DibbleWhen are oranges in season?
In a home garden, oranges ripen in fall, winter and spring. In Florida, navels and Hamlin start in October, Pineapple and Midsweet follow in midwinter, and Valencia finishes from March to June. Oranges only grow outdoors where it rarely freezes. The table lists dates for Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona and California.
This page is about fruit you grow yourself, in a home garden. It is not a guide to pick-your-own farms or to what is in the stores. Dates shift with the variety, the weather that year and how much winter chill the plant got, so treat them as typical ranges.
When oranges ripen, by region
| Where | Ripens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | October to January, navels and Hamlin (early). Parson Brown, early to mid season, also runs October to January. | University of Florida IFAS Extension |
| Florida | December to March, Pineapple and Midsweet (mid-season). Pineapple December to February, Midsweet January to March. | University of Florida IFAS Extension |
| Florida | March to June, Valencia (late) | University of Florida IFAS Extension |
| Texas | October to December, navel. Texas A&M's table has no sub-region. | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (Aggie Horticulture) |
| Texas | March to June, Valencia | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (Aggie Horticulture) |
| Louisiana | November to January, Washington navel. Fruit stores well on the tree. | LSU AgCenter (Backyard Orchard Certificate Course) |
| Louisiana | December to February, Hamlin. The most widely grown early orange. | LSU AgCenter (Backyard Orchard Certificate Course) |
| Louisiana | April to June, Valencia. Prefers winter temperatures of 35 to 50 F. The slide names the southernmost part of the state. | LSU AgCenter (Backyard Orchard Certificate Course) |
| Arizona (low desert and southern Arizona) | early December through March, Washington navel. The most popular navel in Arizona. | University of Arizona Cooperative Extension |
| Arizona (low desert and southern Arizona) | February, and it can hold into May or June, Valencia. A desert garden Valencia is harvestable in February. | University of Arizona Cooperative Extension |
| California (Santa Clara County) | December to May, Washington navel. Fruit holds well on the tree. | University of California Cooperative Extension (Master Gardeners, Santa Clara County) |
| California (Santa Clara County) | April to October, Valencia. Stores well on the tree but may turn green again in summer heat. | University of California Cooperative Extension (Master Gardeners, Santa Clara County) |
| Southern California | January through April, Washington navel. Produces well in the San Diego, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino areas. | University of California Cooperative Extension (Riverside County) |
Where oranges grow outdoors
Citrus is a subtropical fruit, limited to areas that do not regularly freeze. University of Florida IFAS Extension (HS-867)
How long fruit hangs on the tree
Ripe oranges can stay on the tree for a few months and usually get sweeter. Satsuma mandarins are the exception, at about four to six weeks. University of Florida IFAS Extension (Gardening Solutions; HS-867 for the satsuma figure)
Color is not a ripeness guide
Rind color is a response to cold nights and is not a good guide to ripeness. Total heat is an important factor in flavor, so taste before you pick. UCCE Master Gardeners, Santa Clara County
How long until a tree bears
Texas A&M says most budded citrus trees produce a few fruit in the second year but usually do not give a crop until the third year. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (J. W. Sauls)
When to plant oranges, by zone
These are planting windows from the same climate engine the Dibble app uses, run at typical places in each hardiness zone. They say when orange plants can go in. They do not say when the fruit ripens: that is the table above.
| Zone | Planting window | Exact dates |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Not suited to this zone | Zone 3 dates |
| Zone 4 | Not suited to this zone | Zone 4 dates |
| Zone 5 | Not suited to this zone | Zone 5 dates |
| Zone 6 | Not suited to this zone | Zone 6 dates |
| Zone 7 | Not suited to this zone | Zone 7 dates |
| Zone 8 | Not suited to this zone | Zone 8 dates |
| Zone 9 | Not suited to this zone | Zone 9 dates |
| Zone 10 | Mar 30 to May 10 | Zone 10 dates |
| Zone 11 | Mar 29 to May 9 | Zone 11 dates |
How to grow oranges · Find your growing zone by ZIP code
Common questions
When is orange season?
In Florida, home-garden oranges run from October, when navels and Hamlin ripen, to June, when Valencias finish. Pineapple and Midsweet come in midwinter. Dates differ by state, and oranges only grow outdoors where it rarely freezes.
Do oranges ripen after they are picked?
No. Florida and California extension say fruit does not ripen after picking, and Arizona says the only sure test is to taste it.
Can I grow an orange tree outside where it freezes?
Not in the ground where freezes are regular. Citrus is limited to areas that do not regularly freeze. Satsuma is the hardier choice for cold locations, and small citrus such as lemons, limes and kumquats can be grown in pots and moved in for freezes.
Other fruit
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