Oroblanco tree growing tree of the genus citrus also known as Sweetie is an hybrid between a Grapefruit and Pomelo. Oroblanco tree grow as perennial evergreen with thorn, it can grow in tropical, subtropical or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 10+.
Leaves color is green the shape it’s like two connected leaves one close to the stem and the other connected to the first leaf, the second leaf elliptic with pointed top, the leaf that connected to the stem mostly small but can be in the same size, the shape can be from elliptic to heart shape.
Flowers are white with yellow stamen, size of the 1-3 cm (0.75- 1.2 inch).
Oroblanco fruit
Fruit size ~7-15 cm’ and color is yellow-white or pink, the taste sweet with hint of sour, the inner fruit divided by segments, the segment cover with soft thin layer, it containing the pulp (little cones covered with a thinner layer), rind color is green, yellow, the peel is edible but sometimes little bitter also used as flavor and fragrant.
Oroblanco for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy
Different between Oro blanco tree, Pomelo tree and Grapefruit tree
Hybrid also in the taste and the structure of those fruits, it doesn’t have the bitterness of grapefruits, it is sweet that remind the Pomelo taste without the little bit of taste of grapefruit without the bitter in the end – fruits taste changing by cultivars and remind pomelo or grapefruit depend on the cultivars, the fruits are juicy more like grapefruits but it also different in the cultivars, the white cover of the segment is mostly hard and chewy and like the pomelo and the peel is big.
Different between oroblanco and sweetie:
Same hybrid but different source, the sweetie consider better quality and sweeter
Requirements for growing Sweetie Oroblanco tree:
Better frost free but survive light frost, loamy soil, organic matter, for young trees put mulch to keep the humidity, if the trunk expose to full sun better to whitewash (lime paint)
What is the best way to start growing:
Plant / Seed / Air layer / Cutting
Is it necessary to graft?
Yes, can choose the cultivars that fit, juicy or dry, sweeter, sour or something in between, more than one cultivar, red or white fruits, and more citrus species on the same tree
Difficulties/Problems with growing:
Young tree very sensitive to citrus leaf miner
Planting season:
Spring / Autumn, possible all the year, hardiness zone 10a spring, hardiness zone 10b possible all the year but better in autumn or spring, hardiness zone 11a+ if summer too much hot better not in summer
Pests and diseases:
Citrus leaf miner, aphids, citrus foot rot, ant, citrus gummosis
Pruning season:
End of the winter beginning of the spring (after the fruits)
How to prune:
Dead branch, cross branch, density branch growth – when the tree grow in high density it’s prevent
Size of the plant:
3-6 m, 10-20 feet
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Medium growing
Irrigation water management requirement:
Average amount of water to big amount of water with good drainage, need to increase the amount of water in the fruits season especially when the fruit become bigger if there are rains need to check that it’s enough, if not the fruit will be dry or crack hole.
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun
Is it possible to grow indoor?
No
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes
Blooming information
When does flowers bloom?
Spring / winter
General information about the flower
Flowers are white with yellow stamen
Thinning / Deadheading of the blossom:
The first years until the tree establish should thinning the flowers
Pollination is done by:
Bees
Edible Fruits
When does it yield:
Autumn / Winter
Fruits pests or diseases:
Citrus stubborn disease, citrus black spot, alternaria
What can be done with big quantities of fruits?
Eat, juice, the rind used fragrant, fruit leather, sugary rind
Work requirements on the fruit:
Pick up (sometimes cut branches that grow into the fruit)
How long does it take to bear fruit?
2-3 years
Ripening of fruit
Possible to pick up the fruit before and let them ripening them in the house
How to grow Oro blanco from seeds
Sowing requirement:
Moist soil, hot weather
Saving seeds until sowing:
Dry, dark location in room temperature
Sowing season:
Spring (possible in the autumn)
Planting spacing:
Better in separate pots
Depth of Sowing:
2cm (1inches)
Conditions for seeds germinate:
Don’t let it dry, rich soil and sunny location
Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water
Germination time:
2-4 weeks
Condition of seedling:
If there is Citrus leaf miner in one of the trees in the area better to put it in greenhouse or indoor
Scientific name:
Citrus paradisi x Citrus maxima