Zone 6 · Citrus Growing Guide

When to Plant Orange (Navel)
in Zone 6

Classic seedless eating orange. Needs warm days, cool nights, and a long growing season to develop sweetness. Washington Navel is most widely grown. Harvest Dec–Apr for peak flavour.

Plant outdoors
Container only
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~Apr 1
Days to harvest
1–2 years to first harvest
Difficulty
Medium
Growing — Zone 6
Harvest window: Container: variable

Planting Calendar

In Zone 6, Orange (Navel) should be planted outdoors Container only, after the average last frost date of approximately Apr 1.

Container only in Zone 6. Hardy varieties like Calamondin in very sheltered spots.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 8–10 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
144–216 inches
Soil
Well-draining, slightly acidic
Days to maturity
1–2 years to first harvest
Soil pH
5.5–6.5
plant tip · Zone 6

Container only in Zone 6. Hardy varieties like Calamondin in very sheltered spots.

Feeding Schedule

How often
3 times a year
Feed type
citrus feed
Key timing
spring, summer, and autumn

Citrus feed with added magnesium and trace elements. Yellowing leaves often indicate magnesium or iron deficiency rather than nitrogen.

Companion Planting for Orange (Navel)

What you plant next to orange (navel) makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Lavender
  • Marigolds
  • Comfrey
Keep away from
  • Grass beneath

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Common questions

In Zone 6, direct sow orange (navel) outdoors Container only after your last frost date of approximately Apr 1. Container only in Zone 6. Hardy varieties like Calamondin in very sheltered spots.
Zone 6 has an average last spring frost of approximately Apr 1 and a first fall frost around Oct 31. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for orange (navel) include Lavender, Marigolds, Comfrey. Avoid planting near Grass beneath, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Orange (Navel) typically takes 1–2 years to first harvest from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 6. Expected harvest window: Container: variable.

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Orange (Navel) in other zones
Trees & Shrubs