Do you usually eat oranges throughout the year? Do you know what the orange season is? If you are a lover of this citrus at any time of the year, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the harvest and the valencia orange season, since, without a doubt, there is a special time to eat them and taste their flavor and good quality.
In Spain, the geographical area par excellence where the cultivation and harvesting of oranges is most common and of the best quality is Valencia. It has a Mediterranean climate that we can say is fairly constant all year round, but there are also alterations as is the case throughout the peninsula. It is a rather humid climate due to the influence of the sea and the average temperatures are around 17ºC with warm summers and mild winters. Temperatures rarely drop below 10ºC.
Taking into account these weather factors, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the valencia orange season, are you ready? Keep reading!
When does the Valencian orange season start in Spain?
We can say that the Valencian orange season in Spain lasts nine months of the year, but with this, we do not mean that the orange trees are for nine months bearing fruit. Due to there are different varieties of oranges, each one is harvested in a month, but within this nine-month period.
Normally, the orange season in Valencia runs from October or November until the end of June or July, depending on the climatological factors, such as rains, storms, heat, etc.
Another important factor that must be taken into account when talking about the harvest of oranges is the growing area, since depending on the variety of orange you have and depending on the area where you are, it may start in October and last until the end of January, or it begins in January until April.
When do oranges ripen?
Knowing when oranges ripen is essential for any farmer who is specifically dedicated to the cultivation of this citrus fruit. They have to know the right point of maturation of the fruit to be able to collect it to make sure that, when it reaches your hands, it has all its essence and flavor.
In Cítricos Siscaret, we have more than 30 hectares dedicated to the cultivation of orange trees located in the Valencian community. Our farmers take care of each and every one of our orange trees and later will be in charge of selecting the best oranges so you can enjoy them at your table.
Do all varieties of oranges ripen at the same time? The answer to this question is no, each variety of orange has its time of collection as we mentioned at the beginning of this post, so, when buying oranges of one type or another, we have to know if that variety is within its orange season or not, because the taste will not be the same whether it has been picked earlier or later. We will tell you how to know if orange is in season or not!
How to know if an orange is in season?
As we have mentioned before, the collection has to be carried out within the orange season depending on the variety that we want to consume. Therefore, we are going to tell you what you must take into account to know if the orange is in season or not:
- The degree of acidity of the orange. It will be one of the keys that will tell us if the citrus has been picked sooner or later.
- The sweet taste of the orange. It will be another indicator that will help us to know whether or not that orange belongs to the orange season.
- The juice that you can extract from an orange. This is another determining factor that will help you to know if the oranges are or are not in season, since in some cases we find oranges that do not have much juice and others that have a lot. The reason for this difference is the moment in which it was collected.
What is the collection date for each orange variety?
As you already know, each variety of orange has its collection month, and we are going to make you a small summary for months, so you can know which varieties of oranges are collected in the nine months that the season lasts.
November to March
In this collection period, we can say that the orange variety that is most common to find is the Navelina orange since it is one of the earliest varieties to ripen. Depending on the weather conditions, the collection can be extended until March.
On the other hand, Salustian oranges, better known as juice oranges, are harvested at the end of December.
From March to June
In March, the Blood orange season begins. They have a reddish color inside and outside, with a very peculiar acid flavor. Its best season to eat is between February and May.
From January until May, it is time for Lane-Late and Navel-Late oranges, two varieties of oranges that are very similar between them. They are characterized by the fact that they are smaller than common oranges and sometimes look like tangerines.
In June, it is the turn of the well-known Valencian-Late orange, which is characterized by having a sweet taste and the possibility to make good juices with them. Sometimes, the Valencian orange harvest can vary depending on the climate, but the most common is to collect it at the end of May or the beginning of June, which is when they reach maturity and are ready to be eaten.
From July to September
The orange season does not usually match with the summer months, but this does not mean that you cannot eat oranges in July, August, and September. The only thing that you need to keep in mind during this situation is that when you go to buy oranges during the summer, they may not be from Spanish harvests.
You will know this by the flavor and by the size, since, if you are used to eating a certain variety of orange, it is possible that, when you try others, you will notice that they are not the same.
After reading this post, you know more about the oranges season. If you have any questions or want to place an order for quality oranges of Valencian origin, get in touch with us. We offer you the best product at the best market price and without intermediaries. Trust Citrus Siscaret!
