How to Plant Orange Seeds

Planting the Seed

Watching a tree grow from the seed is a magical, exciting and lengthy process. Learning how to plant orange seeds will take you on an adventure into the gardening world.

While this task is not for everyone and is discouraged for those with limited growing space and those who just want fruit quickly, it is encouraged for those who are interested in the process and curious about the results.

Knowing how to plant orange seeds can lead you to a prosperous award winning orange tree or a thorny tree with sour fruit.

Use the following steps to begin your gardening adventure. Enjoy!

Things You'll Need

• Orange Seed/s
• Quality Mixing Soil
• Pot (variety of size)
• Clear Plastic Wrap
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. 

   PREPARE YOUR ORANGE SEED - After finishing your delicious orange, wash the seeds in lukewarm water. Determine how many seeds you wish to plant. This will be based on how much room you have available. If you have room to plant more than one orange seed, you may want to consider growing other citrus varieties such as lemons, limes, kumquats, etc.

   *Make sure to only use fresh seeds. If you need to wait overnight, soak the seed in water overnight.

2. 

   CHOOSE THE SOIL - To help your seed excel, you will want to choose good quality soil mix found at a gardening store. The best varieties will be part peat moss and part perlite and sand.

3. 

   CHOOSE THE POT - During the growth of the orange seeds, you will need several different sizes of pots to accommodate the plant as it grows. To begin, you can start in as small a container as a plastic or paper cup (although peat pots are recommended) and as large as can be easily stored in the home. Typically moving the seedling to a different pot each spring will be recommended.

4. 

   PLANT YOUR SEED - After you have chosen your soil and pot. It is time to plant your seed. You will want to plant your orange seeds at a depth 2x the longest dimension of your seed.

5. 

   WATER YOUR SEED - Water the planted orange seed until the soil is moist, but not soggy.

6. 

   WRAP YOUR SEED - Next, you will want to wrap your plant loosely with clear plastic wrap. You may also consider consider, depending on the size, a plastic garbage bag or ziplock bag (do not zip up). Place the seed in a warm area such as on top of an electrical appliance such as a tv or refrigerator or radiator.

7. 

   REACT TO GERMINATION - Check often to insure that your soil remains moist. Watch for germination or for your seed to sprout in 3-6 weeks. At this point, you will want to remove the plastic wrap and move your orange plant into indirect bright light. Avoid direct sunlight as it may burn your little plant. Your orange seed plant will need 4-6 hours of sunlight daily and Southern or Western exposure is best.

   *If there is no germination by 7 weeks, you will want to check to see if it has rotted.

8. 

   REPLANT AND FERTILIZE - When you notice your seedling have several sets of leaves, you will want to replant in a 4x6" pot (unless you started in a larger container). You will now start a fertilization process to give your seedling the best success rate. Fertilize every 4-6 weeks with a diluted potassium fertilizer.

9. 

   CARE FOR YOUR PLANT FOR THE LONG TERM - You orange plant may take 6-10 years to begin producing fruit. You will want to prune the branches every Spring and re-pot each year. During winter, stop fertilizing and water less frequently. Check for insects which frequently attack indoor plants.

10. 

    ENJOY YOUR FRUIT - When fruit comes to your tree, it will be extremely exciting. It may be the most delicious eating fruit or a more sour variety. If it turns out sour, do not fear! These can be perfect for desserts, jams, drinks, smoothies and many other recipes.

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide
• Botanical Garden Forums