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Harvesting your Oranges

Gardening Guide: Juicy Oranges

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Harvesting your Oranges

By Norann Oleson

Gardener harvesting oranges

Gardener harvesting oranges

You’ve watered. You’ve weeded. You’ve cut off suckers. You’ve watched, week after week, month after month, for a sign that your oranges are ripe for the picking. How will you know?

Well, here’s the thing. As oranges grow and the season progresses, most oranges will go from green to orange. Does that mean they’re ripe? Not necessarily. As soon as the weather starts getting cooler, oranges will begin to shift from green to orange. But, wait! the sweetness of the orange is determined by heat. So, the more heat there is in the fall, the more quickly the acids in the orange will decrease as the sugars increase. It’s possible to have oranges with a greenish skin that you think aren’t ripe, but they are. Time and temperature determine just when. Your best way to tell if your oranges are ripe? Try one.

Now, each orange cultivar will have a slightly different time range for ripening. Where you’re growing your orange tree will be a factor as well. Consult with your local nursery or extension center for advice on when to start testing your crop.

Keep in mind that, unlike other fruits, oranges do not continue to ripen once you pick them from the tree. So don’t overharvest. Check one fruit and see where you are in the process. The fruit should feel firm and heavy—a sign that there’s a juicy treat waiting just inside the peel!

When you do start harvesting, it’s best to use garden shears to cut the stem from the tree. That way you avoid the risk of damaging the fruit.

The longer your oranges stay on the tree, the sweeter they will be. So, if some of your oranges are ready to pick, go ahead and pick them and leave some on the tree for later. If you’re not in a frost-prone area, the best place to keep fresh oranges is on the tree.

Store freshly picked oranges in the fridge, in the crisper drawer. They’ll stay fresh and flavorful for about a week.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Types of Oranges
  • Growing Oranges from Seeds, Cuttings, or Saplings
  • Soil and Sun Requirements for Growing Orange Trees
  • Planting Orange Trees in the Ground
  • Growing Orange Trees in Containers
  • Watering, Weeding, Pruning and Fertilizing your Orange Trees
  • Harvesting your Oranges
  • Preserving Your Oranges
  • Winterizing your Orange Trees
  • Dealing with Orange Diseases
  • Dealing with Orange Tree Pests
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Oranges
  • Plant Profiles

  • Bergamot Orange Tree
  • Seville Sour Orange Tree
  • Sanguinelli Blood Orange Tree
  • Moro Blood Orange Tree
  • Midknight Valencia Sweet Semi-Dwarf Orange Tree
  • Valencia Orange Tree
  • Robertson Navel Orange Tree
  • Washington Navel Orange Tree
  • Recipes

  • Baked Orange Chicken Breast
  • Fresh Orange Freeze Pops
  • Candied Orange Peel
  • Orange Scones
  • Orange Marmalade
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Oranges
  • Health Benefits and Home Remedies of Oranges
  • Resources about Oranges
  • Orange Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • How to Grow an Orange Tree in Your Yard

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