We've had one in the ground for about 6 years. Over 6 foot now. Puts out new growth every year. But never a bloom in all this time. None again this year. Is anyone growing blood oranges? Are they slow to produce? I am ready to cut it down.

http://rsigrowers.com/citrus-t...

Reid at RSI Growers may be able to help you.

Thanks Jayne. I registered at their site, and then it says: "As a way to reduce all the unwanted spam, please contact us by e-mail via our community forums.Thanks!" But when I go to the forums it tells me I have to log in (again), but it then tells me someone else has that email address or something to that effect.
I suspect I will have my wife call them instead.

I called him when I wanted to buy some trees from him. He returns calls if you leave a message and if you decide to go there be prepared to spend some time. He is extremely knowledgable and will talk to you for quite some time as he is passionate about tree grafting. The trees I got from him are robust and doing very well.

Good morning Harold.
I have a Sanguinelli blood orange and have been less than impressed with its growth. I've had it for two and half years. First two years it had no growth or flowers.
It now sits on my side yard between two nectarine trees and what do you know.
Its starting to push growth and flower buds.
I'll update in a mnth or two to let you know how its doing and if any of the buds produce an orange.

Hi Harold,
I had one I planted that produced after the first year (85023). Only about 15 -20 oranges, max, per year for the 10 years I lived in the house. Used a lot of homemade compost in the well. I like them for the unique color but not that wild about the taste. I wouldn't plant another in limited space.

Thanks Ray & Susue Ray, you're getting blooms after only 2 1/2 years! That's great. Mine is a Moro.
Susie - I'm surprised yours did not produce very well. We had friends that used to be bring grocery bags off their tree. We mixed the juice with regular oranges.
We'll give him a call and maybe visit. Mapquest shows he is just north of Bell off 59th Avenue - about 13 miles I think.

Mine weren't particularly juicy. Not enough to squeeze for juice. I liked them sliced in salad and in fish salsa with mango etc.

Any updates on everyone's blood oranges?? My parent's and I both have one and was wondering what to expect...

Mine hasnt gorwn much but I do have a huge crop this year.
One orange developing. ;-)

Be advised that blood orange is a very generic term. Theres quite a few varieties, each with its own idiosyncrasies. Some are very productive under the right conditions, but others less so. Also, the 'blood' coloration is dependent on cool weather at maturity. The sensitivity of tree to these cooler temps varies fairly substantially. The grower I bought mine from (in Gilbert) advised 'Ruby' as the cultivar that most reliably develops blood coloration here in PHX. It also is a fairly productive tree. Nothing like a Tangelo or even a Valencia, but still pretty good. I got 5 or so the first year in the ground, and I would expect double that this year. The coloration isnt as strong as 'Moro', but is more reliably blood 'flecked' here with our warm winters. 'Sanguinelli' doesnt color up very well here is what Im told.
HTH,
DD

Yea, I know... My parent's have a Moro, I think, and I don't know what mine is...

I have a Moro that is about 20 years old. Planted it as a 2 ft tall 'stick'! So, no flowers or oranges for about the first 6 years, then we had about a dozen oranges and it was off and running. Mine is on an every other year cycle since it started setting fruit- last year I got a total of 6 oranges. Lovely, huge and very juicy, but only 6! The year before last, I took about 8 large bags to work, shared bags with all my family and neighbors and left the oranges at the very top of the tree for the woodpeckers. This year the tree was white it had so many blooms and while it has gone through its usual fruit drop thinning, it is still covered with oranges.

The oranges to not keep well on the tree, nor when they are picked, was told it is because they have a low acid content. Once picked they need to be eaten within about a week and if left on the tree they will overripen and then the bottom splits open and the juice just drips onto the ground. On the heavy bearing years, I also squeeze the juice and freeze it, since I have so many!

I do recommend the organic orange tree fertilizer from .... Miracle Grow? (Found it at HD). I also found it really does like to be fed 4 times a year and I deep soak it, letting the water slowly dribble out for about 24 hours every 3 weeks once it has bloomed. The fruit is not ripe until Feb/Mar and I have to beat the neighborhood kids off when they want to pick in Dec/Jan, but I think it is well worth it.

Greenfield Citrus Nursery has an orange festival every year and they give alot of excellent information. If you take a ripe orange with you, they usually can tell you what variety it is.

Super, I'll get that fertilizer... the more edibles I grow in my backyard the more important it is to me to use organic methods, since the baby is going to end up eating all of it at some point

I'm @ 5300' is there a blood orange that does well, if protected?

I am not sure Bridgett. Sonoita (one of my favorites places! love birding in Southern AZ) gets pretty cold. I guess it would depend on what well protected would mean. If it gets under about freezing for any length of time, it will die. If you plant it in a moveable pot and could put it in a room or patio, with lights (christmas lights or a couple 100 watt hanging lights are even better) on it at night for warmth, it might be possible. Once it gets big, older and stronger, it might make it outside, if it was covered and had the lights on it.

You never know how far you can push the envelope without trying...

I hope to build a simple green house this summer to over winter a few plants, and start my annuals earlier. There is no reason it couldn't live in there. I'll have o do some research on the varieties and their strengths/weaknesses.

thanks for all of the good information. i think i am going to try one in a large fabric container. now i just need to find a good variety.