How to Grow a Tarocco Blood Orange Tree

When most people think of oranges, they think just that, orange. Though this is true for most orange trees, the Tarocco blood orange tree is an orange of a different color. A distinct variety of the citrus family, the Tarocco blood orange is the red color of a pomegranate. The Tarocco variety of blood oranges is medium sized with very few seeds. Some feel it's the sweetest of all the blood orange varieties. Tarroco trees can grow in a container or directly in the ground.

Things You'll Need

• Large container
• Shovel
• Organic fertilizer
• Water
• Citrus fertilizer

Instructions

Growing a Tarocco Blood Orange Tree in a Container

1. Choose a container that's big enough for the tree to grow in. The container the Tarocco came in usually won't be big enough to contain it for long. You need to choose a container that's at least twice as big as the original container and root ball. A container can't be too big, but it can be too small. A small container will force the roots to grow in circles, hampering the trees normal growth pattern.

2. Fill your container with potting mix and organic matter, such as cow manure. You can also add Osmocote pellets to the potting mix. This is a time released fertilizer that won't harm container grown plants. When planting your Tarocco, make sure not to cover up the graft. It's best to plant the tree at the same height it was in the original container.

3. Water your Tarocco well, once you've planted it in the container. It will need to be watered at least once a week. If it's particularly hot and dry, it may need watering twice a week.

4. Give your Tarocco an occasional dose of fertilizer. A liquid fertilizer is best to use on container plants. Pick one with the highest middle number. The middle number represents the phosphorous content in the fertilizer. Phosphorous is what's needed to produce blooms and fruits. Since liquid fertilizer is water soluble, you have less chance of over fertilizing. Giving your tree a dose every couple of weeks, should be fine.

5. Place your Tarocco by a window that get's sunlight during the day, if you're growing it inside. If you keep your container outside, place it in a spot that gets sunlight at least half of the day. Remember to bring your tree inside if there's a chance of frost or a freeze. Citrus trees won't survive if left in freezing temperatures for a long period of time.

6. Change your soil at least once a year. New soil will need to be added since the plant will use any nutrients up in the old soil. If you need to move the plant to a larger container, now is the time to do it.

Planting Your Tarocco Outside

1. Plant your tree directly in the ground if you live in planting zones 9 or 10. You can find out what zone you live in through your state's agricultural department. The higher zones are in the lower portion of the United States. The farther north you live, the lower your zone number will be.

2. Dig a wide hole that isn't too deep. You don't want to cover up the graft or plant the tree deeper than it's already growing. Choose an area that gets full sun at least half of the day and is big enough to allow the Tarocco to fully grow. Tarocco orange trees can reach 30 feet high and can have a width of 15 to 20 feet.

3. Place some organic compost into your hole, such as cow manure. This is especially necessary if your soil is clay or sandy, since these type of soils don't hold many nutrients. Mix the cow manure with the original soil. In fact, you can put a bag of cow manure on the ground around your tree, several times a year. It makes a great organic fertilizer that won't harm the tree or it's growth.

4. Loosen the soil around the root ball, so the roots will be loosened up for better growing potential. Place your tree into the hole. Put the soil around the tree, making sure it's firmly patted around it. Do not put the soil higher than the graft or where the tree was originally planted at.

5. Water your tree in well. Though citrus trees are drought tolerant, they will need a regular dose of water. Make sure it gets a good watering at least once a week. Do not plant your tree in an area that is constantly soggy. Citrus trees do not like having wet feet.

6. Fertilize your Tarocco blood orange tree twice a year. When the tree is first planted, use only an organic type fertilizer such as cow manure. You can use either a water soluble or granulated type fertilizer on the tree. Choose a fertilizer specially made for citrus trees or has a high middle number, which represents the phosphorous content. Phosphorous is what is needed to produce blooms and fruit. Don't over fertilize your tree or you'll end up with lots of leaves and not many flowers.

Tips & Warnings

• Tarocco trees planted in California have a deeper red flesh than those planted in Florida, due to the soil. The taste is the same though. Potting Mix is better than potting soil. Potting soil holds too much water and plants can sometimes rot if over watered.

• Orange trees in general don't do well in climates of freezing temperatures and can stand only several hours of temperatures that are below freezing. It is thought that a cold snap will produce sweeter fruit though.

Resources

• Information on Tarocco Blood Orange Trees