How to Grow Ruby Navel Orange
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Ruby Navel Orange
Citrus sinensis 'Ruby Navel'
treeRuby Navel is a distinctive citrus variety featuring deep red or ruby-colored flesh inside the fruit, along with the characteristic navel marking at the base. This sweet, seedless orange is prized for both ornamental appeal and exceptional flavor, producing medium-sized fruits with excellent eating quality. The tree is moderately sized and suitable for home gardens and commercial cultivation.
When should you plant Ruby Navel Orange in your zone?
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Example Ruby Navel Orange timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Ruby Navel Orange
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Ruby Navel Orange
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Ruby Navel Orange dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 9-10; tolerates zones 8b-11b with protection in colder areas
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Get my Ruby Navel Orange timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment (Year 1)
3-6 monthsYoung tree focuses on root development and vegetative growth, producing new shoots and leaves.
Water deeply and regularly to establish roots; stake if necessary; prune lightly to shape; avoid heavy fertilizing initially; mulch base to retain moisture.
Vegetative Growth (Years 1-2)
6-18 monthsTree develops branch structure and canopy; may produce some flowers that should be removed to conserve energy.
Continue regular watering; apply balanced citrus fertilizer monthly during growing season; remove early flowers and fruit; thin competing branches to promote strong structure.
Flowering (Early spring, typically March-April)
3-4 weeksFragrant white flower clusters appear along branches; flowers are small and abundant.
Ensure consistent watering during bloom; do not over-fertilize with nitrogen; pollinating insects will visit naturally; some fruit drop is normal.
Fruit Development (Spring-Summer)
8-12 weeksSmall green fruits develop from pollinated flowers; fruit gradually increases in size through summer.
Thin fruit to one every 4-6 inches on branches for larger, quality fruit; maintain even soil moisture to prevent splitting and bitter pit; apply micronutrient spray if leaves show chlorosis.
Maturation & Color Development (Fall-Winter)
8-12 weeks before harvestFruit grows to full size; skin turns from green to orange, with characteristic ruby-red flesh developing inside; sugar content increases.
Maintain regular watering but reduce slightly; do not over-water as this dilutes fruit flavor; monitor for mature fruit readiness by tasting; the navel end should be slightly soft when ready.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Remove affected leaves; apply horticultural oil or neem oil in early spring; encourage natural parasitoid wasps
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Prune heavily infested branches; apply horticultural oil in dormant season; use insecticidal soap on nymphs
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Increase humidity; spray water on foliage; apply miticides or neem oil if severe
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Monitor for Asian citrus psyllid vectors; apply neem oil or spinosad; remove affected growth tips
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Prune infested branches; apply insecticidal soap or horticultural oil; use beneficial insects like ladybugs
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Yellow sticky traps for monitoring; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage parasitoid wasps
Uses
Fresh eating and juice
CulinaryRuby Navels are prized for eating fresh due to their seedless nature and exceptional sweetness. The distinctive ruby-red flesh is visually striking in fruit platters, and the juice is premium quality with a deep red color making it highly valued for fresh juice production. [source]
Desserts and garnishes
CulinaryThe striking red interior makes Ruby Navels excellent for gourmet desserts, salads, and plating. Segments are used in upscale restaurants for their visual appeal and natural sweetness without additional sugar. [source]
Vitamin C and antioxidants
MedicinalLike all citrus, Ruby Navels provide abundant vitamin C and antioxidants, with the red flesh containing additional anthocyanins beneficial for immune function and cardiovascular health. [source]
Ornamental landscape tree
HouseholdThe tree's attractive evergreen foliage, fragrant spring blossoms, and visually striking ruby-red fruits make it a beautiful ornamental addition to gardens and landscapes, particularly in warmer climates. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeThe fragrant white flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators in spring, supporting local ecosystems while improving fruit set. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Ruby Navels typically begin producing fruit at 3-4 years. Fruits mature from November to March in the Northern Hemisphere. Harvest when fruit is fully colored (deep orange exterior with ruby-red flesh inside, visible when cut) and yields slightly to gentle pressure at the navel end. Use pruning shears or twist fruits gently to detach. Fruits will not ripen further after picking, so allow full maturation on the tree for best flavor and color development. Peak sweetness occurs in January-February in most regions.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Ruby Navel oranges were discovered as a spontaneous mutation of the Washington Navel in Brazil in the 1950s, and the deep red flesh develops in response to cool, sunny winter temperatures—which is why they display their most vibrant color in Mediterranean and subtropical climates.
- 🌱 The 'navel' marking at the base of the fruit is actually a small aborted second fruit embedded in the peel, unique to navel oranges. Ruby Navels are seedless because this abnormality interferes with seed development.
- 🌱 The ruby-red flesh color is most intense when trees are grown in regions with cool nights during maturation (October-January), which is why some Ruby Navels grown in very warm tropical climates may have less dramatic red coloration compared to those from Mediterranean regions.
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