How to Grow Tarocco Orange

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Tarocco Orange

Citrus sinensis 'Tarocco'

fruit

Tarocco is a blood orange cultivar prized for its deep red flesh, rich flavor, and seedless or few-seeded characteristics. This Italian heirloom variety produces medium to large fruits with exceptional sweetness and a distinctive raspberry-like undertone. It's one of the most commercially important blood orange varieties worldwide.

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Example Tarocco Orange timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Tarocco Orange
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Tarocco Orange
Late summer into fall

Before the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Tarocco Orange dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, minimum 8 hours daily; 10+ hours optimal for fruit quality and color

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Water: Deep, consistent watering during growing season; 1-2 inches weekly in dry periods. Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Reduce watering in winter. Drought-tolerant once established but fruit production suffers without adequate moisture.

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Spacing: 240 inches

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Days to maturity: 1095

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Planting depth: Plant at same depth as root ball; do not bury graft union

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy to sandy loam soil

pH: 6.0-7.5

Amendments:

Compost Citrus-specific fertilizer with micronutrients Aged manure Sulfur if pH is too high

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 9-11; requires warm climates with cool winters for optimal color development

9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b

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Growth Stages

Establishment

1-2 years

Young tree focuses on root and branch development with limited flowering and fruiting

Water regularly and deeply. Stake if necessary. Avoid heavy pruning. Remove early flowers to redirect energy to growth.

Vegetative Growth

1-2 years

Continued canopy development with increasing branch structure and leaf mass

Maintain consistent watering and nutrition. Light pruning to shape tree. Monitor for pests and diseases.

Flowering

3-4 weeks

Small fragrant white blossoms appear primarily in spring (March-May in Northern Hemisphere), with potential minor flushes in summer

Ensure adequate potassium and phosphorus. Do not over-fertilize with nitrogen. Maintain consistent soil moisture during bloom.

Fruit Development

6-8 months

Small green fruits form and gradually enlarge over 6-8 months; color transition begins in late fall through winter

Thin fruit if overcrowded (space 4-6 inches apart) for larger individual fruits. Apply micronutrients (zinc, iron) if needed. Maintain even watering.

Ripening & Harvest

2-3 months

Fruit develops deep red interior color and orange-red exterior; peak sugar content and flavor develop in winter months

Blood oranges develop best color in cooler winter temperatures. Fruits can hang on tree after ripening. Hold ripe fruits on tree to deepen color and flavor.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Tangerine Lemon Lime Grapefruit Avocado Citrus cover crops (clover, vetch) Chives Garlic

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Walnut trees Brassicas planted directly at tree base Other aggressive root competitors

Common Pests

Prune affected leaves, apply neem oil or spinosad spray in spring, maintain tree vigor
Prune heavily infested branches, apply horticultural oil spray in dormant season, introduce parasitic wasps
Remove affected shoots, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil, maintain good tree health, monitor closely
Increase humidity with irrigation, spray with water to dislodge, apply neem oil in severe cases
Prune affected foliage, apply yellow sticky traps, spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil

Uses

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Fresh juice and beverages

Culinary

Tarocco oranges are exceptional for fresh-squeezed juice with vibrant ruby color and exceptional flavor balance of sweetness, acidity, and subtle berry notes. The distinctive taste makes them prized for premium juice blends and specialty beverages. [source]

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Table fruit and desserts

Culinary

The seedless or near-seedless nature and beautiful red flesh make them perfect for eating fresh, fruit salads, and dessert garnishes. Pairs excellently with chocolate, vanilla, and citrus-based pastries. [source]

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Marmalade and preserves

Culinary

The complex flavor profile and firm pulp make Tarocco exceptional for marmalades, jams, and specialty preserves with a distinctive color and taste. [source]

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Antioxidant-rich nutrition

Medicinal

Blood oranges are rich in anthocyanins, vitamin C, and antioxidants that support immune function and cardiovascular health. The high antioxidant content exceeds that of regular oranges. [source]

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Aromatherapy and fragrance

Household

The zest and peel emit a distinctive complex aroma useful in natural air freshening, essential oils, and culinary fragrance applications. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Tarocco oranges typically begin producing fruit 3-4 years after planting. Fruits ripen December through April in the Northern Hemisphere; harvest when fully colored and firm. Taste-test to confirm sweetness—they do not fully ripen off the tree. Gently twist fruits while supporting the branch, or use pruning shears. Fruits can remain on tree for 4-6 weeks after ripening. Leave 1-2 inches of stem attached. Peak flavor occurs in mid-winter (January-February).

Fun Facts

🌱 Tarocco oranges develop their distinctive deep red flesh color through anthocyanin pigments, which are usually found in darker fruits like berries—this pigmentation intensifies with cooler winter temperatures, making mid-winter the peak season.
🌱 The distinctive raspberry or wine-like flavor note in Tarocco oranges is unique among blood orange varieties and has made them the most prized cultivar in Sicily's Sicilian Blood Orange PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) region since the 1950s.
🌱 Tarocco trees are naturally grafted onto rootstocks for disease resistance and vigor; the graft union should never be buried as this can cause the scion to develop its own roots, reducing vigor and disease resistance.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Cultivar Full Sun Heirloom pH

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