I am wanting to grow an orange plant in a pot. What would be the best for a beginner?

I live in Fort Smith, AR, which is between 6B and 7A, more 7A.

Something that I could possibly put in the ground at some point if possible.

Also a quick fruiting would be nice.

I like the taste of navel oranges, would these work well?

Could I plant the seed from an orange that I have eaten and it produce like tasting fruit?


Thank you in advance.

Mandarins would be the best tasting when grown in pots. Smaller sized and easier to manage also. Just my opinions. There are many types of mandarins. The cold hardy ones are 10 degree tangerine, Juanita, other satsumas such as BC1, BC2 from Bonnie Childers of this forum. Stan Mckenzie, another citrus expert in this forum, would be able to help you out what works best in your area.

But of course, no one should stop you from trying navels or valencias.

Mandarins are tangerines right?

I might need to try and find a Satsumas then.

Most satsumas are great tasting too! You can send PM to Stan McKenzie or Bonnie (buddinman) to ask where you can get one or what works best for your area.

Thank you.

I'm glad that Joe Real mentioned the Juanita Tangerine as one of his suggestions for you to grow as a container tree. Juanita Tangerine is a handsome, easy to grow, hardy citrus variety, that develops a very nice tasting fruit. Juanita is a good tree for a beginner citrus grower to start with. Juanita Tangerines are easily available from Stan McKenzie. - Millet

Millet mentioned that the Juanita is a good, easy cultivar to grow. He is correct (as usual) . I have 2 Juanitas, one on trifoliate rootstock and the other is on thomasville rootstock. For my conditions, the thomasville is a rootstock gives the Juanita more growth per season. Neither of mine have flowered yet...

Greg

Treesearch farms in Houston TX has BC1 and BC2 on Trifoliata and Flying Dragon root stock. If you need phone number or address contact me by private message or E-Mail

i am also trying to grow a in pot tree and would go with one of the suggested fruits, but i have no idea where to find seeds or anything to start it

brassgod please update your profile with your location, it will others help you when asking questions.

Mandarins from Tangiers, Northern Morocco are often called Tangerines. Tangerines are not a horticultural term, rather, marketing term for small mandarin citruses that came from Tangiers. They usually develop deep orange peel color and any mandarins which have such deep orange peel colors were often called tangerines by westerners, especially from UK.

And what is a mandarin? Not any particular group of citrus or species, but by general (many various authors, I have posted some of them in earlier threads) definition, anything bigger than a kumquat and smaller than an orange with an orange peel are called mandarins. Thus tangelos, tangors are often grouped as mandarins if the fruits are generally smaller than oranges on the average. Indio mandarinquat will easily qualify as a mandarin because it is bigger than a kumquat. Limequats could generally fit into this category, were it not for their yellow skin color.

Mandarins also include Clementines and Satsumas. Most clementines originated in Spain while Satsumas originated in Japan. Satsumas are famous for their easy peels.