How to Grow Navel Orange
Wikimedia Commons
Navel Orange
Citrus × sinensis 'Navel'
treeNavel oranges are seedless citrus fruits prized for their sweet flavor and easy peeling. These evergreen trees produce large, bright orange fruits with a distinctive navel-like opening at the bottom. They are among the most popular orange varieties worldwide and make excellent landscape specimens.
Looking for a specific variety?
When should you plant Navel Orange in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Navel Orange timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Navel Orange
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Navel Orange
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Navel Orange dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 8b-11; tolerates zone 8a with winter protection
Sign up free to see if Navel Orange grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Navel Orange timeline →Growth Stages
Young Tree Establishment
12-24 monthsFirst 1-2 years after planting; tree develops root system and main scaffold branches; minimal flowering/fruiting
Remove early flowers to direct energy to growth. Stake for support. Water regularly 2-3 times weekly. Avoid heavy pruning.
Vegetative Growth
12-18 monthsYears 2-3; tree gains height and branch structure; foliage becomes dense and lustrous; some flowering begins
Begin shaping canopy through light pruning. Maintain consistent watering. Apply balanced citrus fertilizer every 6-8 weeks during growing season (March-September). Monitor for pests.
Flowering
3-4 weeksTypically spring (February-April); fragrant white blossoms appear in clusters on branch tips; bee activity increases
Do not spray pesticides during bloom to protect pollinators. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to promote flowering over vegetative growth. Avoid pruning during bloom.
Fruit Development & Maturation
5-7 monthsSummer through early winter (June-December); golf ball-sized green fruits gradually enlarge and change color to bright orange; sugar content increases
Thin excess fruit to 6-8 inches apart for larger, higher-quality fruit. Maintain deep, regular watering; inadequate water causes fruit drop and cracking. Apply potassium-rich fertilizer for sweetness. Watch for fruit flies and scale insects.
Harvest Readiness
4-6 monthsLate fall through early spring (November-March); fruit reaches full orange color and sweet taste; fruit remains fresh on tree for weeks
Harvest fruit as needed rather than all at once. Use hand pruners to cut fruit with short stem attached. Peak flavor at full color; fruit will not continue ripening after harvest.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, parasitic wasps, neem oil. Prune heavily infested branches.
-
Monitor for serpentine leaf patterns; remove affected leaves. Spray with horticultural oil in spring and summer.
-
Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap; encourage natural predators like ladybugs and lacewings.
-
Increase humidity; water spray; miticides if severe; predatory mites as biological control.
-
Vector of huanglongbing; prevent with insecticides (spinosad, pyrethrin); remove infected trees promptly.
-
Yellow sticky traps; horticultural oil; neem oil; reflective mulch.
Uses
Fresh eating and juice
CulinaryNavel oranges are quintessential table oranges, prized for seedless, sweet fruit perfect for eating fresh or juicing. High in vitamin C and natural sugars, they are ideal for snacking, salads, and fresh-squeezed juice. [source]
Zest and baking
CulinaryThe fragrant peel provides aromatic zest for baking, cooking, and beverages without seeds. Zest can be candied for confectionery use. [source]
Natural cleaning agent
HouseholdPeel contains d-limonene, a natural degreaser and solvent. Orange peel extracts are used in eco-friendly household cleaners and degreasers. [source]
Immune support and antioxidants
MedicinalHigh in vitamin C, flavonoids, and antioxidants that support immune function and overall health. Traditionally used to prevent colds and support recovery. [source]
Pollinator and bird habitat
WildlifeFragrant spring blossoms attract honeybees and other pollinators; mature fruit provides food for birds and wildlife in winter months. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Navel oranges mature from November through March depending on region. Taste-test by harvesting one fruit to confirm sweetness before large harvest. Fruit will not ripen further after picking. Gently twist or use hand pruners with sharp blades to cut fruit with 1-2 inch stem. Handle carefully to avoid bruising. Fruit stores well at room temperature for 2-3 weeks or refrigerated for up to 4-6 weeks. Early-morning harvest when fruit is coolest yields best flavor.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Navel oranges are seedless because of a natural mutation discovered in Brazil in 1820; all commercial navel orange trees are propagated via grafting from that original mutant variety.
- 🌱 The distinctive 'navel' at the bottom of the fruit is actually a secondary, underdeveloped fruit that grew within the primary fruit—a unique characteristic of this variety.
- 🌱 Navel oranges are biennial bearers, tending to alternate between heavy and light fruit production years; consistent thinning and balanced fertilizing helps even out production.
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Navel Orange planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Navel Orange seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Navel Orange timeline →