When to Plant Orange in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide

Plant September to November. Right now in September you can plant.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Orange guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Orange

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Classic backyard citrus. Sweet oranges need more heat than lemons for sweetness development. Coastal Melbourne oranges are noticeably more tart than those from Mildura or the Riverland. Navel oranges (seedless, eating) and Valencia oranges (juicing, summer fruit) are the main types. Trees are medium-sized, attractive, and productive for decades. Grafted onto appropriate rootstock.

Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - - P P P -

P = Planting window

Plant spring with irrigation.

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How to Grow Orange in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia

When to Plant

Plant spring with irrigation.

Soil
Well-drained, slightly acidic. Same requirements as other citrus.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun, minimum 6-8 hours. More heat = sweeter fruit.

Companion plants: Nasturtium, Comfrey, Marigold

Avoid planting near: Grass right to trunk

Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Orange

Recommended Varieties

  • Washington Navel
  • Valencia
  • Lane Late
  • Cara Cara

Key Challenges

  • Water dependent

Pro Tips

  • Commercial orange country (Mildura, Riverland, Sunraysia, Griffith).
  • Hot days + cool nights = outstanding sweet fruit.
  • The best oranges in Australia come from irrigated arid zones.

Harvesting Orange

When ready: Full orange colour (some green at stem end is normal). Taste test. Sweetness develops with time on tree. Navel oranges ripen faster than Valencia.

How to harvest: Cut with secateurs or twist-pull.

Where to next

What orange costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the arid and semi-arid zone this September: Ginger, Chilli Peppers, Lemongrass and Beetroot.

The pest most likely to find your orange: Possums (Common Brushtail, Ringtail).

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $2.27/kg (12-month range: $1.33–$3.99)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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Common Questions About Orange

When do you plant orange in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.