Growing the Perfect Florida Orange

There’s a reason many people move to Florida and it isn’t just the sunshine (although that’s great). It’s really so they can grow their own official Florida oranges! Sure you can buy Florida oranges practically anywhere but nothing can beat strolling out to your backyard and picking a handful of fresh oranges for breakfast. Practically everybody in Florida has an orange tree in their backyard for that very purpose. Although it might seem like a daunting task, growing a Florida orange tree isn’t all that difficult when you consider how study those trees actually are.

Seed vs. Sapling

As with growing any type of tree, you have two choices: do you want to begin from the seed or jumpstart the growing process with a sapling. Florida orange tree saplings can be found at many nurseries. You might even find them available at the orange grove selling the oranges. These are the “starter” trees that have already grown up from the seed phase and are ready to be transplanted into the ground. Starting with a sapling isn’t cheating; it’s just going to allow you to enjoy your Florida oranges a lot quicker.

If you want to go the purist route and start from a seed. Yes, seed from any Florida oranges can actually become a tree. You’ll need to clean all the pulp off it and soak it overnight. After that, you can plant your Florida orange seed into a small pot of soil rich with nutrients. You need to watch over your seedling as it grows. Once it begins to sprout and take shape, you can transfer it up to larger pots. You don’t want to go from juice class to backyard right away. When your orange tree gets to be around one foot tall it’s time to get into the ground. Keep in mind that if you go with the sapling, you’ll be able to put that right into the ground.

Taking Care of a Young Florida Orange Tree

Your one foot Florida orange tree needs to be planted in an area of properly drained soil. It’s also going to need plenty of direct sunshine. Luckily in Florida that won’t be a problem! But just because it needs sun doesn’t mean it needs wind. If you can find a spot out of the harsh breezes it will be better off. And the further north in Florida you go, the greater the chance you have of temperature dipping low. Simple rule of thumb: if you’re growing Florida oranges up north, think southern exposure for the sun. You want to position your tree where it will get the most sun during the day.

Keep grass away from around the base of the orange tree. Three to five feet of cleared ground ought to do the trick. When you dig your hole, you’ll need to make it almost twice as big as your tree’s root ball and just as deep. After placing the tree into your hole, fill it half way with soil and water. Then pat down the rest of the dirt around the base.

Water Works

For the first couple of weeks, your Florida orange tree is going to be thirsty. It should be watered several times a week. You can then begin to taper off the watering to once a week in the hot weather. For fertilizer wait until you see the signs of blossoms before spreading the goods. And then do so only during the growing season up until November. In the first year you should fertilize once in February, May and September. Let the fruit ripen on the tree then pick all the Florida oranges you can.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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