I want to grow my first orange tree - Which variety would you recommend?
 

Good Afternoon,

Now that we are living in The Villages I want to grow my first orange tree in the back yard. What would you recommend as a variety? (Valencia, Hamlin, Blood, etc...)

Something that is easy to peel, sweet, and seedless

Looking for a consensus on just an orange tree.

Take care and have a wonderful day,

Gordy

My wife says Navel. Personally don't eat oranges because of the acid. I have been told by neighbors that the reason you don't see many fruit trees in TV is the climate (freezes) and the attractions of bugs, varmints and such. However, the grandkids would enjoy them!

I don't have a citrus tree here in FL, but did have a Valencia orange tree in CA. The tree we bought was a dwarf, but grew to be a very, very large tree. The first year we had fruit, we were so excited, we just took the fruit off the tree and made juice. What we forgot was to let the fruit ripen on the tree and that took months we later found out. There wasn't enough sugar in the world to sweeten that first squeezed batch! Over the years we throughly enjoyed the fragrant blossoms, the sweet juice and the juicy oranges we sliced to eat. We didn't have nearly as many freezes in southern CA as we've had in Florida so we never really worried too much about fruit damage. Here there can be a number of freezes during the winter months, but a fairly young tree can be covered just like any other landscape plant. When the tree was abundant with fruit, it would attract creatures, rats to be specific. The beasties would munch on the sweet fruit, sometimes taking a bite, other times consuming a good portion of an orange.

By the way, we'd have enough fruit to provide the neighborhood with a couple of quarts of juice per family....it was the best juice I've ever had.

I see citrus trees everywhere I go in the villages.

My neighbor has a few planted in the back yard. They bore fruit but looks like half of them are either dead or dying. If you don't know how to take care of them, you'll have problems.

I had two valencia orange trees. The oranges mature in February. I had 150 plus oranges to a tree. The neighbors used to lock the doors when they saw me coming with bags of oranges. Then one year a terrible frost hit in February and killed both trees.

I considered it a blessing.

Z

Have had a Valencia, for past 4 years. They are a great juice orange, BUT doesn't like the frost. I lost all my buds this year from frost, so no oranges in Jan. My favorites are Naval, but haven't known anyone with Naval trees

I personally enjoy my tree that grows oranges, lemons and limes. It was great while it lasted, but it died after a winter frost... Best of luck!

I watch my neighbor go through the motions of trimming, feeding, fertilizing, covering up when frost threatens......and wind up with one by one the tree dying off.

It is one thing to cover a "frost" sensitive plant. It is quite another to be able to do anything to save sensative plants when the temperature remains in the 20 degree range for several days. What you get is a covered plant that froze!!!!

Get the cold hardiest that will grow here.....and hope it is one you like to eat.

btk

I have read that tangerines are a little less cold sensitive. I have a honeybell that is happy. I lost a navel, ruby red grapefruit, blood orange, persian lime and Mayer lemon to the cold. My Ponderosa lemon is loaded with fruit.

Grow Limes,much more hardy,rats don't like them,J.B.

Who can tell me where to buy an orange tree locally. I want someone who can transplant it for me.