When Does an Orange Tree Bear Fruit?

When Does an Orange Tree Bear Fruit?

The joys of growing orange trees (Citrus sinensis) are many. The glossy-leaved evergreen trees bear fragrant, white waxy flowers in spring, followed by tasty ornamental orange vegetables. Orange trees develop outside in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 during 11, and in zone 9 with winter safety. Underneath USDA zone 8, grow citrus in containers and then bring them indoors during cold weather. The trees bear oranges after five to six years, and fruit requires seven to more than 12 weeks to ripen.

Seedling Trees

Orange trees grown from seed take from five to six years to produce fruit for the first time. A horticulturist in Great Britain in 1840 growing oranges in containers in an orange-house, or orangerie, noted his seedlings bore fruit after six yearsago He equated first fruits with when fresh branches were without spines. An article in “Popular Science News” in 1901 observed that young California orange trees don’t bear fruit before five years in the ground. Martin Page, author of “Growing Citrus,” characterizes seed-grown citrus as being 10 years old before fruit quality could be determined.

Grafted Trees

Distinct disease- and pest-resistant citrus species serve as rootstocks for orange trees. Trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) helps to dwarf budstock for easier harvest and also to fit orange trees for smaller spaces. Rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri) rootstock promotes quicker fruit-bearing. The grafted orange requires a year to become established after transplanting and three to four years to achieve useful fruit-bearing dimension. Eliminate any fruits which form during this time to help the tree grow bigger. Grafted oranges grow quicker and more uniformly and bear earlier than seedlings.

Fruit Production

Oranges begin to develop flower buds in early winter. They develop slowly through the winter to spring, typically blooming in April, and so many blossoms are created that around 99 percent of them fall off without setting fruit. Flowers put fruit in mid-April to May, with a lot more young fruit than a tree can support. Many of the small fruits fall off during the “June drop” period in late May and June. The remaining oranges continue to grow, maturing seven to 15 weeks after fruit set, based on the variety and growing conditions. Fruit color doesn’t necessarily indicate ripeness. Some oranges develop some green on the epidermis, called re-greening, because of cooler winter temperatures, but they are ready to harvest.

Cultivars

Seasonality of fruit-bearing depends on the cultivar. Early-season varieties ripen in the fall. “Hamlin” produces small to medium oranges in late September, as does “Marrs.” Navel oranges are the greatest kind for eating out of hand. Seedless fruits ripen in late September, from seven to 12 weeks after fruit set. Mid-season oranges mature from November into early January. “Pineapple” has medium large fruits, 15 to 25 seeds and good juice and ripens before Thanksgiving. “Jaffa,” of Israeli origin, has small to medium yellow fruit with creamy flesh and nectarlike juice. Harvest is around Christmas. Late-season fruits are ready in February and March. “Valencia,” the world’s most-planted orange variety grown for both eating and juice, is prepared in February.

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