Orange Growing : Creating Your Own Spot of Sunshine
by: Liz Roberts

What’s better than a fresh picked orange? It bursts with a combination of sweetness and zip – not to mention vitamins and nutrition. An even better treat is growing your own. Surprisingly, most climates in the southern continental US will support and not harm orange trees. Even if you are living in a normally cold weather area, you can still grow oranges in a conservatory or greenhouse.

Since your primary object to having an orange tree is the harvest, select a tree that is known for its’ sweet tasting fruit. Satsuma and the smaller Clementine varieties will provide oranges that are almost sugary tasting. The Citrus Ssimensis produces the navel oranges you pick up in your local grocery store. The best bet in this kind is the “Parson Brown” navel orange. It yields it’s harvest midseason October through December. Oranges normally grow best outside in warmer weather climates such as Florida and California. However they also thrive wonderfully in Arizona, Texas and the southernmost part of Louisiana,, along the Gulf of Mexico. Orange trees do need adequate rainfall however they will suffer in any over saturated soil area. A very dry dirt, on the other hand, could lead to smaller harvests and half sized fruit.

If you’re planting in these zones, (9 through 11), you have to keep your orange trees protected against an occasional temperature dip. Plant trees in the warmest part of the garden which is usually along the southern side of a building (whether the house or garage). Remember, a sudden cold snap can be brutal. Protect your tree by doing one of two things. The first is cover with a blanket and burn a light bulb inside or you can simply place large containers of water around it. Frost can destroy fragile orange blossoms even if temperatures remain above freezing. To prevent frost from forming on petals, cover the orange tree with a blanket or have a fan blowing away the cold air. You can also construct a frame out of PVC piping or wood around the tree. Later, drape plastic sheeting over it.

Compost and fertilizer, as much as weather protection play important parts in your tree’s life Orange trees thrive in gritty soil and your compost should have a similar composition. A gritty compost also allows the tree to breathe, letting more air hit the roots. As for fertilizing, you can choose between one made specifically for citrus trees or a fish emulsion type (which come in pellet form). You can also have a spray on fertilizer known as foliar feed. This guarantees every part of the tree to be nourished. An orange tree also needs a pick me up every spring. Give it a basic mix of essential minerals which can be purchased in a sachet form and can be bought from your local nursery (or online if you absolutely can’t find it in your area). Oranges can also suffer from magnesium deficiency and require an Epsom salt solution. (one teaspoon of salts to every gallon of water). Yellow leaves are the first sign of any deficiency and should be investigated right away.

Orange trees can greedily soak up water however, don’t over soak them. Water them accordingly and don’t water again until the soil is completely dry and crumbly. When doing this, fully saturate the tree and repeat ten minutes later. Also allow the compost to become thoroughly wet as well. It too should be let to dry until is it crumbly before you can water it again. Remember to have the water at room temperature (basically lukewarm).

An orange tree does not require elaborate or massive pruning. You can cut away any errant branches or shoots. Sucker branches should be removed. These are growths that will grow from the lower part of the rootstock. If left to produce, they will yield undesirable fruitsalong with ruining the overall aesthetic of the tree’s shape.

Orange trees will flower in the spring. They will bloom with heavily fragrant, creamy white blossoms. Orange clusters will grown from these. You can either loosen the baby fruit yourself or let nature do it. Most trees lose about 90 percent of their fruit, however the smaller the harvest, the bigger and juicier the fruit. Oranges can take anywhere from eight to eighteen months to ripen. It’s not unusual to see older trees with all stages of fruit on them, from tiny, embryonic oranges to green ones, to ones just beginning to ripen.

Growing an orange tree is a perfect way of bringing sunshine into your life. It produces not only delicious multipurpose fruit but also lovely fragrant blossoms. An orange tree is a great addition to your life- and your garden. It enhances both in so many ways.

• 2-3 navel oranges cut up and cubed
• 1 can pineapple chunks, drained, (reserve juice)
• 1 can diced peaches (reserve syrup) or 2-3 fresh peaches cut up.
• 2-3 full sized apples cut and cubed
• Few tablespoons sparkling wine or champagne
• Cherries or grapes for decoration

Mix fruit in bowl. Add pineapple juice and peach syrup. Chill. When ready to serve put fruit into fruit cups or champagne flutes and add a splash of sparkling wine or champagne. You can decorate with cherries or grapes.

(for a non-alcoholic version substitute champagne with ginger ale or club soda)