Orange tree questions (forum)

Luttrell starts with ...
I have a question about orange trees....it may sound silly but this is my first experience with them.....Our tree is full of "green" oranges but they only seem to turn orange when they fall off of the tree and it the ground can anyone tell me what may cause this? And also some of them are spliting open while on the tree....what may cause this?

Time: 18th October 2008 8:39am

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About the Author Luttrell
Florida
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Phil says...
If the fruit is held on the tree too long, it can "regreen" in warm weather. Placing the fruit in a bag with a ripe apple or banana can reverse the problem, although they can be a bit dry by that stage. I'd say that's why some of them are splitting. Try and pick your fruit as soon as you see any sign of orange color, especially Valencia which is ripe even when partly green.

Time: 19th October 2008 9:44am

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KEITH HIGINS says...
I have a mature orange tree that bears little or no fruit,I have tried pruning it back but to no avail. Some of the leaves are a bit curly too,otherwise it looks really healthy.

Time: 10th November 2008 4:32pm

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About the Author KEITH HIGINS
Brisbane Australia
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Bob says...
what makes oranges split open and fall off?

Time: 4th October 2010 10:26am

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About the Author Bob13
zephyrhills Fl.
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Jimmy says...
Irregular watering, they swell, split and fall off.

Time: 4th October 2010 11:16am

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About the Author Jimmy
Perth
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tony says...
my orange tree is full of fruit, they have little taste and the inside is dry and little juice, some have juice but are very sour to taste, what can I do.

Time: 14th March 2011 8:38am

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Brendan says...
Hi tony,
Spread some Epsom Salts around under the drip-line, 1 handful per sq metre.(sorry amanda:). That will sweeten them.
I'd give it a very small amount of Boron too. That will make them less dry and juicy.

To speed things up, mix 30g epsom salts to 4

Time: 14th March 2011 8:58am

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About the Author Brendan
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amanda says...
U are a cheeky boy Brendan! :)) Where are u tony?

I agree with Brendan - but also - the tree needs lots and lots of water to get nice juicy fruit - especially if u live in a hot n dry climate.
An incorrect nitrogen to phosphate ratio can also spoil the quality of the fruit this way.

Time: 14th March 2011 5:44pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Asilkicmada says...
Hi...
Our Orange trees are laden with fruit, however like tony they are very sour, when can you apply the Epson salts? Will it help this seasons fruit on the trees or just next season. What is better spraying or under the drip line?
Lisa

Time: 14th June 2011 5:05pm

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Asilkicmada says...
I also forgot, we are having heaps of rain at the moment so I'm not sure we need a wetting agent. What do you suggest? Thanks in advance.

Time: 14th June 2011 5:09pm

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MaryT says...
Sour oranges will make good marmalade, also you can substitute its juice for lemon/lime. Particularly good with fish.

Also, the purpose of a wetting agent (such as detergent) is not to wet, but to help the spray SPREAD AND STICK to the plant. I'd say it sounds Chinese except I'm Chinese and can't figure this out.:) Anyway, the bottom line is, rain will not do :)

Time: 14th June 2011 6:26pm

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About the Author MaryT
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Asilkicmada says...
oh ok... I assumed by wetting agent you meant water granules like SaturAid.... oops

Time: 14th June 2011 7:32pm

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John Mc says...
Mary T means adding a soap to your sprayer like dishwashing detergent. I use a purpose made agriculture wetting agent purchased from a chemical supplier. I add around 10ml to the litre.

Time: 14th June 2011 7:56pm

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Mike says...
Within a variety of many citrus they will have thicker skin,more acid(can mean better flavour), brighter skin and smaller fruit in the cooler areas (compare californian and florida valencia).My minneolas,split, were almost as big as grapefruit, green,watery and had a navel,My navels split, stayed green and were big and insipid.My valencias are huge and can get a yellow tinge and are alright.It is just too warm for them here and you may also be outside the comfort zone for your variety.They always colour more after leaving the tree.Sulphur,K,P,micronutrients didn't help.Maybe replace it with a dancy mandarine,lime or pomelo.Is it a valencia?

Time: 16th June 2011 11:29pm

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amanda says...
Hey Mike - are you going to put up a My Edibles soon? Would love to see your trees!?

Time: 17th June 2011 1:30am

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. Mid West WA
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Mike says...
Yeah I had better do it soon but 80 trees would take a while.I already mentioned how many trees I have but vines,vegies,bananas,herbs,spices would be another 30 or so.I have some flowers as well,ducks and geese.This week I ate non-guavas,black sapote,passionfruit,mandarins,limes,oranges,tomatoes,pumpkin,paw paws,kangkung,pepper,sugar apple,abui and a few vegies and greens from the garden.

Time: 17th June 2011 11:13pm

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amanda says...
Asilkicmada - you should be fine where u are. What type of orange is it...a navel?

Make sure it gets some potassium (potash) with the magnesium - and good load of manure. A lack of potash can affect fruit flavour a great deal.

Time: 18th June 2011 10:37pm

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Mike says...
Too much potassium does reduce the availability of magnesium and cobalt but that is not a big deal usually.Sulphur also has a role in flavour and aroma so sulphate fertlisers containing potassium sulphate are good.Magnesium from alkali dolomite and sulphur together help balance ph.

Time: 18th June 2011 11:00pm

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amanda says...
Hmmn Asilicmada - are you confused now? If you apply a good manure your tree it will get many trace elements from this in a nice yummy form that trees like...hot aerobic compost (made in a tumbler and with diverse ingredients) is a gold star fertiliser - but not everyone has access to this.
I use dymanic lifter a lot - it's also slow release. I use manure - lots. Potash - about a matchbox full only per tree every few months (or when I can be bothered... ;) I use some other things that are needed specifically for my soil - but that will be too much info...

I have 5 oranges, mandies, tangello etc and they are never sour and loaded every season. This is a pic of my west Indian lime - they are juicy and gorgeous :)

Mike - that's too much info for some folk who are looking for simple solutions to start with maybe..? :)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 19th June 2011 11:50am

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About the Author amanda19
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Mike says...
You are correct again Amanda.I'll try to do better next time.
What a great WI lime with yellow fruit all hanging on a single flush.Mine almost continually fruits and they drop when yellow.I have 13 citrus left after the minneola and navel gave uo their spots on the backyard team.Fruits were as big as grapefruit with little taste or colour.

Time: 19th June 2011 2:00pm

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amanda says...
Yea - it's like a xmas tree :) Can't give them away so I guess it's off to the compost bin for them - they have been hanging there for ages :-( It will fruit sporadically all year with new flushes of growth - but as u can see it needs a serious prune and re-working.

Too warm there for the tangello and navel to develop flavour u think? Mine are very sweet and everybody likes them - except I prefer a bit 'tang' myself. It's fairly mediterranean here - but shift the average temps up a bit. Maybe that's why mine are missing that tang I like also.
Ah well - I guess you can't have everything/a perfect climate - for everything!?

Time: 19th June 2011 3:21pm

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Mike says...
My navels get big with little colour also but taste alright.Imperial mandarin did;t survive the chop but hickson,emperor,money murcott and ellendale do ok.They could all use more tang and colour.The climate is far from perfect and I failed with many sub tropicals.Some like longans,yellow jaboticaba,low chill stonefruit and most lychees just never flower.

Time: 19th June 2011 3:35pm

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Wayne says...
My Tangello is just about done Amanda, you are right about the "tang" but with the cooler nights it's sweetening.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 19th June 2011 4:25pm

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About the Author Wayne
Mackay QLD
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Jantina says...
Amanda if you make fruit cakes then you can make good use of the peels before you compost the fruit to make your own candied peel. It's easy, do you want the recipe?

Time: 19th June 2011 4:34pm

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About the Author Jantina
Mt Gambier
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Mike says...
Maybe you can do better than me with them Wayne but minneola were mature well before winter.700km must make a difference.Do you have other citrus that get a good tang?

Time: 19th June 2011 4:40pm

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amanda says...
Hey guys - Jantina thats a great idea! I freeze rind/zest too (cos I use heaps in cooking) Nice one Wayne - tangello are such a handsome citrus tree hey? I just picked the last on mine this morning (had maybe 40-50kgs of the damn things!) I have juiced heaps, given them away etc
But you are right there - on my last mandarin tree the tang has increased noticably, at least, in the last week...? The cold has come a bit late tho as they are all finished - except my pink grapefruit which should be ready in a cupla weeks - it's a funny tree - all fruit and barely any leaves...? Poor thing.. :)
(this is a pic of my juicing 'cocktail' :)
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 19th June 2011 7:46pm

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Asilkicmada says...
Hey Guy's...
It's a washington navel, will post some pictures tomorrow.

I always use Dynamic Lifter.

Two seasons ago the fruit was some of the best I've ever had (in my life). Delicious and Juicy.
This year they are definitely juicy, but eye twitchingly sour. Such a shame considering the amount of fruit on the trees. I know I can sweeten the oranges once juiced, but I was wondering what magic occurred two seasons ago. Whether or not I can achieve this fantastic result again would also be nice to know.

Time: 20th June 2011 8:53pm

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amanda says...
That's interesting Asilk' - after Waynes comment - I would be curious to check on the monthly temps on the BOM website and compare then and now...?

I have a washington navel also - it's never sour...but it's likely warmer here.

What type of soil do u have? (sandy, clay etc) and what's it's pH?


Time: 20th June 2011 9:28pm

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About the Author amanda19
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amanda says...
Hey Jantina - I found a method for using my pressure cooker to make home made essential oils.... a use for all those limes now! :-)

Time: 27th June 2011 7:14pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Julie says...
amanda, do you have a link? Sounds interesting.

Time: 28th June 2011 7:47pm

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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amanda says...
Yup Julie - here it is. I was really happy cos 1) it's about $400 for a "proper" steam distiller and 2) I have a brand new you-beaut Scanpan pressure cooker that's not been used in 2yrs..!? (ah - the younger generation hey.. :)

http://aromatherapy.bellevuemassagetherapy.com/2009/08/how-to-make-essential-oils.html

Time: 28th June 2011 8:24pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Jantina says...
Thanks Amanda, where there's a will there's a way!

Time: 28th June 2011 10:53pm

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Mt Gambier
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Donna B says...
I have a lot of navel oranges nearly ripe that are splitting. If I turn all reticulation off to them now would that prevent further splitting.


Time: 18th May 2017 6:50pm

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Nanson
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