How to Grow an Orange Tree: Orange Planting Methods and Precautions

Citrus is a fruit that many people like; it is a walking source of vitamin C. China has a fairly long history of cultivating citrus and has accumulated considerable experience in citrus growing, but for people who have never worked with citrus, growing citrus should still start from the planting experience of those who came before, and then gradually form one's own conceptual system through the growing process.

How to Grow an Orange Tree

1. Best growing soil: The orange tree likes sunlight and is suitable for fertile, loose, slightly acidic, well-drained sandy soil.

2. Growing humidity requirements: It likes a warm environment with a certain amount of humidity. The potting soil should stay moist, but water must not accumulate in the pot. In summer and early autumn when the weather is hot, besides watering the pot, water should also be sprayed on the ground around the pot to keep it moist.

3. Best growing temperature: The orange tree likes warmth and is relatively shade-tolerant; it is more sensitive to temperature than to light. The optimal growing temperature is centered on 26 degrees C, with 23-34 degrees C being most suitable.

4. Best growing light: Oranges are a fairly shade-tolerant fruit, but good sunlight is still needed for high quality and high yield. Generally, areas with an annual sunshine duration of 1200-2200 hours can grow them normally.

Orange Planting Methods and Precautions

1. Seedling planting: When planting orange seedlings, moderately prune the root system, then place the seedling in the center of the planting hole, spread out the roots, hold it upright, and while filling with soil, gently lift the seedling upward and firm the soil. Water thoroughly to settle the roots, make a 1 m tree basin around the sapling, and cover it with rice husks. After planting the orange seedlings, carry out deep digging and hole expansion and mature the soil. Do not plant tall-stemmed plants such as corn and wheat in the orchard. Do good work in rational intercropping in the orchard and in cultivating and weeding.

2. Fertilizer and water management: Orange trees should fully satisfy the blood orange's need for various nutrient elements. It is recommended to apply more organic fertilizer and to rationally apply inorganic fertilizer and formula fertilizer, and to guide fertilization according to leaf analysis results, orchard soil analysis results, and the blood orange phenological period. Base it mainly on soil fertilization, combined with foliar fertilization. Use methods such as ring trench application, strip trench application, hole application, and broadcasting fertilizer on the soil surface. Irrigate when the soil is dry, and drain when there is standing water.

3. Rational fertilization: Orange trees should be fertilized frequently and lightly, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer, combined with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and fertilized 5-6 times during the spring, summer, and autumn shoot emergence periods. For adult trees, apply four good rounds of fertilizer, namely bud fertilizer, fruit-preserving fertilizer, fruit-strengthening fertilizer, and post-harvest fertilizer. Bud fertilizer: 2-3 jin of chemical fertilizer and one carrying pole of manure water. Fruit-preserving fertilizer: 1-2 jin of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and 1 jin of chemical fertilizer. Fruit-strengthening fertilizer: 1-2 jin of chemical fertilizer and 2 jin of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Post-harvest fertilizer: 50-100 jin of organic fertilizer and 2 jin of chemical fertilizer per tree.

4. Pruning techniques: In the young tree stage, after selecting the central leader extension shoot and the extension shoots of each main branch and sub-main branch, carry out moderate or even heavy heading back, and use the degree of heading back and the direction of the cut bud to regulate the balance of growth among the main branches. In the fruiting stage, continue to choose heading back treatment for the extension shoots at all levels of the framework, remove summer shoots, and promote the growth of robust autumn shoots. In autumn, for vigorously growing trees, use measures such as ring girdling, root cutting, and water control to promote flowering.

What to Do When Orange Tree Leaves Turn Yellow

1. Water rationally

Yellowing leaves on an orange tree may be caused by the weather being too hot and excessive water loss. At this time, appropriately increase the amount of watering; you can water once in the morning and once in the evening, and note that the amount of water each time must not be too much. In addition, spray water on the leaves normally, or sprinkle water around the pot to increase air humidity.

2. Fertilize correctly

A lack of nitrogen fertilizer or boron fertilizer can both make orange tree leaves turn yellow, so at this time apply fertilizer containing nitrogen or boron. For nitrogen deficiency, apply farmyard manure or spray urea; for boron deficiency, apply boric acid, and boric acid solution is also a good choice.

3. Change the soil

Orange trees are more suited to surviving in acidic soil. If the soil is alkaline, it may cause the leaves to turn yellow or even drop. You can mix a little beer into the water when watering, but be careful not to mix in too much. In addition, when choosing soil, choose fertile soil with relatively good aeration. If the soil is dug from the wild, put it in the sun to bake thoroughly.

4. Apply more of various elements

A lack of iron, zinc, manganese, and so on may all cause orange tree leaves to turn yellow. At this time, supplement the element it lacks accordingly. If it lacks iron, apply ferric sulfate or a small amount of sulfur powder; doing so can also increase the acidity of the soil. If it lacks zinc, spray zinc sulfate solution on the leaf tips, and note that the concentration should not be too high. If it lacks manganese, mix manganese sulfate into other fertilizers and apply it to the tree.

5. Control pests

Red spider mites may also cause orange tree leaves to turn yellow. At this time, spray 5000 times diluted fenbutatin oxide suspension concentrate on it; in addition, 1000 times diluted 15bf saomandingjing can also be used.

Citrus Fresh-keeping Methods

1. Garlic liquid for keeping citrus fresh: Take 1 part garlic cloves, mash them into a paste, put them into 10 parts boiling water, stir, and take the liquid. Cool to room temperature, then soak selected citrus in the garlic liquid, take them out after 10 minutes and dry them, and store them in a box or plastic bag. They can be kept fresh for 3 months.

2. Soda water for keeping citrus fresh: Dilute 2 parts baking soda with 1 part water and stir into a liquid. Put the citrus in to soak for 2 minutes, take them out and dry them, put them into a plastic bag, and tie the bag tightly. This can keep citrus fresh for 3 months.

There are two purposes for growing citrus: one is growing potted citrus, and the other is producing citrus. The second is currently the most important form on the market, so for the final product of the orange tree——oranges, we need to take certain measures to keep them fresh, so that it can help us obtain more returns.