ZEST for life

Grow oranges for their glossy foliage, fragrant spring blossom and fruit full of flavour, says JANE EDMANSON

After growing up among orange trees and other assorted citrus on my mum and dad’s farm on the red soils of Mildura in Victoria, I still love these trees. I was lucky to spend many hours wandering among rows of orange trees, enjoying the showers of fragrant, white blossoms in late October, and eating the juicy fruit picked straight from the tree.

Once established, an orange tree will give you many years of pleasure and fruit. They grow for 40 years, and I have seen even older trees. They are attractive and evergreen, with aromatic foliage, fragrant spring flowers and a wealth of fruit.

Oranges, especially Valencia cultivars, provide plenty of juice, as well as a much-needed dose of vitamin C. My favourite ones to eat are the winter-fruiting Navels. They seem to bring a ray of sunshine to a cold winter’s day,

On the farm, we grew our orange trees in rows, but there are many ornamental ways to grow them, from a hedge reaching 2m high, to a large pot such as a half wine barrel in a sunny courtyard.

In a cold climate, where oranges can be tricky to grow, train your trees as espaliers against a warm, sunny, sheltered fence, where they will be frost-free and protected from cold winds. Oranges need full sun and well-drained soils to thrive. In poorly drained soils, such as heavy clay, grow oranges (and other citrus) in raised garden beds or on a mound.

Cold winds can cause fruit drop, so they need protection in this situation. Oranges don’t like frost, but some varieties are more cold-tolerant than others. They also dislike salty conditions, which causes leaves to brown at the edges.

Watering has to be just right. They need moist soil at all times, but cannot grow when sitting in a ‘sump’ of water. Overwatering causes leaf drop and, when fruit is ripening, can lead to fruit split.

Mulching helps conserve soil moisture between drinks. Maintain a 5–7cm layer of organic mulch under the canopy, keeping it clear of the trunk. Like all citrus, oranges are heavy feeders. Apply a citrus fertiliser every 3–4 months, and water it in well.

Little pruning is required other than removal of dead or diseased branches and the occasional shaping. Avoid giving oranges an all-over haircut as this removes the fruiting sites. Rather, just cut back selected branches as needed, and trim the