in a container and bring it inside for winter.

Choosing a variety

UF/IFAS suggests planting one early, one midseason and one late variety if you have room, for fresh fruit from early November to July. Buy a certified tree from a licensed nursery in your own state.

How to plant

1. Plant a container-grown tree at the same soil level as in its pot. Remove some potting mix from the outside of the root ball so the roots grow out into the surrounding soil.
2. Build a watering basin that holds 5 to 10 gallons. Fill it twice a week for the first month, then water whenever new growth wilts in the afternoon.
3. Start feeding three weeks after planting or when new growth begins.
4. Keep grass, weeds and mulch away from the trunk to prevent foot rot.

Watering and feeding

Young trees use water quickly; water them often for the first year. Established trees need watering in dry spells, and in hot, dry climates about 1 to 2 inches a week through the growing season, spread over the whole root area. Never keep the soil saturated.

In Florida, feed young trees about every six weeks from February to October with a balanced citrus fertilizer with micronutrients, starting with about half a cup and increasing through the season. From the second year, fewer, larger feeds are enough. Spread fertilizer beyond the drip line, about as many feet out as the tree is years old, and never against the trunk.

Pruning and care through the year

• Remove suckers from below the graft.
• Mature trees need no regular pruning; heavy pruning cuts the crop. Remove dead wood, water sprouts and branches that crowd buildings.
• On alkaline soils, iron deficiency is corrected with chelated iron, and an annual manganese and zinc spray can help.
• Before a freeze, water the soil a few days ahead, pull back mulch, and cover young trees to the ground.
• Check new shoots for Asian citrus psyllid and report suspected citrus greening to your state department of agriculture or extension office.

Harvesting

Oranges ripen slowly and hold on the tree for weeks to months, so taste to decide when to pick; color is not a reliable guide, as fruit can stay green-tinged in warm climates. Clip or twist the fruit off. Picked fruit keeps 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.