The trees of our gardens do have their seasonal rituals. Right now the blood orange tree in my garden is celebrating Christmas and The New Year with its many golden-red orbicular ornaments of blood oranges.
 
That tree has a history; it is a work of art. I have moved it to different locations in the yard in twenty years because blood oranges need optimum heat and sunlight in order to thrive. Now, it is up against a south wall of the house where it gets reflected heat all year.
 
In the summer, heat encourages vegetative growth and profuse blossoming. And, in the winter, blood oranges need low temperatures (30’s and 40’s) to develop their tart, fruity taste that some describe as a combination of pomegranate and orange. Blood oranges contain more vitamin C than any other citrus, and the anthocyanins which produce the red color are a potent anti-oxidant.
 
Here are some sure fire tips for growing blood oranges and other citrus. First, they require a sunny, well-ventilated place to grow. Second, mulching the root area out to and a little beyond the drip line of the leaves is essential. A three to five inch deep mulch protects and feeds the tiny surface roots that all citrus have. Hard, clay surfaced earth causes the tree to suffer and get chlorotic, a yellowing of the leaves.
  Sanguinello oranges

  Sanguinello oranges

 
Third, I fertilize my citrus with very small, regular increments of a balanced citrus mix fertilizer. Do this every two months except from December to March. Fourth, water citrus regularly. Do not allow the mulch or the deep roots to dry out. If your tree is planted in well draining earth, there will not be a problem with over watering. Finally, wash down the tree and its leaves often with vibrant showerings of water. This is the most important discovery I have made from long experience of growing citrus. Water sprayings wash off dust and toxins. Leaves actually absorb vigor–moisture, nutrients.
 
The leaves become turgid and fleshy looking, and this is why commercial, nutrient foliage sprays produce magical results in waning, chlorotic citrus. Chlorosis is a condition caused by the lack of trace elements, mostly iron, and bad clay earth.
If you’ve got old nails, sprinkle them in the mulch. The purist know-it-alls of the past used to make fun of this. Now, they inform us that there is scientific proof that rusting nails help prevent chlorosis. Observant gardeners knew it all along.
 
My blood orange is a “Moro” of almost black, deep red flesh and a rind that blushes red. It originated near Lentini in the Province of Syracusa. My tree has always borne bigger and better fruits if I cull the early, numerous, tiny, fruits; this year I’ve big oranges.
Tarocco” is the sweetest blood orange and one of the world’s most popular. You see it on the hillsides of Mt. Etna, and it does well here in California. The flesh is red-streaked, and thus it is called a “half-breed” blood orange.
And, “Sanguinello”, which was discovered in Spain in 1929, is of tender flesh, few seeds, and is a late “full-blood orange”, and the fruits can last on the tree till May.
 
These blood oranges grow well in parts of California, of course, and in Arizona and Texas. They are a good garden choice because they grow slowly and don’t take over.
My princely “Moro” is a center piece, laden with opulent, rich jewels. It is a symbol of seasonal celebration. 

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