Orange Growing Guide
Citrus sinensis
![Orange]()
Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous ●
Soil
Warm, moist soil enriched with organic matter.
Position
Full sun.
Frost tolerant
No. Grow at temperatures above 7°C (45°F).
Feeding
In spring and summer, feed regularly with a liquid fertiliser. Yellowing leaves indicate a need for more nitrogen.
Companions
Oranges and other citrus are heavy feeders that resent close company, so companion plants have to be planted a little way away.
Spacing
Single Plants: 5.00m (16' 4") each way (minimum)
Rows: 5.00m (16' 4") with 5.00m (16' 4") row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Set out new plants in spring. Good drainage is essential.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Prune in spring or summer to shape plants, and watch for thorns. Very sweet oranges need a long season of warm weather, but kumquats, calamondin oranges and satsumas fruit well in marginal areas or when grown in containers.
Harvesting
Pick when richly coloured and fully ripe. Picking can continue for several weeks as fruits do not ripen all at once.
Troubleshooting
Soft soap sprays can help against scale insects. In Australia fruit fly are a pest of oranges. Place any infested fruit, or fruits that have fallen to the ground, in a sealed plastic bag in the sun for at least 7 days to kill the eggs and larvae. Do not compost infested fruits as this will lead to the fruit flies completing their life cycle and the problem recurring.
Planting and Harvesting Calendar
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Pests which Affect Orange
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