Orange Trees

[vfem]

So, I take my daughter to school each morning... same route... we're country bound! Its funny that we live so far out, but its a longer drive to her school then to the grocery store.

Anyways, to my point... last week I notice a few homes down the highway we take with fruiting trees. As first glance they look like peaches (since we are in the south and they are plentiful). Friday as I take her to school, I'm waiting in the drop-off line and there is a huge amount of acreage covered in fruit trees and lots of scuppernog grape vines. Most the peach/apple/pear are done and naked at this point. Not those orange fruits... nope, those babies are green and loaded in fruit! Yep, Oranges in NC?! HOORAY!

I am dying to know why type will do well here since they don't like frost I thought... but is there a variety that is not super picky about a touch of frost now and then? I want these so badly now. I'm half tempted to walk up to those people's door and ask the variety. Problem is there are 3 houses set back off the road, I don't know which one, if any, are the owners of that property.

Anyone can think of a variety or can point me in the direction of one that can do well in zone 7b? (Again, I'm literally like a mile from the new zone 8a. I fact, that highway with these planted IS zone 8a now.)

 

[Greenthumb18]

Hi vfem!

I'm been wanting to plant hardy citrus on my property in NC too. Theirs a place in SC that sells hardy citrus, take a look : http://mckenzie-farms.com/photo.htm
I might order a few orange trees next spring to plant and see how they do. I hope this helps, there are some orange varieties that are hardy in zone 7.

 

[Jared77]

Here's whatcha do. Eeney, meeney, mieny, mo, and knock on that door. Im sure whoever lives on the door that you pick and answers can tell you who owns the land the trees are on. They might even be able tell you what kind of trees they are. Worst thing that happens is they don't know and you get shoo'ed off someones porch.

 

[nachoqtpie]

Ummmm.... when you find out, let me know! I want some too!

 

[ninnymary]

Come on Vfem, there are only 3 houses it's not like there are 50! Knock on all three! They might also give you info. as to the taste, if they're sweet or not. I used to do the flowers for our church and I was always knocking on stranger's doors asking if I could have a few blooms. No one ever said no.

Mary

 

[bobm]

Within one mile of my ranch in central Cal. , there are hundreds of acres of commercial Navel orange and Meyer lemon orchards. Most years the temps. drop to 32* and 27* Dec., Jan., Feb. and sometimes into March, 15 years ago it got down to 17* that killed many trees. Just in time for harvest time starting in mid Dec.. At the first hint of 32*s and frost , the orchardists, turn on huge electric wind machines, then the oil smudge pots, sprinkle the trees with water ( mud) to form iceicles on them as protection. Or flood irrigate ( mud delays harvest and many oranges drop onto the ground) the orchard as the warmer water evaporates it protect the trees with frost. Not cheap and loss of sleep for days on end. Hope this helps some. :bee

 

[catjac1975]

They would probably love to show off their property to you. Stop and ask!!!!!

 

[vfem]

OMG... I normally would just go ask. Seriously though, I live where people keep a shot gun by their door. Shoot first, ask questions later. Hahahaha

 

[wsmoak]

Same here. You just don't go wandering onto other people's property around here unless you have a good reason.

Figure out the street addresses and write them a letter. Most people who grow things are more than happy to talk about them. -Wendy

 

[Nyboy]

My Father who lives in NY, had a orange tree has a house plant. It was in a gaint tub that he would wheel at outside in spring and bring in fall. It did get tiny sour oranges but that might have been the tree type.