How to Grow Navel Orange Trees From the Seed

Growing your own navel orange tree sounds great doesn't it? Just imagine having large sweet fruit available at your fingertips. If you have never started a tree from a seed, it may be a little intimidating. However, nature is a wonderful thing and there is really not much you can do to mess this up. By following the steps below, in a few months you will have sturdy little trees ready to put in the ground.

Things You'll Need

• Peat seed starter cup
• Three or four navel orange seeds
• Seed starting mixture
• Potting soil
• Flower pot
• Larger flower pot

Instructions

1. Fill the peat seed starter cup with a seed starting mixture, which you can find at any garden center. Moisten with warm water and let it sit overnight. This allows the water to activate the growing compounds and for the mixture to absorb the water leaving you with the prefect planting environment.

2. Place the navel orange seeds into the starting mixture about 1/2 inch deep, and cover them. Place the cup on a small plate and sit it in a windowsill where it will get sunlight and heat.

3. Water the seeds daily, always keeping the starter mixture moist. You won't see anything right away, but after a few weeks (10 to 14 days) you should see a small sprout working its way out of the mixture. Continue to water and keep in the sun for another few weeks.

4. Place the starter cup into a large flower pot filled with good topsoil when the sprout has grown about 2 inches high and begins opening its leaves. Set the cup down into the topsoil and place topsoil around the top of the cup so that it begins to mix in with the starter mixture. Think of the starter mixture as baby formula, and the topsoil as adding food to the diet. The peat cup will dissolve eventually and the starter mixture will blend in with the topsoil.

5. Continue to water daily and keep in a bright warm spot where your new trees get plenty of sunlight. If the temperature is above 75 F degrees, you can place your trees outside for fresh air and direct sunlight.

6. Separate and replant each tree into a separate pot when they get about 6 inches tall. This will allow them to grow strong roots and get ready for being planted in the ground.

7. Place the tree and the entire root ball along with the potting soil into a hole in the ground that is at least 8 inches deep. Cover with potting soil and replace the ground in around the tree. Pack it down tightly and water well. Continue to water daily and your tree will flourish outdoors.

Tips & Warnings

• If you live in a cool climate, your navel orange tree shouldn't be moved outside. You can grow it as an indoor tree much like a ficus.