Orange - Valencia Tree
Sale
Original price
$99.00
Original price
$99.00
-
Original price
$99.00
Original price
$99.00
Current price
$49.00
$49.00
-
$49.00
Current price
$49.00
Taste of the Orange Valencia TreeThe Orange Valencia Tree produces the quintessential juice orange, delivering medium to large fruits with thin, smooth golden-orange skin that encloses juicy, seedless or low-seeded flesh bursting with a perfect sweet-tart harmony. The flavor profile blends bright, tangy acidity with rich, honeyed undertones and a clean, citrusy finish, making it the gold standard for fresh-squeezed juice, smoothies, or culinary uses. Harvested from late winter through early summer, its high juice content and balanced sugar-to-acid ratio yield a refreshing, full-bodied taste that outperforms most sweet oranges for beverages and desserts. This reliable summer orange provides consistent gourmet quality, with aromatic zest enhancing recipes while offering vitamin C, folate, and antioxidants in every vibrant drop.Common Names and OverviewCommonly known as Valencia Orange, Summer Orange, or Juice Orange, this evergreen citrus originated in 19th-century Portugal or Spain, gaining fame through California plantings in the 1870s and now dominating global juice production. It's also referred to as Hart’s Tardiff Valencia or simply Valencia Sweet Orange in commercial contexts. As a vigorous, rounded tree with dense foliage and occasional small thorns, it combines ornamental glossy leaves, fragrant white spring blooms, and extended fruit hang-time, ideal for home orchards, large containers, or edible landscapes. Self-fertile and heat-tolerant, it holds fruit on the tree for months without quality loss, making it a dual-purpose variety for fresh eating and processing.Best Growing EnvironmentThe Orange Valencia Tree excels in hot, subtropical to Mediterranean climates with long, warm summers and mild winters, such as Florida’s central citrus belt or California’s inland valleys, where it benefits from windbreaks and excellent drainage. It thrives in deep, well-draining sandy loam or loamy soils enriched with compost, preferring a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 to prevent nutrient deficiencies and support deep rooting. In containers, citrus-specific potting mixes ensure mobility for marginal areas, while organic mulch stabilizes soil temperature and moisture. Good airflow reduces fungal risks like greasy spot, and raised beds suit heavier soils; overall, it flourishes in sunny, humid environments that extend its fruit-ripening season into summer.Average Height and Growth RateThe Orange Valencia Tree typically matures to an average height of 20 to 30 feet, with a spread of 15 to 25 feet, forming a large, rounded canopy suitable for spacious yards or commercial spacing. On dwarf rootstock, it can be pruned to 10 to 15 feet for patios or small gardens, while standard trees may exceed 35 feet in deep, fertile soils. The growth rate is moderate to vigorous, adding 18 to 36 inches annually after establishment, with strong upright shoots in spring that require training or thinning. This robust progression supports fruiting within 3 to 5 years for grafted trees, with fruit holding on branches for up to 6 months post-maturity.Sun RequirementsFull sun exposure—providing 6 to 8 hours of direct light daily—is critical for the Orange Valencia Tree, driving photosynthesis for maximum juice content, deep orange color, and balanced sweetness. South- or west-facing sites optimize this, preventing leggy growth or reduced yields from shade, though light afternoon filtering in extreme heat avoids sunburn on fruit. In containers or cooler zones, position near bright windows or supplement with grow lights, as insufficient sun leads to thick-skinned, low-juice fruits. Optimal brightness ensures thin peels and high brix levels, making sunny placements essential for transforming this tree into a juice powerhouse.Cold HardinessThe Orange Valencia Tree exhibits moderate cold hardiness for a sweet orange, tolerating brief dips to 22°F (-6°C) on mature trees with minimal foliage damage, though fruit and young growth require protection below 28°F to prevent rind pitting or bud loss. It's reliably hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11, performing well in zone 9b with mulch and windbreaks; prolonged freezes harm crops, but recovery is swift with spring warmth. In zone 9a, site near heat-retaining structures, and for zones 8 or below, container culture allows indoor overwintering above 50°F. This resilience suits transitional climates, though frost vigilance preserves late-season fruit.Water RequirementsThe Orange Valencia Tree demands consistent, deep watering to sustain its extensive shallow roots, delivering 1 to 2 inches weekly during growth to maintain even soil moisture without waterlogging—essential for juicy, thin-skinned fruit. Newly planted trees need twice-weekly soakings in the first two years, reducing to every 7 to 14 days for established ones, always checking 2 inches deep for dryness before irrigating. Taper in winter to rainfall levels, using drip systems for efficiency; overwatering invites root rot, while drought yields small, acidic fruits. Mulch conserves hydration in heat, and containers require more frequent monitoring due to rapid evaporation, ensuring balanced care for extended harvest quality.Planting Guide
- Select a grafted Valencia sapling in 3- to 5-gallon pots during spring or fall, choosing vigorous specimens with healthy roots for fruiting in 3-5 years.
- Choose a full-sun site with well-draining loamy soil (pH 6.0-7.5); amend with compost if needed and space 15-25 feet apart or use 20-30 gallon drained pots for dwarf varieties.
- Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep as the root ball, positioning the graft union 2 inches above soil level to prevent rot.
- Gently tease circling roots, backfill with native soil blended 50/50 with organic matter, and tamp lightly to eliminate air pockets.
- Water deeply post-planting until runoff flows, then apply 3-4 inches of mulch like wood chips to the drip line, keeping it 6 inches from the trunk.
- For containers, fill with citrus potting mix and place in sunny, sheltered spots; stake young trees against winds.
- Monitor for settling in the first month, providing temporary shade in extreme heat and thinning heavy fruit sets to support branches.
- Timing: Apply in early spring (February-March) as growth resumes, mid-spring (April-May) for bloom support, early summer (June) for fruit development, and a light fall dose (September-October) during harvest; avoid late feeds to harden wood before winter.
- Frequency: Every 6-8 weeks during active growth (March-September) for young trees, quarterly for matures, splitting total nitrogen into three applications to match high juice demands.
- Specific Recommendations: Use a balanced citrus fertilizer like 8-4-8 or 6-4-6 NPK (e.g., Espoma Citrus-Tone or J.R. Peters 20-10-20) at 1-1.5 pounds actual nitrogen per year for matures, divided across doses; supplement micronutrients (iron, zinc, magnesium) via foliar sprays if leaves yellow, or organics like fish emulsion for potassium.
- Application Tips: Broadcast under the canopy to the drip line, then irrigate deeply; annual soil tests guide pH and nutrient needs, favoring slow-release formulas to sustain extended fruit hang-time.