Oranges
The world’s most widely grown citrus, with year-round demand for fresh fruit and juice.
About Oranges
Sweet oranges are grown across tropical and subtropical regions and make up about 70% of the world’s citrus production. Brazil and the US states of Florida and California are the largest centres of production.
Trees begin bearing in year 4–5 and stabilise around year 8, giving two to three crops a year over an economic life of 20–25 years. Plantations International manages orange orchards with drip irrigation, windbreaks and disciplined pest control.
Ideal growing conditions
The site, soil and climate parameters our agronomists work to when developing a orange plantation.
Above sea level
Frost and high humidity are risks
Hot winds cause flower and fruit drop
Deep, well-drained light loam
20–25 irrigations; drip saves about 60%
Planted around the orchard
What oranges are used for
Fresh fruit
Table oranges for retail.
Juice
Not-from-concentrate and concentrate.
Peel oil
Essential oil and d-limonene.
Marmalade
Preserves and confectionery.
Pectin
Gelling agent from peel.
Feed
Dried pulp for livestock.
The world’s top orange producers
Brazil leads world production, followed by the United States and China. India is the second-largest producer in Asia after China.
Juice processing absorbs a large share of the crop, which gives growers a second outlet for fruit that misses fresh-market grades.
- Brazil
- USA
- China
- India
- Mexico
- Spain
- Egypt
- Turkey
- Italy
- South Africa
Ranked by production volume.
From nursery to harvest
- 1Year 0
Planting
Grafted trees set at 7 × 7 m with manure.
- 2Years 1–3
Training
Shoots below 50–60 cm removed; legumes intercropped.
- 3Years 4–5
First yield
About 40–45 fruits per tree.
- 4Year 8
Stable yield
About 450–500 fruits per tree.
- 5To year 25
Production
Two to three crops a year.
How we manage oranges
Irrigation
Every 5–8 days in the hot season and every 9–12 days in the cool season.
Mulching
7–8 inches of mulch in the tree basin conserves moisture.
Pest control
Monitoring for psylla, leaf miner, mealybug, fruit fly and mites.
Post-harvest
Degreening, washing, grading and packing in CFB boxes.
Oranges in the field
Oranges: common questions
When do orange trees start producing?
In year 4–5, with yields stabilising around year 8.
What yield does an orange plantation give?
About 25–30 tonnes per hectare on average.
How much water do orange trees need?
A mature tree needs 20–25 irrigations a year, about 1,400 mm. Drip irrigation saves around 60% of water.
How long do orange trees stay productive?
The economic life is about 20–25 years.
Related crops
Develop a orange plantation with us
Request a free initial consultation with our plantation development and management team.