Growing Oranges for Money

Growing oranges for money may seem to be a daunting task and indeed the art of starting an orange farm requires patience and a basic knowledge in planting and maintaining orange trees.

To help you in this journey, here is a short introduction and some basic information in growing oranges.

orange tree

Growing oranges for money requires patience and knowledge in the basic skill needed for planting, cultivating and maintaining orange trees. Certain factors need to be taken into consideration before growing orange trees and starting an orange farm. Not only growing oranges take years to bear fruit, the right kind of soil, climate and irrigation must be observed for optimum results. To give you an idea of what to expect in growing, here is a brief introduction of the basic process in starting an orange farm.

The first thing to consider in planning an orange farm is the climate. Most citrus trees require a tropical or warm climate. The same goes true for oranges as orange trees tend to die during the cold season. It is thus vital to find a location where the climate is tropical or subtropical. Finding the proper kind of soil is also one of the key factors in planting orange trees. These trees must be planted in soil with good surface and internal drainage. Surface drainage means the ability of the soil to prevent water from staying around the tree whereas internal drainage is the ability of the soil to absorb water downwards. This is important as orange trees should not be soaked in water. To test if the soil has proper drainage, dig a hole one to two meters deep and see if the water drains after 24 to 36 hours. Also make sure that the acidity level of the soil is not more than six to eight ph.

It is also very important to consider the natural landscape of the land area you are considering in starting your orange farm. The landscape, slope, wind direction, and sun exposure are only a few things to consider in spacing your orange trees. The space between trees and rows are important in terms of absorption of sunlight, water, air and easy access of labor and equipment.

There are varied ways of planting these trees. The preferred way is the use of seeds but this takes years before it bears fruit. Plant the seeds where the soil has already been mixed with compost and organic material. Make sure that the area gets much sunlight and water. Put mulch to conserve water. Water the young tree two to three times in its first week and once or twice in the succeeding weeks. It is important to keep the area of the orange trees free from weed for their continued growth and healthy development.
 

53 Comments

  • bosiu said on June 16, 2009
    is it possible for oranges to survive, even if they do not nourish, in very cold or very hot (4 to 35 degrees Celsius) conditions?
  • Samuel Hardy said on October 23, 2010
    I currently live in Texas but I am originally from Liberia west Africa and is looking to start a mixed farm of oranges, grapefruit, tangerine and bananas on 200 acres of land. Any suggestions. ps help
  • rabgyel said on November 26, 2010
    at the moment I'm working in the gov.sooner or later i shall superannuate and work in my farm possibly in the southern belt. So what could be the better option to look for...
  • ngeno kibet juius said on February 27, 2011
    I have 2 acre land ready to plant orange. I am a kenya living in the lower part of kericho. So what could better option to obtain seedlings
  • ramki said on October 30, 2011
    i have 2 acre land sand soil at visakhapatnam,i want to know is my land is suitable to grow orange plantation are not.
  • ndiege joseph said on November 2, 2011
    I have an one acre piece of land in siaya kenya. if I invest in orange farming can it give returns? the area is hot with loamy soil. how many trees will be viable?
  • Anthony Lankipan said on March 7, 2012
    very informative site, best regards, i am Anthony living in nakuru-kenya. got 1 acre ready for planting oranges, where do i get quality south African tree seedlings/
  • Debesto Mahate said on March 28, 2012
    Am interested in setting up an orange farm in a 20 acres land in Botswana.Please help me with important factors to consider.
  • Debesto Mahate said on March 28, 2012
    Help me with necessary equipment for orange production.
  • evelyn said on August 1, 2012
    I have planted 100 orange trees and i have noticed that about fifty are growing well but the other fifty do not look healthy even though i give them same amount of water. What fertilizers can i use? how often?
  • joseph mongi said on February 16, 2013
    Hi! Am living in Tanzania dodoma, I have a farm planning to grow oranges and mangoes, but I do not know the space between the orange trees in the farm. Can you help me please? Thanks.
  • amit said on March 13, 2013
    i've orange farm around 2000 trees. every year we have around or sell our oranges at about 30 lakhs, we sell it to some vendor. but i wish to start up my own business with my oranges. please suggest some business ideas.
  • kyeyune said on April 12, 2013
    Dear sir/Madam , Greetings to you from Uganda east Africa ,my name is kyeyune Charles am a farmer and today i come across your website after a examining your work i picked interest in in the nature of your work. I want to inquire from you about how i would start up an orange growing farm on my land here in Uganda. Since you have been in the field what type and species of better commercial oranges i need to grow here and i would like to have contact addresses of the farming projects in east Africa and south Africa and central Africa that grow oranges because soon i would like to make a tour their farms . looking forward to hearing from you soon. kind regards , kyeyune c., tel contact +256 0782 628649. Email address; charkso@yahoo.co.uk
  • samuel Musembi Nduku said on April 20, 2013
    I have 5 acres land in lower eastern part of Embu County, Can i Succeed if join orange farming Need your advice
  • Thomas M.Nzesi. said on May 9, 2013
    I have 5 acres farm and want to start Orange farming. I would like to learn more on how to manage the farm. My farm is located in Makueni County, Kenya.
  • victor kitaka-0722990609 said on May 31, 2013
    i am from makueni county and i grow oranges and mangoes at a large scale. am looking for market of ks.30 and above per kilo of oranges. mangoes ks..8 per piece. please help. i can get 8000 kilogrames of oranges per season and 10000 pieces of mangoes. farmers in makueni are badly exploited by brokers who pretend to be business people. please assist urgently.
  • Anguria J Patrick said on June 16, 2013
    I have just started growing oranges and mangoes 300 & 100 respectively. I have 6 acres on which I plan to grow as many more orange and mango trees and I would like to get a way of having these trees irrigated throughout the year can you advise on what equipment/technology I can use and how to acquire it. I COME FROM Kumi district in Uganda where it is literally dry for more than half the year hence no fruits at that time. I will be grateful for good assistance.
  • Thomas M.Nzesi. said on August 15, 2013
    I am interested in starting orange farm. I am in Makueni County, Mbooni East District, Kisau Division, Kisau Location. Kindly advice.
  • mwebesa herbert said on August 27, 2013
    I have already started an orange farm 3 acres but am planning to add more 3 acres, but am looking for money to buy equipments for irrigating bse our exp rain shortages in a year.I am in Uganda country,Kampala city,Kamwenge district,Mahyoro sub county.
  • David Juma said on November 12, 2013
    I have a 2 acre piece of land in Ugunja Location, Siaya county, Kenya near a river. I want to start an orange orchard in the farm. please inform me where I can purchase grafted seedlings
  • john muli said on January 19, 2014
    Hi my name is john muli i have two acre land in kwale shimbahills. i would like to know the best orange farming practice.
  • Edward irarak phil said on February 6, 2014
    Its a resourceful site. i have an acre of land but its filled up with some tree weeds, is it suitable 4 thr farm
  • KENNEDY said on February 14, 2014
    I'm a Kenyan citizen, I wish to put in use a 300 acres family land in the north rift at the Kenya-Uganda border. I therefore wish to invite willing investors to make this dream a reality. Conduct. +254721303422 or kibetk75@yahoo.com
  • Thomas Disii said on February 20, 2014
    Hi my name Is Thomas. I just bought a 3 acre of land in taveta kenya, I would like to plant orange ,lemon,limes and apple mangos trees, please advise me what kind of soil test I have to go through before planting and which type of orange,lime and lemon will grow better in a tropical weather condition
  • Rev. Fred Ssempijja said on March 11, 2014
    I am located in Kamuli, Uganda. I have five acres of land where I intend to plant oranges. I really need to know the following things
    How many orange trees do I have to plant in an acre?
    Will I be able to get market for the produce when harvest comes?
    How much money can I expect in an acre?
    How can I get a cheaper irrigation system such that even in a dry season I would still not be affected?
    I will be glad if I get the answers to the above questions. Yours faithfully,
    Rev. Fred Ssempijja.
  • Manoj Malkhede said on April 26, 2014
    Am interested in setting up an orange /Anar farm in a 10 acres land in chandrapur dist. maharashtra state. Please advise me to proceed further.
  • Kirsty Richardson said on April 28, 2014
    Hi, I hope you can help me. We have a field of approximately x150 well established Ortanique orange trees  (in Valencia - Spain) and would like advice on how to care for them for the maximum fruit yield. They have previously been cared for by a farmer who sold them commercially, however we will be taking this on from this year. Our neighbors and friends are happy to give advice, but I haven't found anything definitive on the internet as we will be doing this ourselves from now onwards. Ideally it would be fantastic to have some kind of timetable of tasks to follow through the year (ie April - fertilize and cut back, May - spray with bug spray etc etc) - a blow by blow, step by step guide with instructions. Do you know where I can get this advice or if it even exists? Many thanks in advance, Kirsty
  • Placcy Murita said on May 24, 2014
    This was a good tip for me. I am planning a 5 acre orange garden as part of my orchard in Western Uganda , Isingiro District 15 miles from Mbarara the regional city! I need advice on how to go about it. Do you know the nearest right institute or company from which I can get advice, seeds, inputs or I can get the advice online!
  • k.José mark said on June 17, 2014
    hello there thanx 2dis info.site.Please advise on what fertilizers and seedlings to suit on my 3 acre land, then the spacings and the number Orange trees on each acre. Also Where i can find the fertilizers/seedplants and advice in my country uganda. I'll be grateful on receiving your kind advise before i start, thanks.
  • richard okoth said on August 20, 2014
    i have started an orange farm in siaya district can you please advice on watering and pesticides, fertilizers having to hear from you thanks for the support
  • nzamo daka said on November 7, 2014
    I have a 10 acres in Zambia planning to grow oranges for business usually oranges grown in Zambia are not sweet advice how I can go about it to have a good fruit
  • SAMMY GITONGA said on November 17, 2014
    I am kenyan living at the coast region. Able to supply oranges in tones to any part of the country and outside the country too. Orange type (msasa). contact me via +254726006498 texting or by calling or email me at sammyngare@ymail.com incase of any demand or incase you have the knowledge of the markets.
  • ndereba said on January 10, 2015
    can the orange do well in chuka region
  • Odong Samuel Tokwiny said on February 6, 2015
    I Have Many Orange Seedlings I'm Looking For Market .I Have Good Ochard Of Oranges. Cont 0773232325.
  • patrick wagaba said on March 15, 2015
    how many orange trees can an acre hold and how much does it cost to plant and harvest an acre. how much can 1 get from one acre
  • samson kamau said on March 17, 2015
    Hi am from kenya in makueni county please advise on spacing of orange trees. I would like also to know whether orange trees produces fruits throughout the year when irrigated all the year round. cont; 0718830154
  • peter mpogole said on March 28, 2015
    My orange farm is in Tanga region Tanzania. I have started to harvest some oranges on 7 acres out a 20 acre farm. The remaining 13 acres have young healthy still growing orange trees. First of all i would like to have your assistance on where to get a reliable market for my oranges and the harvest season is march and september of every year. secondly I would like to have your advise on how best to keep my farm for better results(harvest). Thirdly i still have area for expansion for my farm what type of oranges do u recommend i should plant? kindly advise me. peter mpogole
  • Twite Daniel said on May 10, 2015
    I come from Kamuli district Uganda. I would like to know the following about orange growing; Best variety in terms of market availability. Recommended spacing Yield per acre per harvest, Time to maturity, How many harvesting seasons exist after maturity. Thank you in advance.
  • LEVY MUNDI said on June 10, 2015
    Dear Sir/Madam, I from Zambia, Kitwe just aquired a farm with a portion of some Oranges, but they seem to be infected. Kindly advise whether it will be worthy teating them and how? Thank you Levy
  • Steve Ngari said on August 10, 2015
    I have a two acre farm at Makueni County. a place called Kalamba. I have seen Orange tree doing well here. I would like to do a professional job in orange farming. kindly advice me on the premium variety for the area, and what it would take and the projected income.
  • Mersi said on September 6, 2015
    Hi, I need more information on orange farming in Nanyuki. Please get in touch on email. Thanks in advance.
  • Sandie Chitatu said on January 12, 2016
    I grow oranges in Zambia . I have 800 plus trees but the challenge I have are fruit flies which devastate my yields . Please advise.
  • emmanuel mariga said on January 24, 2016
    hi am emmanuel from western part of kenya in busia county i have an ambition of doing agribusiness in oranges and mangoes plantation in my 1/2 an an acre. But i dont know which breeds could be suitable to produce high yield in this geographical area of warm and wet climate. pliz i need your help before commencing on the project next yr if God wishes ,thank for the support.
  • Paul Nderitu said on May 17, 2016
    i am Paul Nderitu from Kenya nyeri karatina ( central Kenya). want to be an Orange farmer please advice on the best variety and how to do good farming practices, diseases and pest control methods.thanks.
  • morris muthoka musyoki said on August 8, 2016
    i have this vision, need advice in caring the orange trees.
  • Anthony said on May 28, 2017
    I would like to know how I can get scion from the south African Orange not the green one st Kenya Thika.
  • Anthony said on May 28, 2017
    I want to graft my lemon tree with Orange scion from south Africa. I'm at Kenya Thika the sweet Orange with red colour not green like here
  • falayi kayode emmanuel said on July 11, 2017
    Am from Nigeria and I wish to start orange farm so I need someone to put me true. Or partner with somebody in farming
  • Angaine lekishon said on July 29, 2017
    I'm Angaine lekishon, from sultan hamud, kajiado county. I have two acres of land and need to plant orange trees. Please advise me the best variety or varieties and how to get.
  • maate kake edson said on September 9, 2017
    We really appreciate the few tips given, i would like more elaboration on banana, orange and sugarcane planting
  • Siakalangu December said on April 10, 2018
    I have grafted orange seedlings and lemon seedlings in zimbabwe my number is +263 772 731 722 or +263 714 050 520 email is summersetinv@gmail.com
  • samuel said on January 28, 2021
    Byaruhanga Samuel. I come from Kiryandongo district Uganda, I would like to the know the types/varieties of oranges which can grow in this area well.
  • Samuel Lumenyo said on September 30, 2021
    I am Samuel Lumenyo from Taita Taveta ( Taita County, Kenya). Want to be an Orange farmer? Please advise on the best variety and how to do good farming practices, diseases, and pest control methods. Thanks.

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