The orange tree is an interesting tree to grow on a terrace or balcony.
Very aesthetic with its glossy and evergreen foliage, its colorful and fragrant flowers and its edible fruits are a treat: by following our advice, you will easily adopt it!
How to cultivate the orange tree?
Citrus
sinensis
can be grown:
In open ground:
in regions with a mild climate: Mediterranean coast, Basque Coast;
In a pot:
everywhere else.
If you opt for planting in the ground, you will need to be aware that in the event of negative temperatures, the orange tree could be seriously damaged.
If you prefer growing in a pot, know that your orange tree can reach up to 3m in height.
When and how to plant the orange tree?
Planting should be done in spring, when temperatures rise.
To plant a
Citrus sinensis
, it is recommended, once the planting hole has been made, to add:
A draining material
such as clay balls for planting in a pot or pozzolan for planting in the ground;
An
amendment
such as compost or a commercial fertilizer: you should avoid manure which is a product that is too strong for the development of the superficial roots of the orange tree.
Orange trees should be planted in spring, when temperatures rise.
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To facilitate recovery, the planting hole can be supplemented with a special substrate for citrus fruits and Mediterranean plants.
Likewise, it is recommended to add fertilizer every month between April and October or, failing that:
One to the resumption of growth in March;
A second before the flowering period, in June;
A last one to encourage fruiting, in September.
Also read: 12 aesthetic and tasty citrus fruits to grow indoors or outdoors!
How to water
Citrus sinensis
?
The orange tree must be watered generously when planting.
Thereafter, you must be vigilant and wait for the surface of the substrate to dry between two waterings.
If you have a saucer, in the case of growing in a pot: you must empty the water regularly.
In fact, the root system of
Citrus sinensis
cannot
tolerate excess water
: this can, moreover, be the cause of the yellowing of its leaves.
Where to put an orange tree in winter?
When temperatures are mild: the orange tree must be in a sunny location.
In winter, when temperatures drop, you should place the orange tree in a sunny place protected from the cold, such as a veranda or a small greenhouse.
How to maintain
Citrus sinensis
?
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Pruning:
the orange tree can be pruned significantly because the development of its roots, which are superficial and fasciculated, evolves according to the volume of its aerial part;
Humidity:
in addition, you must be vigilant about the humidity level of the place where the
Citrus sinensis
is located because it is a plant sensitive to cryptogamic diseases (due to fungi);
Orange harvest:
it is carried out in winter, from December and until April-May, as needed.
Harvest the most colorful fruits first by cutting the peduncle using pruning shears.
Read also Mexican orange tree: a fragrant invitation to the garden!
At what age does an orange tree give its first fruit?
If you purchased your orange tree from a specialist nurseryman or garden center, your
Citrus sinensis
has been grafted onto a vigorous rootstock and it is already at least 2 to 3 years old.
In this case, if it is not already producing fruit (the presence of oranges on the tree is a compelling commercial argument), it will fruit in
the following 2 to 3 years
.
If you have grown an orange tree from a seed, it will take longer for it to bear fruit (uncertain, as the fruits may be very different from the original orange), generally between 7 and 15 years.