Originally Posted by
teddybear99
How many different trees did you try to get oranges from? If it is an abandoned grove, you may want to try a few trees more to the center. When I had Valencia Oranges prior to the Citrus Canker destruction by the State, there were sweet and sour oranges coming off my tree. I believed it was because of cross pollination as I had a Key Lime as well as a Ruby Red Grapefruit tree within 100 feet of the Valencia Orange.
The grove was abandoned in the 70’s. I suspect that wind damage removed the sweet Orange grafts and the sour orange rootstock thrived thereafter. As I understand it, sour orange rootstock is used because it produces a hardier, more cold resistant tree. If the hurricanes of the past destroyed the tree above the graft line, then the rootstock will regrow and produce sour oranges.
I can get a little deeper and remove fruit from more trees to see what I come up with. Four oranges yielded enough juice for me to make a mojo marinade and I have some pork shoulder in the fridge to try it on. I’ll marinate it overnight and toss it in the crockpot tomorrow. No big loss if it doesn’t work out.