When to Plant Orange Seeds

Germination

• Seeds need to germinate before beginning to grow. This process can occur in the ground, but some growers do it prior to planting. This can be performed by moistening the seeds in a plastic bag and leaving it inside a refrigerator. The seeds are planted approximately 30 days after beginning germination. The seed sprouts when germination is complete, giving a visual clue. If you plant an orange seed without pre-germinating, it does not sprout for about three to four weeks after planting. Keep this in mind when determining when to plant.

Tropical Climates and Greenhouses

• The best place to grow orange trees is in a tropical climate or greenhouse, where the temperature is above freezing all year round. You can plant orange trees all year inside greenhouses or in many tropical areas. Due to the lack of a freezing cycle, when you plant the seed is not a relevant factor for survival and growth. The one exception is in tropical areas with storm seasons. Young orange trees are easily ripped out and killed in high winds compared to older, larger trees. If the seed must be planted outdoors in this case, plant immediately after the storm season has ended. This gives the most possible time for the orange tree to grow before being subjected to high winds.

Non-Tropical Climates

• It is possible to grow orange trees in non-tropical climates. This requires wrapping or covering the tree to insulate it from freezing temperatures. This is easiest in areas with short, mild winters that do not maintain freezing temperatures for long periods of time. The best time to plant in this case is as soon as the low temperature is consistently above freezing. An orange tree sprout has almost no chance of surviving freezing temperatures outdoors, so you want to maximize the amount of time it can grow before it is subjected to freezing temperatures.

Transplanting

• Orange trees grow too large to be allowed to grow to full size indoors, but can start to grow indoors before being transplanted outside. This is useful for growing orange trees in areas with high winds or occasionally below freezing temperatures. It gives a longer opportunity for the orange tree to grow before being subjected to the elements. The seed should be planted during the spring in this situation. This is because the seed would not get the same amount of sunlight in comparison to being outdoors or in a greenhouse. The extra light from the longer spring and summer days is beneficial. The orange tree should ideally be transplanted at the same time you would plant an orange seed outdoors.