Exotic for Russia oranges can be grown at home. It is grown in greenhouses or in large pots in the room. Let's consider the description of the variety and characteristics of the Washington Navel orange, its inherent pros and cons, and cultivation features. How to care for a heat-loving plant, how to protect it from diseases and pests. When to collect fruits and how to store them.
History of the variety
The variety is the result of a mutation of the plant variety Selecta or, as others say, Umbrigu. The variety was bred in Brazil, in the state of Bahia, in 1810-1820. The fruits of the new variety had better characteristics than their predecessor. Thanks to them, the variety spread to other continents - the USA and Australia.
Description and characteristics of Washington Navel orange
Washington Navel is an early ripening variety. When grown in a room, the tree reaches 1-2 m in height, in natural conditions - 4 m. Its branches are long, thin, and hanging. The leaf is medium sized, elongated, dark green. Flowering time is the first half of spring; oranges begin to bloom after reaching 3-4 years. Flowers are solitary, sometimes in inflorescences. To obtain large fruits, you need to thin them out, leaving no more than 1 piece on each branch. The fruits of the Washington Navel orange are round, weighing 150-300 g, with a dense orange skin.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Features of growing at home
When growing an orange in a room, it completely depends on the conditions of its maintenance - temperature and humidity, watering and care, which a person creates.
Plant care
The orange bush should be placed near the south or east window so that it is illuminated by the sun's rays. In the summer, when it’s hot, it needs to be moved to the back of the room so that burns do not form on the leaves.You can take the plant to the balcony while the weather is warm. From time to time the orange needs to be turned to the sun in different directions.
Temperature and humidity
The Washington Navel variety is light-loving, so the plant should be placed close to the windows. In summer, it is advisable to ventilate the room every day. In winter - spray the leaves with a spray bottle once a day. In winter, maintain the temperature at 15-18˚C. Violation of temperature and humidity conditions often leads to the fact that the plant does not bloom or drops the set fruits.
Top dressing
In spring and summer, when the Washington Navel plant is actively developing, it is watered with small portions of water once a day; in winter and autumn, watering is carried out 2 times a week. Fertilize indoor oranges with ready-made complex fertilizers designed specifically for citrus fruits. Fertilize when the plant begins to bloom, and then once a month until the end of the growing season.
Transfer
The soil in the pot is depleted, despite constant fertilization. Therefore, every 2-3 years the plant should be replanted, completely changing the substrate. While the orange is growing, you need to take a slightly larger pot than the previous one. When the tree reaches the size of an adult plant, do not increase the volume of the pot.
Transplantation is carried out in early spring, before active growth begins. A substrate specially prepared for citrus fruits is poured into the pot. You can buy it at a gardening store. You need to put a layer of drainage on the bottom. The orange is replanted using the transshipment method, that is, it is taken out with a lump of earth, shaken off the roots a little and placed in a new place. The newly transplanted orange is placed in a warm, illuminated place, but not in the sun.
Crown care
Pruning is done with pruning shears or sharp scissors.Remove branches that are diseased, dry, weakened, or growing inward. Proper removal of branches activates shoot growth, rejuvenates the plant, stimulates flowering, increases productivity, and improves the quality of orange fruits.
The crown is formed so that on the skeletal branches there are 1-2 branches on each, with 3-5 shoots on them. Orange bears fruit on young shoots of the 4th and 5th order.
Plant pests and diseases
Scale insects and spider mites damage the tree of this variety. Against ticks, use soap foam treatment once a month. Wipe the leaves with the solution and leave to dry. After 0.5 days, wash off with water, covering the soil with film. Scale insects are destroyed with a mixture of washing powder and laundry soap (2 tablespoons and 40 g per glass of warm water). Wipe the leaves with the solution and wash off after 4 hours. For a month, treatment is carried out every week.
Harvesting and storage
Oranges are removed from the tree after they are ripe or slightly unripe. They are stored perfectly; the fruits can be stored, consumed fresh, processed, or transported. They do not lose quality and taste, and do not dry out if stored in the refrigerator. Washington Navel oranges can last 1-2 months in it. But usually there is no need to store homemade orange fruits for so long, because they have the most pleasant taste immediately after picking.
Growing a homemade orange is not difficult for experienced owners. But for beginners, this plant may seem capricious and demanding. But if you take into account all the recommendations, do not forget to pay attention to the citrus every day, it will grow and develop correctly, bloom and bear fruit. Anyone will be pleased to pick oranges grown with their own hands.
