about

Oranges are a type of citrus species in the family Rutaceae. Oranges primarily refer to Citrus x sinensis, also called sweet orange to differentiate it from Citrus x aurentium, commonly referred to as bitter orange. The most common bitter orange is Seville which is used to make marmalade. Other varieties of bitter orange are used for their essential oils, used in perfume, as a flavoring or as a solvent. In the Americas, the juice from ripe bitter orange is used as a marinade for meat.

All sweet oranges are believed to be a hybrid between pomelo and mandarin and originated in an area encompassing NE India, SE China, and Myanmar.

Oranges were introduced by the Spanish to Florida in 1565 in St. Augustine. At one time citrus production was a major agricultural industry in Florida but production has declined because of disease, intermittent hard freezes and land loss to development.

Oranges can be grown in the home landscape in N. Central Florida if proper care is given to the trees. Common oranges here are Navel, Hamlin, Valencia. Temple orange (or Tangor) is a hybrid between sweet orange and mandarin orange.

planting

As with most citrus, sweet orange trees will be grafted and consist of two joined parts, a “scion”, the above-ground portion of the tree comprising the main trunk, limbs, leaves, and fruit; and the “rootstock”, the portion of the tree that consists of the lower trunk and the root system of the tree. Rootstocks can make an orange tree more tolerant to stresses such as unfavorable soil conditions, soilborne pests and diseases, and cold. They can also affect the size, fruit quality, and yield of the tree.

It is best to buy orange trees from a reputable nursery where they are inspected to ensure they are disease-free. Plants are typically available in 1–2-gallon pots but larger sizes are available.

Orange trees should be planted in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. If more than one tree is planted, they should be at least 15ft apart. Citrus greening or huanglongbing (HLB) is an ongoing disease threat to all citrus but some nurseries now have HLB tolerant rootstock. Two such varieties are UF Sugar Belle and UF 13-51 mandarin.

Container grown trees can be planted any time and should be set at the same soil line as they grew in the container. Some of the soil should be removed from the root mass to expose some of the outer roots to allow them to spread quickly into the planting area. Soil can be heaped around the outer limits of the root ball to form a basin to collect water. These should be able to hold 5-10 gallons of water and be filled at least twice weekly.

Orange trees need water, nutrients, occasional pruning and disease control if necessary.

Adequate water is vital for young trees. The basin around young trees should be filled twice weekly for the first month, thereafter watering can be less frequent. Trees will need less watering as the tree matures and increases its root system. Watering should be increased when new growth appears or in hot weather.

Fertilize trees when new growth appears or three weeks after planting with a balanced fertilizer such as 6-6-6 or 8-8-8. Apply every 6-8 weeks from February through October. Thereafter apply according to UF/IFAS recommendations.

Oranges trees should not require a lot of pruning. However, it is important to remove suckers from the base of the tree as these are likely to be from the original rootstock. Frost- or disease-damaged branches should be removed if it is clear they will not recover. Trees will sometimes produce vigorous vertical shoots known as water sprouts or suckers. These should be removed as they are slow to bear fruit and interfere with productive limbs.

Citrus can often be successfully grown without chemical pesticides. Leaves damaged by leaf miners can be removed. If problems persist, horticultural oils sprays can be used to suppress populations of mites, insects, and scale.

One exception to the above is citrus greening or huanglongbing (HLB). Citrus greening is a relatively recent bacterial disease commonly transmitted by psyllids, a small plant-feeding insect. Fruit affected by HLB is not dangerous to consumers, but it tends to be off tasting. Trees infected by greening are weakened and more susceptible to damage, need more care and generally die within a few years. Afflicted trees also require more fertilizer, and their leaves are a blotchy irregular yellow. Early detection is key since the age a citrus tree is infected will affect management. Citrus trees that are infected when young (two years or younger) will most likely never be healthy enough to be productive and should be removed. However, more mature healthy trees that become infected can have a prolonged life with proper nutrient and pest management. While the tree will eventually succumb to the disease, it is possible to get some extended seasons from the tree. Contact your local Extension office for further information about citrus greening or if you are concerned about your orange trees.

Oranges can be picked as they ripen. To extend the harvest season plant varieties with different maturity seasons. Navels ripen from Early October through January, Midsweet ripens January through March, and Valencia ripens from late March through June. Selecting a tree from each of the maturity seasons (early, midseason, and late) will provide continuous fruit from November to July.

If your Sweet Orange is producing bitter fruit, it is possible that it has HLB, or that the rootstock suckers overtook the scion. Fruit coming from rootstocks are generally not edible and can be sour or bitter.

When I think about oranges, I immediately think of Vitamin C. Oranges are a good source of Vitamin C, but they are also an excellent source of fiber, thiamin, folate, potassium, and antioxidants.  One medium orange contains 6% of your daily recommended amount of calcium. Oranges can be used in so many ways and always add a fresh citrus smell to the room when you are eating one or cooking with them!

To prepare oranges wash them before eating or using take a sharp knife and gently slice off the top and bottom of the orange. Next gently score about one inch down the skin and peel the skin away from the orange being sure to remove the white pith. If you are having trouble peeling the orange this way you can try this method after you have scored the orange peel. You can gently roll the orange between your hands for the skin to loosen making the orange easier to peel.

Oranges are paired four different ways: floral, aromatic, fruity and other.

• FLORAL:  Rosemary, Basil, Cilantro, Mint, Celery, Carrots and Asparagus.

• AROMATIC:  Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, anise, chocolate, amaretto, brandy, tequila, and coffee.

• FRUITY:  Banana, cranberry, pomegranate, beets, grapefruit, and pineapple.

• OTHERS:  Lemon, black tea, chicken, duck, goose, squash, and white fish.

Nutritive Value: 1 medium orange contains the following:  Calories: 60, No fat or sodium, 3 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, 1 gram protein, 14 micrograms of vitamin A, 70 milligrams of vitamin C and 6% of your daily recommended amount of calcium.