Types of oranges
In the markets and supermarkets of our country, you can see Moroccan, Turkish, Spanish, Egyptian and citrus oranges from Abkhazia. There are different types of oranges, the most popular are the harvest ones with sweet and large fruits. Some varieties are great for home cultivation.
Types of oranges
General information about varieties
Orange varieties are divided according to two criteria - ripening speed and their characteristics.
According to the first classification, early, mid-early and late orange varieties are distinguished. According to the second classification, the following varieties are distinguished:
- orange (light), ordinary (oval) and umbilical;
- red (red).
The light oval orange species are characterized by light yellow seed fruits. Umbilical (navel) instead of seeds have a small fruit inside, because of which their top protrudes above the surface and looks like a navel.
The inner part of the red orange sorts. Citruses are usually small, firm and sour.
Oval varieties
Oval varieties are grown commercially on plantations in Spain and Morocco.
They are characterized by high productivity and good commercial qualities. Fruits are medium to large in size, most often they have a sweet and sour taste.
The most popular varieties of oranges:
- Gamlin - ripens quickly, has an even yellow zest, is well transported and stored for a long time; suitable for growing in a room.
- Verna is a late Spanish species, medium-sized fruits with few seeds, elongated, sweet and juicy core;
- Salustiana is a popular species for industrial cultivation. The peel of the spherical, slightly flattened fruit is yellow, easily separated from the sweet pulp.
The listed varieties of orange are suitable for making juices, jams, sauces, pralines, raw consumption.
Umbilical varieties
The branches of the umbilical citrus trees are covered with thorns.
Citrus fruits with an umbilical outgrowth are usually large in size, with a dense orange peel. The taste of umbilical fruits is sweet with a slight sourness. The pulp and zest have a bright citrus aroma.
Umbilical varieties have a sweet taste
Types of navel oranges:
- Washington Navel. Bright orange fruits of American origin, grow well on the territory of the Caucasus, are of great economic importance. Fruits are medium in size and sweet. Small seeds The variety is suitable for home cultivation.
- Guided Late. Ripens late, fruits are stored for a long time without losing external and internal qualities.
- Thomson Navel. Round oranges with a large outgrowth, thin porous skin of light orange color. The pulp of oranges is fibrous and has little juice.
- Navelina. Small citrus fruits ripen early and are usually ovoid, with orange peel and loose flesh.
- Kara-Kara Navel. A natural mutant of the Washington Navel variety found in Venezuela.The flesh is pomegranate or ruby in color and the skin has a golden sheen. Improved palatability compared to the original variety.
- Bonanza. According to the description of the variety, it is a short, late plant. Citruses are yellow-orange, sweet and sour in taste, covered with a rough skin.
- Valencia. Export product, grown mainly in Spain. The oranges are thin, bright orange with red spots, the flesh is moderately juicy and sweet.
Umbilical oranges are mostly consumed fresh and are ideal for juicing.
Citrus citrus
The blood-red color of the citrus peel and flesh comes from anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants. The red varieties came to us from Sicily, they are natural mutants of the ordinary orange species.
Blood orange trees are stunted and have an elongated crown. Fruits are usually small, round, slightly ribbed, the peel is thin and poorly separated from the fleshy core, ripens late. Oranges smell good and have an unusual sweet and sour taste, and contain few seeds.
The most popular varieties of bloody citrus fruits are Tarocco, Moro, Sanguinello. Moro has a bright aroma with berry, raspberry notes. Tarocco is cultivated in Italy. Citrus fruits are juicy, contain a high concentration of vitamin C.
Varieties for growing at home
Citrus lovers grow them on their own at home. Among oranges, the most popular are Markheulsky, Pavlovsky, Aranzio, variegated (variegated) varieties.
Markheul Citrus is a dwarf variety of the Washington Navel cultivar. Low trees are covered with soft thorns, oval dark green leaves. The plant bears fruit regularly. According to the description, the fruit is heavy, bright orange, sweet in taste. Pavlovsky variety is also undersized, the best option for indoor cultivation. The fruits of this species are sweet, orange in color, and medium in size.
Variety Arantia has an unusual pinkish core, a high content of the antioxidant lycopene. The plant, with proper care, bears fruit all year round. The Aranzio variety is a variegated citrus.
Unusual varieties
Among oranges, there are endemic varieties that grow only in a certain area. These include the African endemic cherry orange. It produces small, reddish fruits that taste like tangerine. This unique plant is used for food, medicines are prepared from it.
Hybrid Japanese kumquat, Chinese Meyer lemon are sold in supermarkets at a high price. The fruits are widely used in cooking. A plant is grown from a seed at home.
Conclusion
Today, breeders around the world continue to develop new varieties of oranges. The orange fruit is delicious and juicy, and the flowering of the tree is aesthetic pleasure.