If you're looking for a tree that's easy to care for and tastes great on the fruit, go for the orange tree! This tree is relatively easy to grow when planted in areas with a fairly warm climate. Although the conditions are not ideal for planting oranges, this tree can still grow. Read the following instructions on how to grow and care for a variety of citrus trees.
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Step 1. Choose the right location for planting
The best locations are areas where the weather is warm, there is plenty of sun, and the direction is either south or west. Trees planted in cold areas need to be protected. Choose or prepare land with good water absorption, and do not plant trees directly in the field. Having a wall that reflects light, a fence, or even a roof terrace can provide the protection and warm conditions needed.
Step 2. Select and define the tree
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Choose the type of citrus you want to grow (sweet orange, lime, grapefruit, etc.).
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Ask for an explanation from the plant nursery about the appropriate climate for planting certain types of trees.
Image - Look for information on what month or season usually the tree you want to plant will bear fruit. Citrus fruits usually ripen in winter, but there are also certain types of fruit that can be harvested year-round.
- For those of you who live in an area with a cooler climate than the Mediterranean area, look for seeds that have been cultivated or developed with the ability to survive cold weather.
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Taste the fruit first if possible. Not all oranges taste the same. It would be better if you could taste the fruit from the trees that grow around you, or it could be from your neighbors.
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Observe the number of seeds, quite a lot or just a little.
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Ask for information on the results of the examination of the health condition of this tree from people who have experience caring for citrus trees. Read the Warning.
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Step 3. Choose a tree size that suits your land availability
Look for information from nurseries or websites to find out how big the tree will grow.
- Plant a mini orange tree if your space is limited. You can also plant them in large pots so they can protect other trees during the winter or you can bring them indoors. Although small, mini orange trees can bear fruit with satisfactory results.
- On the other hand, several large orange trees can be formed into a fence by adjusting the size of the tree. You are free to decide how many trees you want to use.
Step 4. Dig a large hole
There is a saying that you have to dig a hole for 600,000 rupiah for a tree for 200,000 rupiah. In its application, make sure you know where to plant it, then dig a hole with a diameter of 1 meter and the depth is adjusted to the size of the container. Do not bury the top of the root, which is the transition between the trunk and the root, because this will cause problems later on. Plant the tree a little higher than the ground around it to anticipate a decline, because most plant containers from nurseries contain organic matter that will decompose later. This causes the tree planted in the hole to fall down so that the top of the roots sinks into the soil if the tree is not planted a little higher from the start.
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If you want to make sure the soil absorbs water, as in dense clay, pour some water into the hole and then watch how long it takes for the water to fully absorb into the soil. If there is a problem with water absorption (because the water doesn't come down until the next morning), dig the hole deeper and plant the tree higher.
Image - For a mini orange tree, choose a large pot. Use a pot with a diameter of at least 70 cm.
Step 5. Gradually fill the hole with fertile soil that is able to absorb water well
Depending on the quality of the soil you've just dug up, you can mix compost and excavated soil in a 1 to 1 ratio. Make a mound of soil in the center of the hole to support the root clump so that the top of the root (the bottom part of the tree trunk that connects to the roots) can be slightly higher. high above ground level.
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Mix citrus tree fertilizer with soil, if you wish.
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If you are growing a mini orange tree in a pot, immediately apply the potting soil to the plant and fill the pot to the brim. Place this pot on top of the blocks and make sure there are holes in the bottom to drain the water. Do not place the pot on a plate or standing water.
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Step 6. Remove the tree from the pot and remove the burlap sack covering the roots
Increase or decrease the soil underneath to adjust so that the tops of the tree roots are the same as or slightly higher than the ground.
Step 7. Fill the hole with compost or potting soil mixture with soil from your garden
If you are using a pot, just use potting soil. The pot does not need to be filled to the brim, leave it empty at least 5 cm from the top of the pot so that the soil can be watered evenly
Step 8. Do not use growing media from leaf debris
- Do not use organic growing media from leaf debris because using this media can increase the risk of root rot.
- To be on the safe side, let the roots spread as wide as the branches, then spread the leaf flakes over the top. You can also make a circular frame from this medium for easy watering.
- Do not spread leaf flakes on the underside of tree trunks. Leave the tops of the roots open so they can breathe and don't get soggy after watering.
Step 9. Water the tree at least once a week until it grows well, unless it is getting enough water from rain
Keep watering regularly even if the tree is big. Citrus trees have relatively shallow and spreading roots. After growing well, this tree can withstand drought, but cannot produce good enough fruit.
Step 10. Use an appropriate fertilizer to fertilize the tree
This fertilizer is available with a special formula for oranges or for oranges-and-avocado. Use according to the instructions for use listed on the package, usually three to four times a year if using a slowly dissolving type of fertilizer.
Step 11. Prune the tree if necessary
Citrus trees do not need a lot of regular pruning.
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Cut if "sucking" branches grow, only cut off branches growing from the trunk near the roots. You don't have to let it grow. Orange trees can be grafted by cutting one branch from a tree and then attaching it to another tree with a stronger trunk.
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Prune branches that grow "wild" that the direction of growth diverges. This branch is usually long, straight, grows faster but does not follow the shape of a tree in general.
Image - Reduce the leaves as necessary if the tree is too thick so that air circulation is smoother and gets enough light.
- You can let the orange tree grow as a shrub or trim it neatly. If you want to get the shape of a tree, you can reduce some of the branches at the bottom but don't trim them too much.
Step 12. Pick oranges when they are fully ripe
Sweet oranges, limes, and grapefruit can only be picked after there is no more green in the fruit. This fruit will not be able to ripen if it is picked. Lemons are usually picked when they are still green, regardless of size and season. See the other links for more information about limes.
Tips
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Don't forget that there are still lesser-known varieties of oranges. By growing them yourself, you can get unique fruits in a great way. If you want to give it a try, plant kumquats, red oranges, tangerines, mandarins, or pomelos.
- Certain exotic oranges require special care. limes, limes, grapefruit, and sweet oranges have been developed in many varieties, making it easy for you to choose the orange that suits your conditions and needs. For other varieties, it's a good idea to read information about specific fruit varieties of interest through the website.
- Don't let your search for information about oranges put you off growing them; read first before you do the planting.
- In general, citrus trees bloom fragrantly in early winter and bloom in spring, then appear small green fruits that will ripen in summer and autumn, but there are also some varieties that bear fruit all the time, especially lime. This orange does not bear fruit throughout the year but at least the fruiting period is longer.
- So that the citrus tree you plant can start its growth period well, you can pick the first fruit (for example by "pinning" the fruit when it starts to form). This will give the tree an opportunity to use its energy in the first year to form strong roots and branches by indirectly producing fruit, and in the following years the tree can be more productive in producing (more) fruit.
- You could try making a "fruit salad tree" or, if you want a new experience, make your own. You can make grafts on an orange tree by attaching branches from several different types of citrus trees. The resulting tree may be weaker and less productive, but you can get sweet oranges, limes, and limes from a tree.
- Try planting limes that are sweeter, such as Meyer oranges.
- Don't hesitate to plant an orange tree on the grounds that this tree will take a long time to bear fruit. There's no need to think like that. You can even get citrus trees that are already fruiting in the nursery. If in the first year or two you have not succeeded in harvesting the fruit, don't give up!
Warning
- Be careful not to get pricked by the thorns. Some types of citrus trees have long, sharp thorns, so you don't have to suffer from being pricked by thorns just to get orange juice. Beware, wear gloves or a long stick to pick fruit.
- WLD (Winter Leaf Drop) is a term used when roots and leaves do not work in harmony. This condition occurs especially in cold areas where the roots work slowly due to the "cold" soil conditions, while at the same time the leaves are exposed to the sun and can work well. A sign that can indicate that your tree is experiencing WLD is the color of the leaves turning pale.
- Do not plant a tree in a sewer drain, as the roots can clog the drain.
- Giving too much of what we think is good, including fertilizer, is not a good thing. Use fertilizer according to the directions on the package and do not overdo it. Excess fertilizer (too much or too often) will make the tree grow too fast so the tree becomes weak, besides this fertilizer will dissolve into the ground water or spread to the surrounding environment.
- If there is an "epidemic" of infectious disease or pest outbreaks in citrus-growing areas and other parts of the United States, Department of Agriculture officials may enter someone's plantations, cut down the trees, and then transport them to be burned. Therefore, it is very important to ensure the health condition of the tree before you buy it.
- Picking citrus fruits should be done with care because the citric acid from these fruits can irritate the eyes.
- Citrus trees that have grown large can produce fruit in large quantities. Consider first what you will do with the fruit before planting the tree.
