Honeybell oranges, sometimes called Minneola tangelos, are a hybrid mixture of Dancy tangerine and Duncan grapefruit. The resulting fruit has a sweet and sour flavor and is very juicy, making Honeybells a favorite during their short season. Honeybell oranges thrive in U. S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11.
Purchase a budded Honeybell orange tree from a nursery or grower.
Select a warm, sunny spot with well-drained soil and plenty of room for tree growth. Clear the planting site of all weeds, grass and other vegetation that might compete with the tree for nutrients.
Dig a hole that is as deep as the growing container and twice as wide. Gently remove the tree from its container. Unwind any spiraling roots, and loosen them gently.
Plant the tree in the hole so that the top of the container soil is at ground level. Fill in around the tree with native soil. Press down the soil around the tree, and water it thoroughly.
Create a watering ring around the outside of the hole using the remaining soil. Mound the soil into a berm approximately 3 inches high. This helps retain water around the tree so that it can soak into the soil.
Water the tree by filling the area inside the berm with water every other day for two weeks. Increase the time between waterings until you are watering the tree weekly.
Fertilize Honeybell oranges with a citrus formula fertilizer according to package directions. Apply fertilizer in January, May and October. Avoid getting fertilizer on the tree trunk.
Prune Honeybell oranges only as needed for the health of the tree. Remove diseased, damaged and dead branches as they occur. The tree naturally grows in a structurally strong shape.
Watch for spotting and scabs on the leaves and fruit. Honeybells are susceptible to citrus scab and Alternaria brown spot. Take an affected leaf or fruit to your local County Extension office to identify the problem and get advice on controlling these diseases by spraying.
Protect the tree by covering it with blankets or a plastic tarp when temperatures fall below freezing. Cover the tree completely, anchoring the blankets or tarp at ground level. Be sure to vent plastic during the day to prevent overheating the tree.
Things You Will Need
- Citrus formula fertilizer
- Blankets or plastic tarp
- Honeybell oranges require cross-pollination by another citrus tree. If there are no other citrus trees in your neighborhood, you need to plant a second citrus tree for pollination. A mandarin orange or tangerine tree is ideal for pollinating Honeybell oranges.
- Nick White/Digital Vision/Getty Images