How to Pick the Right Orange Tree: Types & What to Consider


If you live in a warm, humid subtropical zone such as Florida or California, you have a wide variety of options available to you when it comes to growing fruit trees. You are in the enviable position of being able to care for almost any kind of plant so long as you keep the unwanted weeds and animals under control. You ought to give some thought to cultivating an orange tree because they are typically simple to care for and give rise to some of the most mouthwatering fruits. Because of their sweetness, juicy texture, and unique flavor, oranges are consistently ranked among the most consumed fruits all over the world.

In its later years, an orange tree can grow to be as tall as a 50-foot building, so it is imperative that this fact be taken into consideration whenever making plans. Even if you start with a very young tree, you should still make preparations in advance and position it in a wide-open space so that it will have plenty of room to grow. If you make the same mistake that I made, you will end up having to completely redo your backyard, which may include tearing down a shed in its entirety. I learned this the hard way. Simply prepare yourself in advance by taking the necessary precautions, and you will avoid all of this trouble.

Soil

Fine sand that has excellent drainage would be the perfect medium in which to cultivate an orange tree. Because the trees are known for growing to enormous proportions and necessitating a great deal of support from the ground up, the soil should be of sufficient depth to enable the development of extensive root systems. If the soil in your yard is shallow and easily soaks up water, then you should either take action to improve the situation or move on to a different species of tree. It is highly likely that any attempt to cultivate an orange tree in these conditions will end in complete and utter failure.

Washington Navel Orange

The “Washington Navel” orange is considered to be one of the most popular varieties. It is likely the result of a mutation that occurred in other oranges. Around the year 1820, it was first documented in Brazil, and within the next fifteen years, it had made its way to Florida. It is notable among the oranges in the collection for having one of the largest sizes. The peel or rind can be removed without much effort. In general, it does not have as much juice as other oranges, but it has a very robust flavor. These are the orange trees that are most commonly used for commercial agriculture. If you go with one of these trees, you will probably not have to water it as frequently if you do choose it.

Trovita Orange

“Trovita” oranges are a different variety altogether. It was developed in California at some point in the early 1900s in a laboratory that was dedicated to researching and developing new citrus varieties. At about that time, in 1940, it first became available to the general public. It does not have a flavor that is particularly robust, and it contains a greater number of seeds than a Washington Navel. On the other hand, it was developed to be more tolerant of harsher, hotter, and drier environments than other types of oranges, which are not suitable for growing oranges. These mutations of the type are responsible for the creation of some of the most popular oranges in Florida right now.

Valencia Orange

One of the oranges with the juiciest pulp and intense flavor is called Valencia. It is most common in the southern states of the United States and South Africa. Due to the fact that Valencia oranges were so popular up until about 20 years ago, they comprised an unusually large portion of the market for oranges. It is believed that the concept was first developed in China. It hardly has any seeds at all. These oranges are known as “Rhode Red Valencia” and constitute a different category within the Valencia variety. Around the year 1960, these came into existence, making them somewhat more recent than the other types. There were a number of mutations that took place, and the trees that grew as a result of them were large and exceptionally resilient. The oranges themselves are juicier and have a lower acidity level compared to the typical Valencia oranges.

Orange trees are fantastic things to plant because, with only a small amount of effort during the planting process, you will be able to take pleasure in the harvest of hundreds of delectable fruits each and every year. Simply select the orange that appeals to your sense of taste the most, and go from there. It is important to check with a knowledgeable person in your community before investing in a tree of any kind to ensure that it will be successful in the environment in which it will be grown. In most cases, there won’t be a problem with this, but before investing your time and money, it is always a good idea to double-check.

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