How to Grow Seville Orange
Citrus x aurantium
The Seville orange is the classic marmalade orange, producing extremely sour fruit unsuitable for eating raw but prized for preserves, sauces, and in perfumery (neroli oil from the flowers). A larger, thornier tree than sweet orange, hardy to about -5C. In the UK, grow in a large container in a conservatory or very sheltered coastal garden. Needs the same bright light and citrus care as sweet oranges but tolerates slightly more cold. Harvest the short January-February season promptly for marmalade making.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Requirements
Light
Maximum light year-round; full sun in summer
Bright, direct light is essential. Place outdoors in full sun during summer and in the brightest room available over winter. Tolerates slightly more cold than sweet orange.
Watering
Water when top dries; reduce in winter
Water when the top 2cm of compost is dry. Reduce watering significantly in winter. Never let pots sit in water.
Fertilizing
Citrus feed fortnightly spring-autumn
Feed with a specialist citrus fertiliser every 2-4 weeks from spring to autumn. Reduce to monthly in winter.
Pruning
Light spring shaping; remove suckers
Light shaping in spring. Remove dead wood, crossing branches, and suckers below the graft. Thin to maintain an open canopy.
Overwintering
Bright cool room (5-12C) over winter
Bring indoors before first frost to a bright, cool room (5-12C). Slightly hardier than sweet orange but still frost-tender. Ventilate on mild days.
Growing Tips
Harvest window is short
Seville oranges ripen in January-February and the season lasts only 3-4 weeks. Pick promptly and make marmalade immediately or freeze the fruit whole for later use.
Container growing essential in UK
Grow in a large container with free-draining citrus compost. Move outdoors in summer and into a bright conservatory or greenhouse for winter. Tolerates slightly more cold than sweet orange but still frost-tender.
Feed as for sweet orange
Feed fortnightly with specialist citrus fertiliser from spring to autumn. Reduce to monthly in winter. Seville oranges are just as hungry as sweet varieties.
Thorns are serious
Seville orange has long, sharp thorns. Handle with thick gloves and position where the thorns will not catch passers-by.
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 500 cm |
| Row spacing | 600 cm |
| Mature height | 500 cm |
| Mature spread | 400 cm |
Larger and thornier than sweet orange. Semi-dwarf 4-5m apart. In UK, container growing is essential.
