- Oranges originated in northeastern India. It is believed that the first orange tree was a hybrid of two other citrus---the pomelo and the tangerine. In the 19th century, French settlers brought the tree to Florida, and it soon spread to California, Texas and Arizona. The Valencia orange was developed in the mid-1800s by California agronomist William Wolfskill in Santa Ana. The Valencia variety and growing operation was sold to the Irvine Company, which later evolved into Sunkist.
- The Valencia orange tree grows from 20 to 30 feet tall. It has very dark evergreen leaves and baseball size fruit with a smooth skin. Because it's attractive, it is sometimes grown for its aesthetic appeal in the garden. The tree bursts into a sweet-smelling bloom of many small white flowers in the spring. Green baby oranges begin to develop soon after the bloom; be sure to wait for them to turn orange before you pick them.
- Valencia oranges are subtropical trees that are susceptible to freezing temperatures. They prefer temperatures between 50 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit during their growing season. Growing your tree next to a building, especially if the eaves give it a little cover, can help protect it from frost. Commercial growers use sprinkler systems and smudge pots to warm the air around producing trees. The tree might not die if it's hit by frost, but the fruit will be ruined.
- If you live in Texas or Florida, the Valencia orange is a good variety to choose. The Valencia is a hybrid, so purchase a grafted tree from your nursery. Plant your tree in a sunny area that has rich, slightly acidic soil with good drainage. Water your tree deeply once every 10 days. Use a commercial fertilizer designed for citrus four or five times during its growing season. Oranges need about 1.5 pounds of nitrogen each year, so give your tree 1/2 pound at each feeding.
- A Valencia orange will produce fruit during the third season after you transplant it, assuming growing conditions are right. It might produce a few small fruit during its first or second season, but it's recommended that you pinch off this fruit to encourage the young tree to grow rather than reproduce. Valencias produce less fruit than the earlier varieties; expect five to 10 pounds of fruit the third season and up to 125 pounds by this tree's 10th birthday.
