Author Topic: Are Valencia Orange Trees Obsolete?  (Read 2250 times)

BonsaiBeast

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Are Valencia Orange Trees Obsolete?
« on: July 19, 2019, 08:13:41 PM »
I have a valencia orange tree in my yard. It produces the least tasty fruit of my many citrus varieties, such as golden nugget, page, kishu, satsuma, cara cara, etc.

Is there something I am missing with the valencia orange? Does it have any special qualities that justify its existence in my yard?

Alternatively, I am going to chop it back and graft something new onto the tree. What would you suggest?

Oolie

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Re: Are Valencia Orange Trees Obsolete?
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2019, 09:01:02 PM »
There are many valencia oranges, yours may be an inferior variety, or it may be a culture issue.

I find many oranges taste better with very limited water. Sufficient potassium could be the cause as well.

The valencia tastes great and has a long season. It is ideal for juice.

SoCal2warm

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Re: Are Valencia Orange Trees Obsolete?
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2019, 11:42:20 PM »
Valencia is my favorite orange, the only orange I am enthusiastic about.
Is it possible you do not have enough heat to fully ripen them? (Valencia needs lots of heat to attain optimal flavor)
It could be a personal preference thing also.

Or maybe the tree is very young and needs to mature another 2 or 3 years. Fruits from immature trees can sometimes be a bit bland, especially if they got lots of water while the fruit was ripening.

And to be fair, all those other varieties you listed are very good, so while Valencia is good, it may be hard to compare to those other really good tasting varieties. This may be another factor.

brian

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Re: Are Valencia Orange Trees Obsolete?
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2019, 08:15:39 AM »
The special quality of valencia i have read is that it has two copies of a juice production gene which means it produces far more juice than other varieties.

Bomand

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Re: Are Valencia Orange Trees Obsolete?
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2019, 10:13:28 AM »
Valencia is a good orange. It needs sun and long enough on the tree to be at its peak. Perhaps yours is just not a thriving plant...happens sometimes.

BonsaiBeast

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Re: Are Valencia Orange Trees Obsolete?
« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2019, 05:30:53 PM »
This is the tree. I got it from home Depot so I have no clue the variety.

To me, the fruit seems sort of watered down compared to my other mandarins




Bomand

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Re: Are Valencia Orange Trees Obsolete?
« Reply #6 on: July 20, 2019, 07:17:05 PM »
If you are comparing a Valencia to mandrins there will be a difference.

Millet

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Re: Are Valencia Orange Trees Obsolete?
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2019, 10:51:56 PM »
You cannot expect a high quality fruit from such a young tree.  Citrus trees do not produce higher quality fruit until at least 5 years of age.  Lastly, Valencia's are normally used as a juice orange.
« Last Edit: July 21, 2019, 11:02:23 AM by Millet »

spaugh

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Re: Are Valencia Orange Trees Obsolete?
« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2019, 05:28:25 PM »
Its a summer fruit, they will still improve if they arent there yet.  And as millet said the tree looks quite small still. 

If you are going to graft it up, just leave some valencia branches and throw a winter naval orange and some mandarins and satsumas on it too..  My summer grafts are doing ok here unprotected.  Citrus grafts in summer should be not a problem for you with your ocean zone. 
« Last Edit: July 26, 2019, 10:18:26 PM by spaugh »
Brad Spaugh

mangomanic12

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Re: Are Valencia Orange Trees Obsolete?
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2019, 06:51:06 PM »
YAH , TREE LOOKS TOO YOUNG