Orange Growing Guide

Citrus sinensis

Orange

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Warm, moist soil enriched with organic matter.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

No. Grow at temperatures above 7°C (45°F).

Feeding

In spring and summer, feed regularly with a liquid fertiliser. Yellowing leaves indicate a need for more nitrogen.

Companions

Oranges and other citrus are heavy feeders that resent close company, so companion plants have to be planted a little way away.

Spacing

Single Plants: 5.00m (16' 4") each way (minimum)
Rows: 5.00m (16' 4") with 5.00m (16' 4") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Set out new plants in spring. Good drainage is essential.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Prune in spring or summer to shape plants, and watch for thorns. Very sweet oranges need a long season of warm weather, but kumquats, calamondin oranges and satsumas fruit well in marginal areas or when grown in containers.

Harvesting

Pick when richly coloured and fully ripe. Picking can continue for several weeks as fruits do not ripen all at once.

Troubleshooting

Soft soap sprays can help against scale insects. In Australia fruit fly are a pest of oranges. Place any infested fruit, or fruits that have fallen to the ground, in a sealed plastic bag in the sun for at least 7 days to kill the eggs and larvae. Do not compost infested fruits as this will lead to the fruit flies completing their life cycle and the problem recurring.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Orange