Orange tree

Caring for an orange tree is quite difficult. This is not just watering and fertilizing, you also need to deal with the formation of the crown. And is it possible to grow an orange tree from a seed at home? Sooner or later, every amateur gardener sets himself such an ambitious task. Growing is truly not for beginners. However, at home, even a gardener with relatively little experience can turn out a beautiful orange tree, of course, a decorative option.

How do oranges grow in nature? Those who have ever been to Mediterranean countries and seen citrus groves know that this is a beautiful evergreen tree. Having visited such groves, people tend to take a wild orange with them to grow it at home. But there is terminological confusion here. Orange is unknown to science in its wild form. All trees that are found in the Mediterranean or Southeast Asian countries are cultivated. Sometimes bitter orange is called wild orange with its very beautiful flowers, pleasant aroma and bitter taste.

An orange grown in a garden (that is, in natural conditions) is a fairly tall tree. Much depends on the variety, but there are plant species that reach a height of 12 meters. Dwarf varieties grow up to 4-6 m. But an indoor orange will not grow above 2-2.5 m in length. But there are also compact indoor trees - only 80 cm tall.

A home-grown orange can look very beautiful because it will have a dense crown that can easily be shaped into a pyramidal or round shape. You need to be careful with branches and shoots - they may have thorns, quite sharp, they reach 8-10 cm in length. Orange leaves have a very beautiful dark green color, which looks even more impressive due to the density of the leaves themselves, which are oval in shape and pointed tip. The length of the leaves can be approximately 15 cm, and they will be about 10 mm wide.

An orange planted in a pot can also produce other leaves, with a wavy edge. In fact, this is normal, since it is determined by the variety; it’s just that the gardener does not even always know what variety the orange tree seed he planted belonged to.

By planting such a plant in a pot, home owners receive a natural air freshener. At the very surface of the leaf there are so-called glands; they contain essential oil, filling the room with a subtle aroma.

The lifespan of one leaf is no more than two years. But on an orange tree, both young and old leaves always live at the same time. Each type must perform its own tasks. Thanks to young leaves, photosynthesis occurs, that is, they are responsible for ensuring that the tree breathes and develops. And old leaves are a kind of storage of nutrients.

In order to understand how to grow an orange at home, you also need to consider its root system. Most fruit trees the roots have special hairs that are needed to absorb more moisture and nutrients from the soil. Orange has a different root structure. A kind of capsules are formed on them, in which colonies of soil fungi live and reproduce, forming a fairly strong mycelium underground with the roots of the orange itself. This results in mutually beneficial coexistence - the tree supplies the mushrooms with amino acids and carbohydrates, which they themselves cannot obtain from the soil. In return, the mushrooms provide the roots with the right amount of moisture and minerals, which they process into the most digestible form.

As they grow, myceliums become sensitive to drought conditions. This is why growing oranges at home requires regular and sufficient watering. If this is not done, the mushrooms will grow outward, lower soil temperatures and contribute to the exposure of the roots, which can lead to the death of the tree.

How to grow an orange at home (video)

What do orange flowers look like?

One of the main advantages of this tree is its orange flowers. In the old days, brides decorated their hair with them and pinned them to the bodice of their dresses. Orange flowers are bisexual, large, and can reach 5 cm in diameter. There are varieties in which they grow singly, but there are also those in which they are collected in inflorescences of six pieces. Their color is usually white or pink. Buds are formed in the spring even at home. The flower can remain at the bud stage for about a month, but it blooms for only a few days.

When choosing material for planting an orange, the initial characteristics of the fruit are not so important. Optimists choose their favorite variety based on the fact that orange varieties can have a sweet-sour, sweet or bitter taste. It is very doubtful that it will survive in a young tree, but you can still try. The shape of the fruit can also be different. And this characteristic may continue to exist. Trees with round fruits look more beautiful in the home interior. Interestingly, from a botanical point of view, the orange fruit is both a fruit and a berry.

The color of the orange peel can also vary. On the one hand, the usual color is orange, but it is not found in every variety. Therefore, the peel of the fruit can be light yellow and even have greenish spots. However, it will still look beautiful.

Planting a tree and caring for it

Before planting an orange from a seed, you need to familiarize yourself with agricultural technology. Most experts believe that the plant can be planted at home at any time of the year. But it’s better to do this in mid-spring, when sunlight will be enough to ensure its intensive growth.

Interestingly, at home, oranges can be propagated not only by seeds, but also by cuttings, and each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, trees grow from cuttings much earlier than from seeds. The problem is that this cutting still needs to be found somewhere, and garden centers only have flowering seedlings, which are quite expensive (and not every center has them in stock). But if you manage to get a cutting, the tree that grows from it will completely retain all the characteristics mother plant. But an orange tree from a seed is a less reliable and at the same time cheaper option. And this task is interesting for any gardener.

How to grow an orange from a seed? For this purpose, it is necessary to select the most ripe and largest fruits, and from them best seeds, round and voluminous. Dried seeds are not suitable for these purposes. Please note that there are varieties of oranges that do not produce seeds at all, so you still need to carefully select the source “material”. However, in most fruits there are multi-embryo seeds, which are present in each segment of the fruit, and they are located in the pulp one above the other.

The seeds need to be germinated. To do this, you will need a damp cloth and a plastic yogurt cup. If you cover the glass with a plastic bag, you will get an impromptu greenhouse, which is kept in a warm place and ensures a stable level of humidity.

After 3-5 weeks, an orange sprout will appear above the surface. As soon as it reaches literally 2 cm in height, it can already be planted in prepared soil in a container with a diameter of 7-9 cm. At the bottom of the pot there should be a drainage layer of expanded clay, and on top of this ready soil For citrus plants. The container with the sprout is placed closer to natural light, but so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight. When transplanting, do not bury the sprouts too deeply. You need to act carefully so as not to damage the root system and mycelium described above.

How to grow an orange at home? Caring for it must be constant. Young plants need to be watered frequently. It is advisable to spray them with clean water that has had time to settle (it should be room temperature). As the tree grows, it will need more water.

How to grow an orange tree from this plant? As soon as 4-6 leaves are formed on it, the seedlings will need to be replanted again, and this will require larger pots. It is important not to forget that an orange tree at home also forms a fairly stable connection between the root system and mycelium, so it is replanted together with an earthen lump.

Even under the most ideal conditions, the orange does not receive enough sunlight. That's why they light him up ultraviolet lamp. It is important to maintain optimal temperature in the room.

Experienced gardeners grow several sprouts at once. The fact is that even with the most careful care of the orange tree, not all of them will be accepted. At the stage described above, they undergo natural selection. In a couple of weeks, the owner will already know which sprouts will become the strongest, and will leave only them. How does the orange tree continue to grow?

Caring for citrus fruits in an apartment (video)

Formation of the tree crown

This stage plays vital role. If this is not done, then the tree will not produce flowers or fruits. This is usually done when the orange reaches a height of 20-30 cm. Then it is necessary to carefully trim the top of the plant. Then it will begin to form branches of the second order. When they are pinched, branches of the third order will appear, etc.

Theoretically, the tree should bloom in the fourth or fifth year after planting. But you can get the fruits earlier. To do this, you just need to figure out how to plant an orange at home.

Are used different methods, which generally boil down to the fact that you can:

Graft a healthy branch from a well-bearing one.
Replant several times in different soils to strengthen the root system.
Make ringing. This is done as follows: squeeze the twig with a wire, and then carefully remove the bark in the form of a ring. When the orange begins to bloom, the wire is removed.
Arrange for the tree cold winter. Many gardeners even believe that this method will be the most effective. But in this case, you need to find a room for the orange in which it can spend the entire winter period at a temperature of +6-7 °C. How to care for an orange during this period? It needs to be watered as rarely as possible, once every 10 days is enough, there is no need to apply fertilizers at all. If you follow these simple recommendations, then in the spring you will notice rapid growth of the tree.

That is why citrus trees are used in the interior; they look beautiful thanks to their round crown and glossy leaves. And this tree blooms very beautifully.

Additionally

What other care does he need? It is necessary to protect the orange tree from pests. It can be threatened by plant mites, thrips, scale bugs and even aphids. Therefore, an orange tree, even one growing at home, must be treated with an appropriate insecticidal preparation every six months.

For sustainable development, the tree needs feeding. It should be fertilized once every two weeks from March to November. For this purpose, ready-made mixtures for citrus fruits are used. Some gardeners recommend using old tea leaves for the same purpose, which are buried in the ground.

Orange is a plant from which you can get fruits. This is done using artificial pollination. To do this, a brush is used that transfers pollen from one flower to another. Is it possible to eat such fruits? Theoretically it is possible harmful substances They definitely won't be there. But such oranges are not sweet and juicy. But such a round orange ball among the dark green foliage looks very beautiful and fills the room with a pleasant natural aroma. It is recommended to place a blooming and then fruiting orange in the living room, where it will become the central element of the decor. If all growing rules are followed, the plant will bloom and bear fruit at the same time, and this is very beautiful.

Orange (lat. Citrus sinensis) is a species of flowering plants of the dicotyledonous class, order Sapindoceae, family Rutaceae, genus Citrus. The orange is a cultivated hybrid form, most likely developed through crossbreeding and pomelo.

The orange got its name from the Dutch word appelsien or German Apfelsine, which translates as “from China”, “Chinese apple”.

Orange - description and characteristics. How oranges grow.

The orange plant is a fairly powerful evergreen tree, the height of which depends on the variety: vigorous varieties of orange grow up to 12 m in height, dwarf forms have a height of about 4-6 m, trees for indoor growing reach 2-2.5 m in height. The most compact orange trees grow up to 60-80 cm.

Orange tree It is distinguished by a dense dense crown of a round or pyramidal shape, and thorns up to 8-10 cm long often grow on its shoots. The leaves of the orange are dark green, dense, oval in shape with a sharp tip, growing up to 15 cm in length with a width of about 10 cm. Edge the leaf can be wavy, and at the very surface of the leaf there are special glands containing aromatic oil. One leaf lives for about 2 years, and on an orange tree old and young leaves grow simultaneously, performing different functions. Young orange leaves are responsible for photosynthesis, with their help the tree breathes, while old leaves are a reservoir for nutrients. The period of intensive leaf shedding (about 25%) occurs in February and March; the orange tree loses another quarter of its old leaves during the year.

Roots.

Orange roots, unlike other fruit trees, do not have root hairs necessary to absorb moisture and nutrition from the soil. But on the roots there are special capsules with colonies of special soil fungi that form mycorrhiza with orange roots. Orange supplies the mushrooms with amino acids and carbohydrates, and in return receives moisture and minerals, which the mushrooms provide in a form that is easily digestible for the plant. The overgrown mycelium of mushrooms does not tolerate drought, low soil temperatures and exposure of the roots on which they grow, so oranges are very demanding of moisture and heat and suffer greatly when transplanted without a clod of soil.

Flowers.

Orange has large bisexual flowers of white or Pink colour, up to 5 cm in diameter, solitary or growing in inflorescences of 6 pieces. Flower buds are being laid in early spring, flowers can remain in the bud stage for about a month, then open at a temperature of 16-18 degrees and bloom for about 2-3 days.

Fruit.

The fruit of an orange is called an orange. It is distinguished by its round or oval shape and has a structure typical of other types of citrus fruits. Such a fruit, which comes from the superior ovary, is called hesperidium (one of the varieties of berry-shaped fruit). Thus, the orange fruit is a fruit and a berry.

The orange pulp consists of 9-13 separable segments, covered with a thin film. Each lobule contains many sacs filled with juice, which are formed from the inner epidermis of the carpels. The taste of orange pulp can be sweet, sweet and sour or bitter.

Some fruits do not produce seeds, but most oranges still contain multi-embryo seeds, arranged in a segment one above the other.

Peel.

Smooth or porous orange peel has a thickness of up to 5 mm, its upper layer, flavedo (zest), contains many round glands filled with essential oil. The white spongy layer covering the inside of the peel is called albedo. Thanks to its loose structure, the orange pulp comes off the skin quite easily. Depending on the variety and stage of ripeness, the orange peel makes up from 17 to 42% of the total weight of the fruit. Orange peel color can be greenish, pale yellow, bright orange and orange-red.

Terms of ripening.

Orange is a remontant plant, capable of repeated flowering and fruit set, so an orange tree can simultaneously contain buds, flowers and fruits in different stages ripeness. The ripening of oranges lasts about 8-9 months, and ripened fruits can remain on the branches for a long time, and in the spring they turn green again, and by autumn they acquire a characteristic orange color. The seeds of fruits that ripen over 2 seasons are of higher quality, but the pulp loses its taste and beneficial features.

How long does an orange grow?

The orange tree grows quickly (annual growth is about 40-50 cm) and begins to bear fruit 8-12 years after planting. The life cycle of an orange tree is about 75 years, although some specimens live up to 100-150 years and produce about 38 thousand fruits in a harvest year.

The homeland of the orange is Southeast Asia (China); in the 16th century, the exotic fruit came to Europe, and then to Africa and the USA. Nowadays, orange is widely cultivated in many regions of tropical and subtropical climate zones, and the leaders in fruit exports are Brazil, China and the USA. Spain, Italy, India, Pakistan, Argentina, Morocco, Syria, Greece, Egypt and Iran are slightly behind.

Types and varieties of oranges, photos and names.

According to the speed of ripening, orange varieties are divided into:

Early;
Mid-early;
Late.

Depending on the size, shape, taste, color of the fruit and pulp, orange varieties are divided into 2 main groups:

Light oranges (with orange pulp);
- Ordinary (oval) oranges;
- Navel oranges;
King oranges (with reddish flesh).

More detailed description This classification is given below.

Ordinary or oval oranges- an extensive group of high-yielding varieties that are distinguished by their round or oval fruit shape and tasty, sweet and sour bright yellow pulp containing many seeds. The oranges are medium to large in size and have a thin, pale orange or yellow peel that is well adhered to the flesh. The most famous varieties of ordinary oranges:

Hamlin- an early ripening variety of oranges with small or medium-sized fruits of a round or slightly flattened shape and thin, smooth yellow skin. Grown mainly in Brazil and the USA, it has excellent transportability and is stored for a long time, and is actively used in indoor floriculture;
Verna– a late variety of oranges of Spanish origin, with medium-sized or medium-sized fruits with few seeds, elongated shape, containing sweet, tasty pulp;
Salustiana- a late-ripening variety of oranges of high economic importance in Spain and Morocco. The fruits are characterized by an oval-spherical or slightly flattened shape and a yellow-orange color of a thin, easily peeled peel. The juicy slices are seedless and have a sweet, buttery flavor.

Navel oranges (Navel)- a group of varieties on the trees of which thorns do not grow, and the fruits have a characteristic mastoid outgrowth-umbilicus at the top, a reduced second fruit. Navel oranges are the largest, the average fruit weight is about 200-250 g, and individual specimens weigh up to 600 g. A distinctive feature of most varieties is also their rough, easily peeled peel and exceptional consumer qualities: juicy, orange pulp, sweet taste with a slight sourness and a refined citrus aroma. The most popular varieties of navel oranges:

Washington Navel- a variety of bright orange oranges of important global economic importance, known since the 17th century, as well as one of the few oranges that successfully bear fruit in the conditions of Transcaucasia. Medium and large orange fruits have a round or slightly elongated shape and weigh from 170 to 300 g. The pulp of oranges is bright orange, sweet with a slight sourness and a small number of seeds. Washington Navel orange is one of the popular varieties for home cultivation;
Navel Late– a late variety of oranges, very similar to the Washington Navel variety, but distinguished by more delicate pulp and increased shelf life;
Thomson Navelnavel) - a variety of round or oval oranges with a characteristic small navel and relatively thin, light orange skin with small pores. The pulp of the fruit, compared to Washington Navel, is more fibrous and not as juicy;
Navelina– most early variety small and medium oranges with a small navel. The round or ovoid fruits have a thin, finely porous orange peel and loose, sweet pulp.
Of particular note is the variety of oranges Kara-Kara (Cara Cara navel)orange), which is a mutation of the Washington Navel variety and was found in Venezuela in 1976. Kara-Kara inherited most of the characteristics of the original variety: navel, orange color of easily separated peel and exceptional taste of juicy pulp. But its main difference is its ruby-colored flesh, comparable to the color of the darkest grapefruits. Interesting feature variety is the ability to produce a certain number of variegated shoots, on which striped fruits subsequently develop.

Blood orange, king orange or wren orange- this is a group of varieties that contain anthocyanins, pigments that give the fruits and their pulp a blood-red color. Blood orange also has a name Sicilian orange, since the first plantings appeared in Sicily. The king orange is a natural mutation of the common orange. Trees of this varietal group differ long periods maturation, short stature and elongated crown. Blood orange fruits are characterized by a round, slightly ribbed shape and a hard-to-separate peel of brown, red or dark orange color. The pulp of the king is distinguished by its red, orange, burgundy or red-striped color, and the fruits are especially valued for their exquisite sweet and sour taste and excellent aroma. According to historians, blood oranges have been grown in Sicily since the 9th-10th centuries. They are currently cultivated throughout Italy, Spain, Morocco and the US states of Florida and California.

There are 3 main varieties of blood oranges:

Moro orange (Moro) - a fairly young variety, bred at the beginning of the 19th century in Sicily in the province of Syracuse. The skin of the blood orange is orange or reddish-orange in color, and the flesh is orange with bloody streaks, bright crimson or almost black. The diameter of the fruit is from 5 to 8 cm. Weight is 170-210 grams. Moreau oranges have a strong citrus aroma with a hint of wild berries and a bitter aftertaste.

Sanguinello orange native to Spain, similar to the Moro orange and cultivated in the Northern Hemisphere. Blood orange fruits are distinguished by an orange peel with a reddish tint, sweet red pulp with red spots, which contains a few seeds. The fruits ripen from February to March.

Tarocco orange It is considered one of the most popular Italian varieties and is believed to be the product of a natural mutation of the Sanguinello orange. Tarocco oranges are medium in size, have a thin orange-red peel and do not have a pronounced red pigmentation of the flesh, which is why they are called “half-breeds”. Thanks to their juiciness, sweet taste, absence of seeds and high content of vitamin C, Tarocco blood oranges are considered one of the most sought-after varieties in the world. Cultivated on fertile soils in the vicinity of Mount Etna.

Orange hybrids, photos and names.

Crossing the orange with other types of citrus fruits has given rise to a number of interesting hybrid forms.

A hybrid of sweet orange and Poncirus trifolia, the purpose of which was to develop a cold-resistant orange. Citrange tolerates air temperatures down to -10 degrees, but its fruits have a bitter taste. Citrange is commonly used in making drinks, marmalade or jam.

A hybrid of citrange and kumquat, it is a compact tree, sometimes with small thorns, producing round or oval fruits with an elongated neck. It is eaten fresh or used to make marmalade and lemonade.

- one of the types of citranquat, a hybrid of orange, margarita kumquat and trifoliate poncirus. The fruits are yellow or yellow-orange in color, medium in size, oval or pear-shaped. The peel is thin and bitter, the pulp with a small number of seeds, when unripe is very sour, when fully ripe it becomes quite edible.

- a hybrid of tangerine and orange blossom. The fruits of the hybrid are visually similar to tangerines, but differ in their harder skin, rich sweet taste and juicy pulp. The second variety of clementine is a hybrid of mandarin and bitter Seville orange, bred in Algeria in 1902. The fruits are small, orange, with a hard skin.

Clementines are usually divided into three types:

Corsican clementine - its fruits are medium in size, covered with an orange-red peel, the pulp is fragrant, there are no seeds in it;
Spanish Clementine can have both small and larger fruits with bright orange pulp with a sour taste. The fruit contains from two to ten seeds;
Montreal clementine – rare view citrus with sour fruits containing 10-12 seeds.

Santina (eng.Suntina) - a hybrid of clementine and orlando. The bright orange fruits are medium to large in size, with a thin skin, and have a sweet taste and strong aroma. The ripening period is from late November to March.

Tangor (eng.Tangor, temple orange) - the result of crossing a sweet orange and a tangerine. The fruits are medium or large, can reach 15 cm in diameter. The shape of the fruit is slightly flattened, the peel is of medium thickness, porous, yellow or deep orange. The presence of seeds depends on the variety of tangor. The flesh of tangors is very aromatic, orange, and has a sour or sweet-sour taste.

Ellendale (eng.Ellendale tangor) – a citrus hybrid, a variety of tangor, obtained by crossing tangerine, mandarin and orange. Citrus is native to Australia. The fruits are medium to large in size, juicy, with a reddish-orange rind and very sweet, fragrant dark orange pulp. The peel is thin, smooth, and easy to clean. Seeds may vary in number or be absent altogether.

Orangelo (eng.Orangelo) or chironha (Spanish)Chironja) supposedly considered a natural hybrid of grapefruit and orange. The fruit is native to Puerto Rico. The fruits are large, the size of a grapefruit, and have a slightly elongated or pear-shaped shape. When ripe, the peel is bright yellow, thin and smooth, and quite easily separated from the pulp. There are few seeds. The pulp is orange-orange, tender, juicy. The taste is sweeter, similar to orange and lacks the bitterness of grapefruit.

Agli fruit or agli (eng.Ugli fruit) - This is the result of crossing a tangerine, a grapefruit (or pomelo) and an orange. Agli fruits grow in Jamaica; they are not very beautiful in appearance due to their rough and wrinkled skin. The diameter of the fruit is from 10 to 15 cm. The color of the fruit varies from green to yellow-green and orange. Despite some unattractiveness, the pulp of the agli fruit is very tasty and has a grapefruit note. The fruiting period is from December to April.

Grapefruit (lat.Citrus paradisi) According to scientists, it is a natural hybrid of orange and pomelo. The fruits are large, with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm, with juicy sweet and sour pulp with a slight bitterness. The color of the pulp, depending on the variety, can be almost white, light pink, yellow or reddish. The peel is yellow or reddish.

Meyer lemon (lat.Citrus meyeri) - presumably the result of hybridization with an orange or tangerine. The large fruits are round in shape; when ripe, the peel acquires a yellow-orange hue. The pulp is dark yellow, juicy and not as sour as a regular lemon, and contains seeds.

Natsudaidai (Natsumikan, Amanatsu) (eng.Amanatsu, natsumikan) – a natural hybrid of orange and pomelo (or grapefruit). The plant was first discovered in Japan in the 17th century. The fruit has a fairly thick yellow-orange peel; it is eaten fresh, but its juicy pulp tastes quite sour. The fruit contains many seeds.

Orange calories.

100 g of orange contains 36 kcal.

Nutritional value of orange per 100g:

Proteins – 0.9 g;
Fats – 0.2 g;
Carbohydrates – 8.2 g;
Water – 87 g.

Orange: benefits and harm.

Beneficial features.

The exceptional popularity of the orange is due not only to the excellent taste of its fruit, but also to the unique chemical composition with high content useful substances, found in pulp, juice, zest and seeds. The main advantage of orange is the increased content of vitamin C (50 mg per 100 g), because 150 g of orange satisfies a person’s daily need for ascorbic acid. Orange fruits have a general strengthening effect on the body and increase immunity.

Orange contains a number of vitamins and minerals necessary for the human body:

Vitamins B, A, PP, E;
Minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc);
Pectins;
Phytoncides;
Anthocyanins;
Sugar;
Citric and salicylic acid;
Orange essential oil.

A balanced combination of beneficial substances allows the use of oranges in the complex treatment of a number of pathological conditions:

obesity;
colds and various viral diseases, high fever;
anemia, anemia, weakness, loss of appetite;
chronic constipation;
atherosclerosis;
hypertension;
gout;
liver diseases;
scurvy;
periodontal disease and bleeding gums;
gastritis and low stomach acidity;
vascular and heart diseases;
urolithiasis disease;
lead poisoning;
increased nervous excitability.

So as not to lose essential oils, bioflavonoids and pectins, which the zest and seeds are rich in, it is recommended to squeeze whole oranges for juice.

Orange leaves purify the air and saturate the room with phytoncides, which have a detrimental effect on various pathogenic bacteria. This property is one of the factors in favor of growing oranges at home.

The variety of overseas fruits in shops and markets is amazing. When we eat a new fruit, we get seeds as a souvenir of it. Many lovers of indoor plants are itching to sow seeds or pits and see what will grow from them? Today we will grow an orange!

By planting seeds from or it is very easy to get seedlings, but you won’t be able to get fruit from them. These trees begin to bear fruit only when they grow to a height of 4.5 m and above.

Fresh persimmon seeds also germinate easily at home, but they will not grow and bear fruit in limited home conditions. Persimmons shed their leaves in the winter and must be stored under certain conditions.

And pomegranates, figs, or coffee grown from seeds or seeds readily bloom and even bear fruit in indoor conditions.

It is very easy to grow oranges from seeds. Oranges in large quantities sold at any grocery store. Their fruits contain a lot planting material. A tree grown from a seed will not only decorate the interior, but also aromatize the air, destroying bacteria.

In a warm subtropical climate, the orange tree grows up to 7 meters in height, however, there are also shorter varieties, no higher than 3 m. An evergreen tree that loves light but tolerates a little lack of sunlight, it is ideal for growing indoors.

It is not at all difficult to create suitable conditions for it, which means that over time it will bloom and give almost real fruits. Three citrus tree the room will create the atmosphere of a citrus garden in the room. Another undoubted property of an orange seedling is that a cutting of any citrus tree can be grafted onto it.

Orange can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.

A tree grown from a cutting will bloom much earlier than one grown from a seed, but the cutting must be found somewhere and rooted. Garden centers sell already fruit-bearing seedlings, but their prices have no upper limit. A tree grown from cuttings fully retains the hereditary characteristics of the mother plant.

Seeds are much easier to obtain. Oranges are sold everywhere, and each fruit contains enough seeds for a whole grove. A wildflower grown from a seed is stronger and more adapted to living conditions, more resistant to disease, and the crown of the seedlings is denser and more beautiful. Seedlings from seeds, if grown and formed correctly, bloom at 8-10 years of age. Let's consider

How to grow an orange tree from a seed with photos and videos

Preparing the seeds

It is better to take seeds from fully ripened fruits, correct form. The seeds must be large and full-bodied. For sowing, you can take seeds from several different fruits.

The seeds are covered with a dense peel, especially hard after drying. The germination rate of dried seeds is noticeably reduced.

Selected fresh, undried seeds must:

remove any remaining pulp;
rinse thoroughly with running water;
soak for 8 to 12 hours in water, to which you can add Energen, Epin, NV or any fertilizer diluted according to the instructions.

Sowing seeds

You can sow prepared seeds in individual containers with a volume of no more than 100 ml, for example, yogurt or sour cream, or you can sow all the seeds at once in a wide and shallow planting box.

The distance between the seeds should be about 5 cm and 3 cm should be left to the sides of the box. The seed planting depth is about 1 cm. In any case, holes for water drainage and drainage are required.

The soil can be taken ready-made. Specialty stores sell soil for citrus fruits. You can prepare the mixture yourself by mixing peat and garden soil in a 1:1 ratio.

Containers with sown seeds are placed in a warm and optionally lit place. It will be useful to isolate the seed containers from the cold window sill by placing them on polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam.

Create high humidity in individual containers it is possible if you cover them with plastic bottles with a cut bottom. By screwing the cap onto the bottle, you can obtain complete sealing of the greenhouse; by unscrewing the cap, you will obtain moderate ventilation.

The boxes are covered with cling film. It has sufficient width, does not block light and is well fixed. The soil should be kept warm and moderately moist.

When the seedlings appear after a month or a month and a half, the lighting is intensified, the daylight hours are lengthened with additional lighting, the seedlings will benefit. If seeds are sown at the end of winter - beginning of spring, then additional lighting will not be required.

When two true leaves appear on sprouts growing in a common container, pick them at a greater distance. In this case, you need to handle the root system very carefully, and the root collar should remain at the same level.

When the sprouts have 4–6 leaves, they are planted in individual pots no larger than 10 cm in size. Use planting containers bigger size not worth it. The soil in a pot where there are no roots remains wet for a long time and turns sour. If the seedlings have sprouted in individual containers, then it is better to transship the plant without damaging the earth clod.

The soil for grown plants is different: 2 parts turf soil, 1 part leaf humus, 1 part peat and 1 part sand. When the orange tree grows to 15-20 cm, it is necessary to carry out the next transfer, but take 3 parts of turf soil and add a little clay.

When replanting, the size of each next pot is chosen to be 1-3 cm larger than the previous one. Adult plants are replanted once every two to three years. For plants older than ten years, the top layer of soil is replaced instead of replanting.

The ideal time for transshipment of orange trees of any age is considered to be the beginning of spring, before new leaves and buds appear.

Good drainage and moderate watering are necessary for oranges at any age.

Conditions necessary for successfully growing oranges in an apartment

For successful cultivation orange tree you need:

no drafts,
air humidity not lower than 40%,
moderately moist soil,
sunlight.

It is better to place the plants on the sunny side, but the leaves must be protected from direct sun. On the other hand, a significant lack of light delays flowering and fruit formation.

If possible, in the warm season, the tree should be taken out into fresh air, protected from direct sun. In winter flowering plants needs to be illuminated.

The optimal indoor humidity should be maintained above 40%. At lower humidity, the tree sheds its leaves, leading to its death. During heating season You need to especially carefully monitor the humidity level in the room.

If necessary, you can increase it by spraying the plant or placing a bowl with wet expanded clay or moss next to the tree. It is very important to monitor the soil moisture in the pot. Excessive moisture leads to rotting of the roots, while lack of moisture dries out the tree.

Lack of moisture in the soil is also dangerous in the summer when it is active growth leaves and shoots. You can water an orange every day in the summer, as long as the moisture in the pan does not stagnate.

Chlorine contained in irrigation water poses a particular danger to orange trees.

It is better to use water for irrigation from snow, rain, or water that has been standing for at least a day and heated to 25°C.

Orange care

The rapid and full development of the orange tree will be facilitated by the creation of conditions similar to those in its historical homeland - on the Mediterranean coast or in North Africa:

in winter, the temperature in the room where the orange grows must be maintained within +12 to +15 degrees, watering should be reduced, and daylight hours should be extended with additional lighting;
in spring, when leaves and buds appear, the temperature is raised to +18C;
The orange tree should spend the summer outdoors, protected from the midday sun, watered daily;
Every two weeks the plant is fed with complex fertilizer. Complex fertilizer for citrus fruits will ideal option. You can prepare a fertilizer mixture yourself by dissolving 20 g of nitrogen fertilizers, 25 g of phosphate fertilizers and 15 g of potassium salts (not potassium chloride) in 10 liters of water. Once a season add to the fertilizer mixture inkstone, and once a month – potassium permanganate.
The condition of the tree is affected by changes in air humidity, light, temperature, and even the orientation of the plant relative to the window. You need to turn the pot for leveling no more than once every ten days and no more than 10 degrees.

Pests and diseases

Another point in caring for orange seedlings at any age is the prevention and control of pests and diseases.

Among the pests on citrus fruits, in particular, on oranges there are aphids, spider mites, whitefly and scale insects. A weekly inspection of the plant will allow timely detection and destruction of pests.

You need to inspect the tree especially carefully when moving it from open air indoors in the fall.

You can control pests at home with broad-spectrum drugs with a short waiting period, such as Biotlin or Fitoverm.

Home remedies include infusions of garlic, hot pepper or a solution of laundry soap.

You can fight root rot with the help of Fitosporin or a solution of tooth powder that reduces the acidity of the soil.

Graft

An orange tree grown from a seed can grow quickly and form a beautiful crown in 6-8 years with correct pruning flowers may appear, but the fruits are likely to be inedible or very small and bitter.

Plants grown from seeds do not retain the hereditary characteristics of the mother plant. In very rare cases, the fruits may be better or no worse than those on the original tree.

In order for the fruits on the grown tree to appear earlier and be tasty, you need to graft. Graft a bud or twig of a cultivated varietal plant onto a grown seedling. A wildflower, an ungrafted seedling, can be identified by the long, hard, green thorns that appear on the trunk of the seedling already at the age of 1 year.

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Video on how to graft an orange

How to get fruits at home?

An ungrafted orange tree will begin to bear fruit at 6-10 years of age and only on a properly formed tree. For the formation of buds, and subsequently fruits, branches of the fourth and higher order are necessary. To get an earlier harvest, you need to start forming the crown from the moment the trunk reaches a height of 20 to 30 cm.

at the beginning of spring, the main shoot is pinched at a height of 15-25 cm;
of the emerging side shoots, 3-4 are left evenly spaced along the trunk and direction, which are pinched, limiting further growth;
excess branches are removed onto the ring;
next spring, two branches of the 2nd order are left on each branch, on which branches of a higher order will subsequently grow;
fruit-bearing branches develop on branches of the 4th and higher orders;
thickening, small and unsuccessfully growing branches are removed annually;
It is better to remove the first buds, saving the tree’s strength;
For ripening the first time, you can leave no more than 3 ovaries.

You can stimulate the formation of buds by giving the orange tree a cold (+2-5°C) and dry winter, limiting watering for 90 days. When the tree feels an increase in temperature to +15-18°C and an increase in watering, the formation of buds and ovaries on the branches will begin.

Pollination is necessary to obtain fruits. Using a cotton swab, pollen from the stamens is transferred to the pistil, and it is better if it is the pistil of another flower. The amount of ovary formed must be strictly dosed - each ovary should be provided with nutrition from 10-15 healthy leaves.

At proper care an orange tree can become a real long-liver in the house - it can bloom and bear fruit for up to 70 years.

It first appeared in China more than two decades ago. It was brought to Europe by the Portuguese, and today this popular citrus fruit can be found on the streets of many coastal cities with subtropical climatic conditions both on our continent and in America, Australia, etc.

Today it is fashionable to grow various exotic plants, including the orange tree, which will not only perfectly decorate any interior, but will also be fragrant, conveying its tart and pleasant smell.

And how nice it is to watch how it will grow, bloom and bear fruit! Just a little patience, a little effort - and the orange tree will more than thank the owner with lush flowers and delicious orange “balls”.

The method of growing such a non-standard plant in the house, although not entirely simple, is possible. You just need to eat delicious fruit, select the seeds from it, and then plant them in a small pot, which must be immediately placed in a warm, sunny place.

Once a day you need to water the future orange tree, the care of which involves daily watering for rapid seed germination.

After about fifteen days, the first sprouts appear, which, as a rule, have one or two leaves.

When a tree about fifteen centimeters high already grows in a pot, you need to think about replanting it. To improve subsequent growth, experts advise replanting the sprout into a deeper container.

It is very useful to periodically fertilize the soil; you can sometimes water the orange tree at home with regular tea leaves left over from tea.

Gradually, the exotic guest begins to gain growth, and when she reaches half a meter in height, you can tie her to some kind of peg stuck in a pot.

After waiting for the orange tree to finally get stronger, you can begin the grafting process, which is necessary for the plant to develop normally and bear fruit at home.

You need to remember that the graft must be done from another tree that has already produced fruit several times. In order for the plant to develop normally and begin to delight with its orange fruits, it is necessary to organize artificial irrigation, as well as periodically feed it with special fertilizers, which today are sold everywhere in specialized stores. Moreover, such fertilizing, according to experts, greatly improves the taste of fruits, which are somewhat bitter under indoor cultivation conditions.

However, home plant lovers need to know that the orange tree is quite whimsical plant which requires very careful care. And it’s not a fact that it will delight its owner with fruits sooner than in ten years, and sometimes the tree may not bear fruit at all.

But there is no need to despair, especially since watching a tree planted with your own hands turn green and rise is a huge and incomparable satisfaction.

Its fruits, of course, are several times smaller compared to ordinary oranges, but taste qualities and the composition of nutrients does not suffer at all from this.

Description of orange and beneficial properties of fruit

The orange plant is the most widespread citrus crop in all tropical and subtropical areas of the world. A tall tree from the Rutaceae family, growing up to 9 meters, with an almost spherical dense crown. Young branches are ribbed and have thorns in the leaf axils. Leaves with short petioles, oval, entire, leathery.

The flowers are white, single or growing in bunches, fragrant, with abundant nectar. The fruits are almost spherical, less often ovoid or slightly compressed, yellow-orange with a thin, easily separated peel. Grown in various climatic zones, therefore flowering and fruit ripening occurs in different time of the year.

The plant began to be cultivated approximately 4,000 years ago somewhere in South or Southeast Asia. It is known that it was grown in China as early as 2200 BC. Currently, orange is the most widespread citrus crop in the world.

It is most grown in the USA, Brazil, Spain, Italy, and Japan. As a houseplant, it is grown in various climate zones.

The beneficial properties of orange fruit are due to the fact that they contain vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, P, provitamin A, fiber, phytoncides, pectin and nitrogenous substances, carbohydrates, and mineral salts. Flavonoids, terpene aldehydes, and essential oil were found in orange peel.

Growing conditions and care for homemade oranges

It is possible to grow oranges from the seeds of ripe fruit. Soak the seeds in water overnight, and then plant them to a depth of 1-1.5 cm in a loose substrate. Composition: 2 parts turf, 1 part leaf soil, 1 part humus or peat and 1 part sand. You can plant them directly in peat. After this, cover the pot with film. Shoots will appear in about 1 month. Keep the pot in a dark and warm place. After 2 true leaves appear, pick the seedlings, then repeat it 2 more times.

A necessary condition for growing oranges at home is bright, diffused light during the summer. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may cause foliage burns.

Very thermophilic, it will feel great on a sunny loggia in the summer. In winter it needs rest, temperature 12-15°C. Watering. Like anyone tropical plant high humidity is required.

When growing an orange from a seed, frequent spraying is required in the summer and a distance from the heating radiator in the winter. Use any complex fertilizer at least once a month.

An orange grown from a seed must be grafted to produce fruit.

You can buy already grafted trees from nurseries.

Orange care must be careful and constant: spraying, watering, loosening, pruning old branches, pinching young ones and pruning thin long shoots that dry out in winter.

Orange fertilizers require combined mineral and organic fertilizers, and in specialized stores you can also buy special fertilizers for citrus fruits.

When caring for homemade oranges, it is important not to forget that these plants are demanding of light and heat. The process of budding, flowering and fruit formation occurs best at air and soil temperatures of + 15 +18°C.

Orange needs bright, diffused light, but it must be shaded from direct sun in spring and summer during the hottest hours. A suitable place is an east and west window.

In spring and summer, you should water generously 1-2 times a day, and in winter, water moderately - 1-2 times a week. warm water. The soil should be neither dry nor excessively wet. From October, watering is reduced.

It is better to use soft water for watering. You can soften water by adding nitric or oxalic acid. You can also use vinegar or vinegar essence.

Needs to be replanted every year in new soil.

Growing homemade oranges in a greenhouse

To grow oranges in a greenhouse, you need to fill medium-sized pots with good drainage holes in the bottom with rich soil. Use soil with a decent amount of humus and add a large handful of clean sand to each pot, which is about 25 centimeters in diameter.

Water loosely packed soil before planting seeds. Plant the seeds at least 2-3 centimeters below the soil surface. When using small seed pots, plant one seed per 5cm pot.

Place the potted plant in a sunny part of the greenhouse. If your greenhouse is not solar, use greenhouse lighting bulbs or a 100-watt bulb at least 1 meter away from the plant for four hours a day. Make sure that the temperature in the greenhouse does not fall below +5 degrees Celsius. Citrus fruits prefer a temperature of at least +10 degrees.

If the winter in your area is not sunny, and funds allow, consider additional lighting for greenhouses. If the plants in the greenhouse receive at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight per day, supplementing with full spectrum or special fluorescent greenhouse lighting will allow your plants to feel much better and therefore produce more fruit.

If the plants in a greenhouse receive less than 5 hours of direct sunlight per day, more sophisticated greenhouse lighting systems may be needed. This site is an excellent resource useful information about the types of equipment for lighting greenhouses. On this site you can also buy lamps for lighting greenhouses.

Keep the soil moist with a sprayer while the seeds are germinating. They should germinate within three to four weeks. A greenhouse is an ideal place to grow citrus fruits indoors because it collects condensation naturally.

Water the plants, but do not allow the roots to sit in standing water. Let the leaves grow for at least six months before you begin pruning.

Transplant seedlings from tiny pots to larger ones when the roots are strong enough to transplant. Six months is the approximate time for transplantation. Trees in a greenhouse can grow from 2.5 to 7.5 meters tall, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Once fully established, trees grow best in large pots.

If you use lamps to illuminate your greenhouse during the winter, rotate the tree occasionally to prevent the light from shining onto just one side of the plant.

Diseases and pests of indoor oranges

If the orange is sick, the new leaves become smaller, the old ones turn yellow and fall off, there is no flowering, the fruits do not set - the plant does not have enough nutrients, it needs to be replanted in nutritious soil.

In diseases of oranges, yellow spots appear on the leaves or the edges of the leaves turn yellow, and the leaves fall off prematurely. This can happen due to overwatering. Remember that watering should be moderate, i.e. the soil should have time to dry out. Plant disease is also possible with irregular watering, when watering is either more or very little.

Dry, wrinkled leaves may appear due to sunburn or damage.

Sudden falling of leaves is a consequence of waterlogging of the soil, lack of light in winter, watering cold water, low indoor temperatures in winter, excess nutrients in the soil or cold drafts.

Scale insects: brown plaques on the surface of leaves and stems, suck out cell sap. The leaves lose color, dry out and fall off. The buds and flowers dry out, the fruits fall off.

Control measures. It is difficult to mechanically remove scale insects from a large tree, so you need to spray it with an insecticide as thoroughly as possible. A 0.15% Actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water) gives good results; you can use karbofos or deciss.

: appears when the air is too dry - cobwebs appear in the internodes on the stems, leaves and buds become sluggish and fall off. The fruits fall off.

Control measures. The plant is washed with soapy water, and after it has dried, washed under warm shower. If the defeat is not severe, then this is enough. In case of very severe pest damage, the orange can be sprayed with a 0.15% Actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water).

Orange varieties "Washington", "Marheuli" and "Valencia"

There are about 300 varieties of orange, among which there are three main groups: ordinary, blood or red oranges and navel oranges.

The description of orange plant varieties from the first group has one common feature - all forms have light yellow fruits, the juice is almost colorless, seedless varieties are rare. In blood orange varieties, the pulp and juice are colored red in varying intensities.

Nevels are distinguished by the fact that instead of a seed, inside the fruit there is a second, smaller fruit, and the top of the main fruit is shaped like a navel; the color of the pulp and juice can be different, but most often it is yellow. Besides these, there are many different hybrid forms.

Below are photos and names of orange varieties with descriptions.

Washington orange- these plants of Brazilian origin reach a height of only 2.5 meters in their homeland in adulthood. It stands out among other varieties in that its fruits, which ripen in winter, have no seeds, and the juicy pulp is covered with a thick peel that is easy to peel. It is one of the most popular varieties in the world.

The orange-fleshed, seedless fruits can remain on the tree for up to three months without deteriorating in quality. Blooms in spring, ripens in 6-7 months.

The plant prefers full sun, fertile but well-drained soil, and moderate watering.

Orange variety "Mmarheulskiy"- This is a dwarf form of the Washington Navel variety. A low-growing tree with short shoots and soft thorns. The leaves are oval to elliptic, dark green, 5-15 cm long. The flowers are white, fragrant, 4 cm long, solitary or in racemes; bloom in spring. The fruits are large, sweet, with a characteristic navel and bright orange aromatic skin. The height of an adult bush is up to 1.5 meters. The seedling is grafted from an adult plant. Height 20-40 cm. Growing every day.

Orange variety "Vvalencia" originated in Spain, but today it also grows in other countries specializing in the export of oranges. The fruits of this variety are distinguished by a thin peel of a bright orange color with small red spots. The pulp of the fruit is also bright orange and also contains red inclusions.

Blood orange varieties “Tarokko”, “Gamlin”, “Korolek” and their beneficial properties

Blood orange variety "Tarokko" has a characteristic pigmentation due to the substance anthocyanin, the amount of which varies depending on the variety and degree of maturity. Studies have found that regular consumption of juice rich in this substance significantly reduces fatty deposits in the liver (a consequence of a diet rich in saturated fats) and also lowers plasma cholesterol levels.

Flavones are substances necessary for the restoration and maintenance of connective tissue, making bones and teeth less fragile, as well as for strengthening blood vessels and capillaries. Therefore, orange should become an indispensable element of the diet for those who suffer from cellulite, varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

Also, the beneficial properties of blood oranges are explained by the fact that their fruits contain high content magnesium, which is essential for the heart muscle and is a natural sedative, acting directly on nervous system. Potassium – improves blood circulation and thereby reduces blood pressure. Selenium strengthens cell membranes and protects against the damaging effects of free radicals.

Tarocco is widespread in Sicily.

Variety Hamlin. Ordinary orange. The tree is low-growing, compact. The fruits are medium (weight about 300 g), slightly flattened at the top, with a shiny orange peel, few or almost no seeds.

Variety Korolek. A typical representative of the group of kinglets. The tree is low growing. The crown is pyramidal. The fruits are medium or smaller than average with dark orange skin and red coarse flesh. There are few seeds.