General description of the orange, agrotechnical conditions for growing, advice on breeding and replanting at home, the difficulties of cultivation, interesting facts, species. Orange (Citrus sinensis) is a fruit plant belonging to the genus Citrus from the numerous Rutaceae family, which unites dicotyledonous and dicotyledonous representatives of the planet's flora. Naturally, this citrus is the most widespread crop in all areas of the world where tropical and subtropical climates prevail. The plant is actively used to create new types of citrus fruits, but to date, a large number of them have been bred and not only nature has put a hand in this, but also breeders from all over the world. Such hybrids are, for example, tangerines (Citrus reticulate) and pomelo (Citrus maxima).
As early as 2, 5 thousand years BC, oranges began to be cultivated in China and throughout Southeast Asia. But Europe found out about this citrus only thanks to the Portuguese navigators (they say they haunted the trade routes passing near the Indian coast with their pirate sorties). And this happened only at the beginning of the 16th century (in 1548). But this applies only to the countries of Western Europe, because there is information that they knew about him in the south for a long time. The Arabs lived there, and as soon as the Spaniards drove out the Saracens-invaders (as the Muslims were called in the Christian world), they saw that in many gardens that were on the territories of the palaces of the emirs-rulers, these trees were grown with a dark green deciduous crown and fragrant fruits …
Regarding the rest of the Old World, it is natural that the fruit, so beloved by people, began to grow in special structures with transparent walls and a glass roof, which were given the name of greenhouses - the name came from the French word "orange", translated as orange. Where weather and climatic conditions permit, orange trees are found along the Mediterranean coast. Central America did not ignore them, where these plants are also actively grown.
The orange got its name from the Dutch (Dutch) language, in which it is referred to as "appelsien", but today the form sinaasappel is increasingly used. In the German dialect, the name of this fruit sounds like Apfelsine, but the French from the very beginning called it pommede China, which translated as "an apple from China", but this old and long-forgotten name was completely replaced by the modern form - orange.
So, bringing all the information together, we can draw the following conclusions:
- orange is an evergreen plant with a tree-like form of growth;
- this citrus is not found in the wild today;
- on vigorous rootstocks it can grow up to a height of 12 m, and on dwarf trees only up to 4–5 meters in height, in principle, this is the natural size of an orange tree;
- leaf plates with a leathery surface, characterized by an elliptical shape and a slight sharpening at the top;
- orange blossoms with buds of both sexes, white or milky white;
- flowers have a strong fragrant odor and are located either singly or in small groups in inflorescences growing from the leaf sinuses;
- the fruit is a multi-nested and multi-seeded fragrant berry;
- the size, shape and color of the peel (its shade varies from light yellow to orange-red) directly depends on the orange variety;
- the peel is thick enough, consisting of two layers;
- the pulp is a sachet filled with juice, so it is juicy, with a sweet or sweet and sour taste.
The most appreciated in the world are those orange fruits that have thin skin, juicy pulp and fullness, such fruits are obtained from trees grown in Malta, Genoa, Malaga, Sicily or Messina.
Depending on climatic conditions, an orange usually has 2-3 periods of active growth, between which there is a period of rest and rest. There are specimens that have a large crown, and are somewhat similar to an oak. With an average lifespan of many oranges of 75 years, such trees can cross 100 or 150 years.
Interestingly, the indoor orange is more persistent and loves good lighting than its citrus counterparts.
Agricultural conditions for growing oranges indoors
- Lighting and choosing a place for the pot. This citrus fruit is more light-loving than tangerine or lemon. He needs to select the brightest place on the windowsills of the room. The average daylight hours should be at least 12 hours with an illumination of 8 thousand lux. On windows in the southern direction at noon, it is necessary to arrange shading with curtains made of translucent fabrics or tulles. But on the windows of the northern location, it will be necessary to provide supplementary lighting with the help of fluorescent lamps or special phytolamps, whose power is not less than 80 watts.
- Content temperature. With normal cultivation of an orange tree, it is necessary that the summer temperature fluctuates between 18-27 degrees, and with the arrival of autumn, it is desirable to lower the heat indicators to 1-8 degrees. This will be the key to further successful fruiting. If such low temperatures cannot be created, then it will be necessary to carry out mandatory supplementary lighting for the tree.
- Watering the citrus. It is necessary to moisturize the orange abundantly in the spring and summer, especially if the temperature is high. However, it is not worth overusing moisture, as well as overdrying the soil, as this will lead to the death of the citrus. Water should be at room temperature 22-27 degrees and only soft, free of chlorine and lime impurities.
- Fertilizer. You do not need to feed the plant after transplanting for another 2-3 months. And then they begin to apply fertilizers from February to October with a ten-day break, but in the autumn-winter period only once a month. Fertilizers are suitable for citrus plants. It is also recommended to alternate them with organic dressings (for example, mullein solution). For fruiting, phosphorus-potassium fertilizing is necessary.
- Transplantation and selection of soil. When an orange is still very young, it needs a transplant every two years, or even every year, but with age, this operation is carried out only when the root system is completely entwined with an earthen lump. It is best to simply replace the topsoil in the pot. The transplant is carried out by the transshipment method so as not to disturb the roots of the plant too much. The pot is chosen 2–5 cm larger than the previous one in diameter. When planting, the roots that have formed above the root collar must be removed. The root collar is not deepened; it is necessary to set it to the same growth level as before. Orange substrate can be used commercially prepared specifically for citrus plants. The acidity of the soil should be 5, 5–7 pH, and it should also have good air and water permeability, be light and loose. You can make up a soil mixture yourself from: sod soil, leafy soil, cow humus (lain for at least 3 years), river sand (in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 0, 5).
- Air humidity when growing an orange should be high - in the range of 50-70%.
It is necessary to try to achieve these values using all available methods:
- carry out daily spraying of the leaves of the tree;
- install humidifiers or just vessels with water next to the pot;
- arrange shower procedures for the orange, with water at room temperature, covering the soil in the pot with polyethylene, the regularity of "washing" every 1-3 months;
- put the pot with the plant in a deep and wide pan, at the bottom of which a little water is poured and a layer of drainage material is poured so that the bottom of the flowerpot does not touch the surface of the liquid.
Tips for self-breeding "Chinese apple"
It is possible to propagate an orange by planting seeds, cuttings or grafting.
The plants that appear from the seeds grow stronger and quickly adapt to the conditions of the room. As soon as the seeds are removed from the fruit, they must be immediately planted in moist soil based on peat, sand and humus, or use peat and garden soil. The grains are deepened only by 1 cm. Then the container must be covered with plastic wrap or placed under a glass. This will help maintain high humidity and warmth conditions. The germination temperature should be between 22-25 degrees. Ventilate the seedlings regularly and moisten the soil if necessary.
The first shoots should appear in about a month. Several sprouts may appear from one seed - this is the difference between all citrus fruits, one seed contains several germs. Over time, when several leaves develop on the bores, the strongest shoots are left, and the rest are removed. After a couple of months, you can dive the plants - transplant them into separate containers with sandy-humus-garden soil.
When grafting, it is necessary to cut off the top of the branch with a length of at least 10 cm, it is important that the cutting contains 2-3 buds and a couple of leaves. The cut is made with a sharpened knife or a special garden pruner, so the cut will be even and without chipping. Cuttings must be treated with any root stimulant, such as Epin, Kornevin or similar preparations. Then you need to plant the branches in a substrate based on sand and humus, mixed in equal parts. Cover the cuttings with a cut plastic bottle (the part with the cork). This will help in the future to easily carry out aeration and moistening of the soil. Alternatively, you can wrap it in a plastic bag or place it under a glass jar.
When 3-4 weeks have passed, the cuttings will take root and they can be transplanted into separate pots with a diameter of up to 7-9 cm, at the bottom of which a drainage layer is laid, and then a substrate intended for adult specimens.
Difficulties in growing an orange tree
The main pests of oranges are spider mites, scale insects, aphids, thrips and whiteflies. At the same time, yellowing may appear on the leaves of the tree, the presence of brown, gray-brown or whitish dots on the back of the leaf plate, a sticky sugary bloom, a thin cobweb covering the leaves and stems, white midges or green bugs. You can carry out the treatment with soap, oil or alcohol solutions, manually removing the pests, but these tools may not give a lasting result. Then you have to use insecticidal drugs, for example, "Aktara", "Actellik" and the like.
Possible diseases caused by viruses or fungi - gummosis or gum disease. At the same time, on the bark at the base of the stem, the bark begins to die off and a sticky liquid gum is released from it. In this case, it is necessary to cleanse parts of the plant to healthy tissue and process with garden varnish.
In the treatment of fungal diseases such as wart or anthracnose, Bordeaux liquid or fungicides are used. The leaves can become covered with whitish spots from sunburn, the tops dry out when the humidity in the room is low, turn brown and fly around when the soil is flooded.
Interesting facts about the orange
There is evidence that the age of the oldest specimen of the orange tree, which grows in Europe, is about 500 years.
There are no varieties of fodder oranges in nature, and the erroneous statement is based on the fact that animals are given waste from the fruit as an additive that was left from juicing.
Since the orange tree is usually very fertile, in many countries of the East, the fruits of this tree are considered to be a symbol of fertility.
Because of the microelements that these fruits are filled with, they are very useful for men and it is recommended to eat 2-3 orange tree fruits a day to increase potency. And in the USA, the state of California, if you eat orange fruits in the bathroom, then it is by law an act that violates public order!
It is interesting that almost all fruits are distinguished by the peculiarity of not drowning in water, but those that have a particularly sweet taste immediately go under the surface of the liquid.
When choosing orange fruits, you should not pay attention to the color of its skin, since the taste, ripeness and juiciness do not depend on this at all.
In ancient times, the fruit of the orange was considered the food of the gods; in Greek mythology, it was identified with the notorious "golden apple".
In cosmetology, the properties of oranges have been widely used since the 17th century. Due to the large amount of vitamins and microelements, the introduction of fruit juice and pulp into the composition of cosmetics helps to rejuvenate the skin, fight its problems and raise its turgor.
It is recommended to use oranges for colds and viral diseases, flu and dental problems. Since the fruits contain a large amount of vitamin C, it is necessary to eat only 150 grams per day. of this fruit to cover the daily need for a person.
The color of the peel directly depends on the climatic conditions for growing the tree: in the tropics it is green, but in temperate climates it becomes orange.
Types of orange
- Variety "Washington Navel". These orange trees are mainly grown in warm and sunny Brazil, although the name suggests cultivation in the United States, this is not at all true. The fruits have a thick skin, juicy pulp and sweet and sour taste. There are practically no seeds in the fruit.
- Valencia variety. The homeland of this species is the Italian territory, but today the trees of this variety are cultivated in many countries around the world, where climatic conditions permit. The peel of the fruit is thin, of a beautiful bright orange color, all covered with small reddish dots. The pulp is the same color. The taste of this variety is sweeter and more intense than that of the previous type. More recently, many varieties grown in Sicily began to be brought to us, and there are a lot of them there.
- Sort "Blondo commune". This type of orange is especially loved and popular in the Sicilian territories. The above-described varieties have now begun to conquer its place, but this is not because of its low taste, it is just that the fruits contain a large amount of grains.
- Variety "Ovale". The fruits of this variety are similar to those of Valencia, only their shape is oval.
- Variety "Tarocco". This type of orange is now beginning to actively spread from Sicily throughout the planet. The fruits are blood-red. Fruit ripening and harvesting takes place from November to January and the variety is considered early maturing because of this.
- Variety "Tarocco dal muso". This species is also native to the Sicilian lands, however, it does not have such popularity. Similar to the previous view.
- Sanguinello and Sanguingo commune varieties. These orange trees are also grown in the island areas of Sicily and are distinguished by the bitter taste of the fruit.
- The "Bu" variety and the so-called "Royal Orange". Vietnam is the main exporter of this fruit. The first variety is distinguished by an oval shape and a bright orange color of the peel, and the second is spherical.
For more on how to grow an orange at home, see this video:
