The Dwarf Washington Navel Orange tree is one of the most popular citrus trees available because they are easy to grow. The white flowers of this orange tree emit a citrus, sweet-smelling aroma that is wonderful in spring, and has pretty foliage all year long. The fruit is sweet, juicy and mostly seedless.
The Washington Navel Orange tree is one of the most popular citrus trees available because they are easy to grow and require extremely low maintenance.The Washington Navel can often outperform all other growing citrus trees.This dwarf orange tree has been grafted onto a dwarf root stock which keeps the plant a compact form, growing to between 1-2 meters tall.
The Dwarf Washington Navel Orange trees are suitable and best grown in full sunlight and fast-draining, sandy soil and hardy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. The good news is, this navel orange tree can be grown in a pot in zones 4 to 11 on your patio and taken indoors when the temperature outside dip below 55 degrees. In winter, you can take your potted orange tree indoor and enjoy the fragrant smell coming from the tree.
The white flowers of the dwarf Washington Navel Orange tree emit a citrus, sweet-smelling aroma that is wonderful in spring, and has pretty foliage all year long.
When the flowers turn into fruit, they mature into sweet, juicy seedless navel oranges that have much more flavor than fruits produced by other orange trees. Because of the delicious taste of the fruit of this dwarf citrus tree, it is great for eating out of hand, making into freshly-squeezed juice, or adding to salads. In addition, the easily peeled Dwarf Washington Navel oranges have a long shelf life (you can actually store them for weeks) so there is no need to consume them quickly before they go bad.
I am very happy with the tree I received. It arrived with all of the leaves in-tact, wonderfully packed in the package. It’s got a BUNCH of growth all over it and clearly was very well taken care of. I’m very excited to see this little tree grow. 😀
Arrived in very, very good condition. After one week, it has several white buds, which I think are where the oranges are going to grow from. Kind of exciting, actually. I repotted it two weeks later, with professional potting mix.
Do not utilize mixes that retain moisture, as the instructions dictate.
Thank you!
Very pleased with this company’s handling of my problem. My tree arrived damaged due to poor handling by the delivery service. Citrus.com immediately sent me a new tree. Would not hesitate to order from this company again.
I sent this tree to my brother in law as a remembering to his godson and nephew who passed away last month. My brother in law was very , very happy with this expression of sympathy. He lives in Massachusetts so will keep the tree inside his heated glass enclosed sun room during these cold harsh winter months up there. He will ship the first orange to me here in Florida!
Water an in-ground dwarf Washington Navel orange tree when the soil (about 2 to 4 inches from top) becomes dry to the touch. Apply water to the ground directly with a hose in a ring twice as wide as the tree’s shade and ensure that you do not let the soil become waterlogged. Potted trees should be watered more frequently as the soil tend to dry out quicker. Make sure to keep the water 6 inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.
Pull out any weeds and remove debris under the tree’s canopy. Administer 2 to 3 inches of mulch over the cleared area with a rake; be cautious when spreading mulch and ensure that you do not put it within 6 inches of the trunk as it decreases moisture loss from the soil while preventing weed growth.
Before use, sterilize your pruning shears by soaking them for 5 minutes in a solution containing 1 part of household bleach in 3 parts of water. Cut off any dead, broken or diseased branch one-quarter inch above an outward facing growth node. Remove overlapping branches, limbs that grow straight up or those that rub against each other. Do the pruning throughout the year as they occur.
To safeguard the bark from sun damage, you have to whitewash the trunk every spring. Mix 1 part of white latex paint with 1 part of water in a bucket and stir diligently with a stick to combine the materials. Paint the mixture onto the bark using a paintbrush. Make sure that the first coating is completely dry before applying the second coat.
Snails and slugs are pests that can tremendously damage the tree’s bark and leaves. It is best to lay traps around the base of the dwarf orange tree to stop these pesky pests from causing harm to the tree.
Inspect the orange tree regularly for any sign of pests especially during the growing season. To remove any insect-attracting dust, spray the foliage with a steady stream of water. For aphid or mite infested foliage, use a spray with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil to control them. Make sure that all surfaces of the tree including the underside of the leaves are covered with spray and do the washing in the morning to give ample time for it to dry before night falls.
Citrus fertilizers should be used on the navel orange tree once every 1 to 2 months during spring and summer, and once every 2 to 3 months during fall and winter. As the tree matures, you can increase the amount of time between fertilizing. You can also determine when is the best time to fertilize by checking your tree’s physical condition; a vigorous tree with dark green appearance and is holding onto fruit does not require frequent fertilizing. Fertilizing healthy trees may actually cause it to produce poor quality fruits. On the other hand, citrus trees require a lot of nutrients when they are in bloom so regardless of health, make sure to apply fertilizer for citrus trees to provide enough nutrients to produce fruit
Fruit & Harvesting
Fruit
Orange trees typically start producing fruits two years after planting, and harvest season for navel oranges are usually in the fall or winter. For the most part, navel orange tree takes between 7 up to 12 months after blooming before the oranges are harvested.
Dwarf Washington navel oranges are sweet, juicy and seedless. Although they are from a dwarf size evergreen tree, the fruits are large, delicious and superior compared to orange fruits from local supermarkets.
Harvesting
In general, the fruit turns from green to completely orange when ripe. However certain weather conditions may turn the color of the fruit from orange to green even when they are fully ripe. There are different tests you can do on the fruits to see if they are ready to be harvested. You can look for a waxy shine on the rind or gently squeeze the fruit to tell if the skin has begun to soften just like any ripe fruit. The best way to determine if your dwarf fruit is up for picking is to take one from the tree and taste its sweetness. To prevent any damage to the rest of the branch make sure that you either clip the fruit from the stem or twist it off gently.
If the fruit is not yet fully flavored, leave the rest of the fruits on the tree since oranges do not ripen or get sweeter after they are harvested. The fruits can hold well onto the tree for months so you don’t have to rush when harvesting them.
If, on the other hand, you are satisfied with the sweetness of your orange, you can pick the rest off the tree. You can store freshly-picked oranges at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Just make sure that if you will leave the orange fruits in the fridge, you do not leave them in a plastic bag or they may mold.
Growing Zones
Advice
Dwarf Washington Navel orange trees, when planted in-ground, grows as high as 8-12ft; if planted in containers they tend to stay smaller. The flowers usually bloom in spring and the tree bears fruit in winter. This tree does not require heat to sweeten fruit unlike other citrus trees, although it must be protected when the temperature goes below 28 degrees. Furthermore, even though we can take them indoors during the winter season, it is not advisable to grow them year-round indoors.
How often should you water your citrus tree?
If planted in the ground, you should water the tree deeply once a week.
If planted in an outdoor container, you should water the tree deeply once or twice per a week.
If the tree is planted in a container indoors, you have to use a quarter or half a gallon of water to saturate the container every 5 to 7 days, or less, depending on how fast the moisture in the roots reaches 50% dryness.
Watering should be varied as conditions change. To make your life easier and take the guesswork out of watering, buy an inexpensive moisture meter at your local garden supply store to read the moisture at the root level.
Pests and Diseases
You may face challenges when you have an orange tree. The most common problem is scale, a small insect that seems like a round bump on the branches of your orange tree. The color of scale insects varies, and some are even transparent making them hard to see. These pests suck the sap from plants and rob them of essential nutrients needed to remain healthy. Moreover, they produce a sweet sticky substance that attracts more pests and promotes mold growth as well.
Spraying scale insects with diluted rubbing alcohol can do the trick and kill them, but typical insecticide sprays are less effective, because the waxy covering of these insects protect them effectively from contact insecticides. Horticultural oils or insecticidal soap are potent scale exterminators, because they systematically suffocate the harmful insects.
Mites are also bothersome and may cause issues as they can cause the orange tree leaves to curl and brown. Spraying dormant oil in the early spring can effectively treat trees for mites. You can also use insecticides later in the growing season.
FAQs
Once my tree is mature, how many oranges will it grow each year?
A mature, healthy orange tree can grow as many as three hundred oranges per season.
Can I over-water my orange tree?
Yes. Orange trees require well-drained soil. Allow the soil to dry out to at least two inches deep before watering. If orange trees remain in standing water or saturated soil, they become vulnerable to rotting trunks, excessive falling leaves, fungi, and pests.
How far apart should I plant multiple dwarf citrus trees?
Most dwarf citrus trees grow to a size of about ten feet tall and wide. In order to provide your trees with enough room to grow, plant the dwarf trees about twenty feet apart. Trees can be planted closer if necessary, but you may have to prune them to allow proper space to maneuver between the trees for maintenance and harvesting.
When should I water my citrus tree?
Start by watering newly planted or potted trees deeply once per week for the first month. Adjust accordingly by monitoring soil dampness. If the soil is still damp down to 2 inches deep after the fourth week, wait to water for another few days. Always water deeply, and don’t let the soil get dry to below five inches. Also, never water so much that you let your citrus tree remain in standing water or constantly saturated soil.
Once a Navel tree blooms and grows fruit, how long will it be before the fruit is ready to pick?
Depending on the age, size, and vitality of the tree, as well as the location and amount of sunlight, fertilizer, and water, a Dwarf Washington Navel Orange can produce ripe fruit from 7 to 12 months after it blooms.
Do dwarf citrus trees require special care?
No. You can maintain a dwarf citrus tree in the same way as a standard sized citrus tree. They require bight consistent sunlight, sandy loam soil that is well drained, frequent fertilizing, very little pruning, and deep, consistent watering.
Do dwarf fruit trees take longer to produce fruit?
No. Dwarf trees will produce fruit at least as fast as standard sized trees, and in some cases faster, because the smaller trees reach their maturity quicker.
How long does it take for a dwarf orange tree to produce fruit?
While a very young tree can bloom and even produce a feworanges, most of those fruit will fall off. This is normal. A newly plantedgrafted tree will usually take about 2 to 3 years of growth before it begins to consistently grow fruit.
Cindy (verified owner) –
Tree arrived on time and packaged very well. Tree are very healthy and are doing great
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Anonymous (verified owner) –
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Ryan Kellington (verified owner) –
Tree showed up fast and was in great shape, only lost a couple leaves like expected
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Nympha Mark (verified owner) –
My tree arrived on time and in perfect condition,looks healthy and happy….can’t wait for it to grow and produce fruit
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Amanda Ortiz (verified owner) –
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John D B. (verified owner) –
Great service. trees arrived in good shape and already have new growth on them.
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Keith (verified owner) –
I am very happy with the tree I received. It arrived with all of the leaves in-tact, wonderfully packed in the package. It’s got a BUNCH of growth all over it and clearly was very well taken care of. I’m very excited to see this little tree grow. 😀
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Jack B. (verified owner) –
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Robert L. (verified owner) –
The tree is a year old and arrived in perfect condition. There are several leaves and it withstood replanting. Can’t wait for it to bear fruit!
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Sandra Samples (verified owner) –
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Anita (verified owner) –
Arrived in very, very good condition. After one week, it has several white buds, which I think are where the oranges are going to grow from. Kind of exciting, actually. I repotted it two weeks later, with professional potting mix.
Do not utilize mixes that retain moisture, as the instructions dictate.
Thank you!
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bruce a. (verified owner) –
Beautiful 24” one gallon sized tree. Looks to be very happy with lots of new growth in the past month.
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Jan S. (verified owner) –
Very pleased with this company’s handling of my problem. My tree arrived damaged due to poor handling by the delivery service. Citrus.com immediately sent me a new tree. Would not hesitate to order from this company again.
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cathy urbanski (verified owner) –
Healthy beautiful tree. Very satisfied.
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Laura H. (verified owner) –
Thanks
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Carol C. (verified owner) –
I sent this tree to my brother in law as a remembering to his godson and nephew who passed away last month. My brother in law was very , very happy with this expression of sympathy. He lives in Massachusetts so will keep the tree inside his heated glass enclosed sun room during these cold harsh winter months up there. He will ship the first orange to me here in Florida!
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Stephanie (verified owner) –
Tree came healthy, showing new growth immediately. Happy with the purchase so far. Day 4
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Citrus Customer Care (store manager) –
Thank you for the positive review. We know that you are enjoying your tree, and we thank you for your business.
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Michael Luke (verified owner) –
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Citrus Customer Care (store manager) –
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review! We appreciate your business.
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Michael Luke (verified owner) –
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Citrus Customer Care (store manager) –
Thank you for your positive review. Enjoy your tree.
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