I bought a Washington Naval orange about 28 years ago. The oranges have always had thick skins, getting thicker by the year! This year the couple of dozen oranges on my 10 foot tree are pretty dry, not sweet, and again have very thick rinds.

I would like to replace it with a sweet orange that won't have these thick rinds. I would love your recommendations.

I have 10 fruit trees in my garden and the orange the Satsuma tangerine are by far my most favorite.

Who would you recommend I order from?

Is it ok to plant it in the same location? If I have to move it, how far from the original location does it need to be?

I do fertilize and water as suggested in the books.

Thank you,

Ginny in San Jose, Ca

It just looks like a deficiency. I can't remember witch one right now, but others will tell you.

You are at the northern edge of citrus production, even though there are areas north of you that produce citrus. I am wondering if your tree is getting enough light? Too much shade? Like Sylvain says a deficiency of some sort, probably. charlie

Could be phosphorus deficiency.
What kind of fertilizer do you use and how often?

Although the tree backs up to a fence (not much sun from that side anyway) the tree gets all day sun.

I have always used a citrus fertilizer.

Ginny

I try very hard to do everything "right" in my garden. I know that doesn't always happen, but not for lack of wanting to.

Last winter I read a lot about fertilizing citrus and when to apply it. I can't remember exactly what I did, but probably 3 applications; one in late winter, early and late spring or early summer. I know not to fertilize in the fall due to cold temps coming.

Interestingly, I did a major goof up last winter and used a fertilizer without micronutrients. When I asked my master gardener friend what to use to get those micronutrients down she said we had enough in our soil, not to worry.

Another thing I did you may not like was I put a 2-3" layer of wonderful composted horse manure around the tree.

Even with those mistakes, the thick skin issue has been around for more than 15 years.

What do you all fertilize with - brand names are appreciated!!


Ginny

Just a thought, maybe it's not a Washington Navel. Plant get mislabeled quite often.

Check in your local area and see if any one else is having problems growing navel's. If they are having the same problems as you, change the tree. If not, it's something with your tree (location, sun, deficiency, water, mislabeled).

28 years is a long time to waste on a tree. If you can not get it to produce, just re-graft it. You would have a new tree in 2-3 years.


Selkirk

Phosphorus Deficiency. It's the second number in any fertilizer N-P-K.