Dwarf Valencia Orange Tree is an evergreen tree with leaves that are oval and glossy and flowers that are white and pleasingly fragrant.The almost-seedless dwarf Valencia orange tree fruit has a thin, golden rind and flesh that is remarkably sweet, juicy and tender when ripe.
The Dwarf Valencia Orange Tree, classified as Citrus sinensis, is an evergreen tree that belongs to the genus Citrus of the family Rutaceae. This citrus tree reaches to about 8-12 feet in height when planted on ground but tend to be smaller when planted in a container. The leaves of this dwarf orange tree are oval and glossy, while the flowers are white and pleasingly fragrant.
The almost-seedless dwarf Valencia orange tree fruit has a thin, golden rind and flesh that is remarkably sweet, juicy and tender when ripe. The tasty Valencia oranges are available in spring thru summer and are primarily used for juicing because of its distinctive bright colored juice that other orange varieties do not have.
Dwarf Valencia orange trees are sun-loving and are best grown in US Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 9 to 11. Although it is a subtropical fruit and prefers hot weather, it can withstand temperatures of 35-50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Valencia orange trees were first discovered in Valencia, Spain. Valencias are believed to be an offshoot of another orange tree from subtropical China.
Because of its genealogy, the dwarf Valencia orange tree is hardy and can adapt to many tropical climates. It is also easy to cultivate and has high yield rate. The first citrus trees of its kind were sent by Rivers Nursery in London, England to Parson’s Nursery in Flushing, New York and reached the US harbor in 1870. Some orange trees were sent to Florida in the same year and some made their way to California in 1876, where they were recognized by a Spanish citrus expert as Naranja tarde de Valencia, or Valencia Late. It was only in 1913 that “Valencia” was adopted in Florida and California as the recognized name of this variety.
Growing citrus trees is fun and rewarding, although there are a few things you must remember to ensure that the dwarf citrus tree for sale you bought will grow healthy and become fruit bearing.
Climate
The Valencia orange tree is a subtropical tree that thrives under the sun and best planted in USDA hardiness growing zones 9 thru 11. It needs 6-8 hours of sunlight every day & temperatures ranging from 55 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit to grow and ripen their citrus tree fruit. The color of the rind becomes more intense in dry climates, while humid climates cause the fruit to become sour and less juicy. Furthermore, although Valencia orange trees can withstand drought, the fruit production declines and the oranges become smaller if exposed to dry climates.
Soil
Like all citrus trees, Valencia orange trees like light, well-drained acidic soil that is rich in nitrogen. If the leaves turn yellow, you need to make the soil more acidic by applying magnesium sulfate solution to the soil.
Water
A deep watering method is applied when growing citrus trees. Newly planted trees should be watered once to twice a week for the first few weeks to keep the soil moist. Once established, water the orange trees once every 2 weeks, depending on the weather in your area or the type of soil. Cut back to watering once every three weeks during autumn and winter. Remember, the key is to keep the soil moist but not wet since standing water or wet soil can kill your dwarf citrus tree. To easily determine the moisture level of the soil, purchase a water meter. When the meter reads under 50 per cent moisture, it is time to water the tree.
Cold Protection
Valencia orange trees can tolerate cold weather but needs to be protected when the temperature reaches 28 degrees F or below. You can either plant the tree on the south side of your house or cover your tree with a blanket with a plugged light bulb to keep the frost out and keep the warmth in.
Citrus Tree Fertilizer
Be it orange tree for sale or home grown from seed, a growing dwarf Valencia orange tree needs citrus fertilizer. One of the main causes of yellowing leaves and low fruit yield is nitrogen deficiency. Fruit trees consume the nitrogen in the soil and turn it into fruit. Nitrogen deficiency can be addressed by using 2/1/1 fertilizer for citrus trees, with nitrogen being the first number and is double the amount of the other two. You can fertilize in February, May and the start of October. If you are in the south, avoid fertilizing in October as it may encourage growth during winter when there is a danger of frost or sustained freezing weather.
Dwarf Valencia Orange Tree in Pots
Dwarf Valencia orange trees have a shallow, extensive root system and should be planted in a pot that is wide in diameter rather than a deep container.
Fruit & Harvesting
Valencia Orange Tree Fruit
The Valencia orange is the king of juice oranges, and for a good reason. It is a “summer” orange that is juicier than any other oranges. The juice is bursting with sweet citrus flavor and has a vivid color that makes it more appealing and appetizing.
The average diameter of a Valencia orange is 2.7 to 3 inches and weighs 96 grams. It contains around 45 to 60 calories, 9 grams of sugar, 116 percent of the daily value of vitamin C and 13 percent of dietary fiber. It also has folate, thiamin, potassium, vitamin A, calcium and riboflavin.
Valencia oranges are harvested in summer. It generally takes 12-15 months for these oranges to grow on the tree before it is ready for picking. However, knowing when to best harvest the fruits would ensure that you will get sweet, juicy oranges.
The ripeness of oranges is not based solely on the skin color. There are instances when the Valencia orange rinds revert to green even when they are fully ripe. Change in the exterior color does not affect the taste or color of the flesh of the fruit. Rather it tastes even sweeter than the ones picked earlier.
To determine if the fruit is ripe, you can perform a couple of tests.
Gently squeeze the fruit. If it gives a little then it is ripe.
Look for a glossy shine on the rind.
Get one sample from the tree and do a taste test.
Make sure that the fruit is fully flavored, and you are satisfied with the taste before harvesting the rest, since oranges do not ripen or sweeten once harvested. There is no doubt you will enjoy every drop squeezed from your citrus tree fruit.
Growing Zones
Advice
Dwarf Valencia orange trees for sale are available for shipping all throughout the United States. It grows to 8-12 feet when planted in the ground but tend to stay small when planted in a pot. It generally blooms in spring and yields fruit in summer. Since it is a citrus tree, it needs heat for the fruit to taste sweet and needs to be protected if the temperature dips below 28 degrees.
Citrus Tree Pests and Diseases
It is easy to grow a dwarf citrus tree for sale. With proper care, you will be rewarded with pretty, fragrant blossoms and succulent fruits for years to come. However, you need to keep an eye out for pests that could harm your Dwarf Valencia orange tree and diseases that could decrease the fruit production.
Ants do not cause harm to the plant, but they carry insects like scales, whiteflies and aphids up the tree and even protect them from predators for them to get paid with honeydew. If you see a colony of ants in the soil, immediately destroy the colony to prevent the possible spread of other insects.
You can use dish soap with warm water to kill ants and treat the tree with horticultural oil or neem oil.
Scales are insects that look like blisters on the branches and leaves of trees. They suck the sap on the plant and deplete much-needed nutrients. Scales also produce honeydew that is food to black sooty mold and other pests.
When infestations are light, you can either pick off the scales from the plant or dab the pests with alcohol-soaked cotton swab. For medium to heavy infestation, you can use pesticides, horticultural oil, or fast acting botanical insecticide to get rid of scales.
Black sooty mold grows on honeydew produced by insects like scales and aphids. As the name implies, it is a mold that can cover the twigs and leaves in black, grimy soot that would curtail the plants ability to engage in photosynthesis.
To treat your plant from black sooty mold, determine which pest you have and eliminate it. Once the pest has been eliminated, you can easily wash off the mold from the leaves, stems and branches.
Fungus Gnats are pests that dwell and eat the root system of the tree if the soil is overwatered. You can prevent fungus gnats by not over-watering your plant.
Citrus Canker is contagious bacteria that pose a serious problem. The disease causes lesion on leaves, stems and fruits. Existing infections cannot be treated but you can prevent the spread of the bacteria by pruning away the diseased areas and use copper-based fungicides or bactericides to protect the healthy areas from getting infected. Make sure to sterilize your gardening tools between uses to avoid spreading the infection.
FAQs
Can I grow this tree inside over the winter?
Yes. You can over-winter a potted citrus tree indoors as long as it gets ample water and light.
Why can you not ship Dwarf Valencia Orange Trees to Texas?
Federal and/or state agricultural laws and regulations prevent shipping some citrus varieties to certain states. While we would like to be able to ship all products to all areas, we recognize and respect the need for restrictions in some instances, and always comply with current Federal and State Agricultural Laws and Regulations.
Do Dwarf Valencia Orange Trees have thorns?
Dwarf Valencia Orange Trees have relatively few thorns. Some trees have virtually no thorns at all, while some individual trees or branches may have infrequent short thorns.
Do I need two Dwarf Valencia Orange Trees for pollination?
The Dwarf Valencia Orange Treeis self-fertile and does not require a second pollinator tree to grow fruit. However, more than one tree near each other will often grow more fruit than a solitary tree.
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Astrud (verified owner) –
The plant arrived in good shape (blooming already) and it’s thriving !! 😍
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