Are you turning green with envy looking at your friend’s beautiful orchard? Do you wish to taste the fresh zesty splendour of your home-grown oranges?
Most gardeners steer clear of planting fruits in their garden. It’s because they are considered as ‘too much of a hassle’. When they do plant fruits it’s usually the summer varieties like apples and berries.
However, you can change the gardening game by cultivating an orange tree in your garden. Thus, you may reap the fruity benefits amidst the harsh cold winds of winter!
Did we spike your interest?
Here is how you plant, maintain and harvest your oranges:
1. The Planting
Springtime is the optimal time for planting your orange trees. This is especially true for container-grown plants. Thus, when spring comes, go to the garden and select a nice sun-lit spot. Make sure that it’s well-protected from the wind.
Pro tip: Prevent water logging by planting your seeds on a small mound.
2. The Maintenance
Orange trees aren’t that demanding. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that they grow on their own.
Here are a few tips to ensure a healthy and happy plant:
- Keep them pruned: Some parasitic sprouts do grow at the graft on your tree’s trunk. Hence, it is necessary to eliminate them before they start an infestation.
- Keep them watered: These thirsty beings need a lot of water. That’s why it is best to saturate the soil by hosing twice or thrice near the roots. However, that doesn’t mean that you create a pool of water near the trunk as that will only cause problems.
- Keep them nourished: Fertilise your orange trees at least thrice a year (spring, summer, and winter). Enriching them with minerals and vitamins encourages a healthy yield.
Lastly, mature oranges are sturdy enough to withstand the freezing temperatures. Yet, it is better to cover the exposed branches with frost protection like nettings and fleece jackets for warmth.
3. The Harvest
We all know that colour is a good indicator of ripeness when it comes to fruits. But that isn’t the case with oranges. That’s because your citrus fruit starts to turn shades of orange before they are ripe. Hence, you should let the fruit stay intact till winter comes to get a sweet juicy taste.
Pro tip: Pulling off the whole fruit stalk of ripe oranges is easier than pruning each piece with shears.
In conclusion, orange trees aren’t that hard to maintain. They only need a little extra care and attention when a new season unravels. Apart from that, they’ll blossom and cultivate without you hovering around them. Henceforth, stop declining this heavenly treat from your garden and make amends by planting a tree next spring.
Need a hand?
Oranges may be low on maintenance but like all plants, they too are hungry for fertilisation. So don’t hesitate to feed them some highly nutritious plant feeds.
Fortunately, Little Fields Farm has its own section of plant feed and fertilisers dedicated to the zesty citrus family. Our personal pick is the Baby Bio Citrus Food that works well for all seasons. We also have seasonal treats and drippers to enhance plant growth.
Will you be planting oranges next year?
