Now’s the Time to Plant Those Orange Trees

Gardening: Fragrant Beauties Produce Fruit for Up to 50 Years. Get Them in the Ground Before It’s Too Hot

When Orange County was named in the late 1800s, there were more grapevines here than orange trees. Real estate agents pushed for the word “orange” because they felt it evoked a salable Mediterranean flavor. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the orange industry took off.

These easy-to-grow trees produce fruit for up to 50 years and are an attractive landscape addition with their glossy green leaves and fragrant blossoms that attract bees.

Now is a good time to plant an orange tree because it will have time to set down new roots before really hot weather arrives.

Varieties of Orange Trees
You can find a variety of common and more unusual orange trees in nurseries, including dwarf varieties that are good for containers and small yards, says Laurie Mazzella, new plants manager at Monrovia Nursery in Azusa, a wholesaler that sells to nurseries throughout Orange County.

Orange Tree

“A standard orange tree will grow 20 to 25 feet, but on dwarf root stock like the Flying Dragon type, there are many orange trees that simply become an 8-foot mound,” Mazzella says.

Types of Oranges

Oranges come in two main varieties. The most popular for the home gardener are navels. These large, thick-skinned fruits have no seeds and the segments pull apart easily.

  • Dwarf Navel: Dwarf Lane Late navel orange, growing 6-8 feet tall. This variety has fruit that matures later than most oranges.
  • Washington Navel: The standard variety, produces richly sweet oranges with crisp, tender flesh. It ripens from December to February.
  • Valencia: In season May-November, excellent for juicing with smaller fruit and thin peels. MidKnight Valencia is a nearly seedless variety that holds fruit on the tree for months.
  • Blood Oranges: Moro Moro variety has reddish-orange skin and deep red flesh, offering an exotic flavor of orange with raspberry or strawberry overtones.

Planting Tips

To grow an orange tree in your yard, follow these tips:

  • Choose a healthy tree: Look for one with lots of deep green leaves.
  • Location: Find a full-sun location with excellent drainage. Test drainage by filling a hole with water; if it doesn’t drain within an hour, find a better location.
  • Soil: Amend the soil with 50% compost or planter mix, and gypsum. Ensure the soil is loose to at least a foot deep.
  • Planting depth: Plant the tree at the same level it was in the container. Planting too deeply can suffocate the tree.
  • Watering: Don’t over-water. Let the soil dry out slightly between waterings to avoid root rot.
  • Fertilizing: Fertilize 4-5 times a year, using a fertilizer that contains iron to avoid chlorosis, a condition that causes yellowing leaves.
  • Pruning: Orange trees need minimal pruning. Remove branches that touch or are a hazard. Remove suckers growing below the graft union.

Container Growing

For container growing, use a dwarf variety and a pot that’s at least 15 gallons. Ensure regular watering and fertilizing, as the tree has limited access to moisture and food in containers.

May Planting Guide

May is an ideal time for gardening. Temperatures are mild and soil is warm, promoting quick plant growth. If the weather turns hot, water plants more often and shield new transplants from direct sunlight for a couple of days.

Flowers
  • Ageratum
  • Alyssum
  • Aster
  • Begonia
  • Blue flax

Trees / Shrubs / Vines
  • Bougainvillea
  • Citrus
  • Gardenia
  • Hibiscus

Vegetables and Herbs
  • Basil
  • Bean
  • Beet
  • Carrot
  • Cilantro

Julie Bawden-Davis

Julie Bawden-Davis is a bestselling journalist, novelist, blogger, and YouTuber. A prolific author, Julie writes in several genres. She enjoys creating page-turning suspense served up with a dose of romance, garden books that turn any brown thumb green, and spiritual books meant to enlighten and inspire. Widely published, Julie has written 45 books and more than 4,000 articles for a wide variety of national and international publications. She lives in Southern California, where she enjoys sunny, blue skies most days and year-round gardening. Julie gains inspiration from being surrounded by plants when she writes.