DibbleGrowing orange trees: from seed to harvest
Plant in a sunny, sheltered spot once cold nights are over. Oranges do best where frost never comes; where winters freeze, grow one in a pot and shelter it. Evergreen and self-fruitful, ripening slowly.
Planting dates for orange trees by zone
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Sow or transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 4 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 5 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 6 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 7 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 8 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 9 | Not suited | ||
| Zone 10 | not needed | March 30 | January 22 |
| Zone 11 | not needed | March 29 | January 24 |
Each date is the start of the best window from the same climate engine the Dibble app uses, run at typical places in each zone. Dibble tunes them to your garden's own location and lets you adjust frost dates for your own yard.
When are oranges in season? Typical home-garden ripening times by state, from extension sources.
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Questions
When should I plant orange trees?
It depends on your zone. Orange is a tender crop, so the timing follows your last spring frost. Look up your zone in the table below for exact start, sow, and harvest dates, or open Dibble and set where your garden is to get your own calendar.
How long does it take to grow orange trees?
About 300 days from transplant to the first harvest, with a picking window of roughly 60 days after that.
Plant at the right time this season
Dibble builds your calendar in under a minute. Free to start, no account needed.