Japanese Bitter Orange

This Bitter Orange tree produces aromatic orange fruits that are highly prized for marmalades and for cooking. They are sourer and smaller than a traditional orange but are kept in a very similar way.

Orange trees although not native to this country do surprisingly well in the UK. They do best outdoors in a bright sunny spot, that is sheltered from strong winds, for most of the year, however, they are not hardy so will need to be brought inside for the coldest months of the year, aim to keep them above 5 degrees Celsius with as much direct light as possible.

Citrus are best kept in small pots here in the UK so they are best potted on every other year and only go up one pot size at a time, the best month to pot your citrus on is in May.

Citrus will need to be monitored regularly, it is best not to have them on a routine water as they must be allowed to dry right out between watering. In the hottest part of summer this could be every other day, through winter it could be as little as once every 1 – 4 weeks. Always wait until the topsoil is bone dry, remove the pot from the outer pot cover. Water thoroughly from the top until excess water drains right through the pot and out of the bottom. Never leave your plant sitting in water.

From March until the end of September, citrus trees will benefit from summer citrus fertiliser every week to encourage growth. From October until the end of February, we use the winter citrus fertiliser every time we water.

To get the most flavoursome fruit, leave the orange fruits on the tree until they are bright orange and there is a bit of give when you squeeze the fruit. Traditionally bitter oranges ripen in January, but you may find that they ripen outside their normal season when keeping them inside.

Problem solving

Citrus trees are not the easiest of plants but they are very rewarding. Look out for signs of trouble and try to treat problems early. The most common problem is leaves dropping due to over or underwatering. If the leaves drop in mass overnight, this is due to underwatering; if they are dropping gradually over time, your plant is telling you it is getting too much water.

If new growth is very light in colour or has mottled markings your plant may be lacking trace elements. A good dose of citrus feed should soon green up the leaves. To buy our specialist citrus feed visit here.

Our citrus trees are grown in a pesticide free environment. In the unlikely event that you find pests, e.g. aphids, these can be removed by hand or with a soap and water spray. Check our recommended organic plant pest treatment for other pests here.

For more detailed information on citrus tree care, watering and problem solving visit here.