Citrus Countdown- #2 of Best Citrus Choices

We are down to my top two citrus choices for Southern California gardens. There is perhaps no other fruit more synonymous with California than the orange, so it seems appropriate that my number two and number one choices are both oranges. However, it is possible these two oranges are unknown to you.

#2- of Top Five Citrus for Southern California- Midnight Valencia

The Valencia orange as we in California know it was developed by a land developer and agronomist named William Wolfskill in Santa Ana, California in the mid nineteenth century. Wolfskill was born in Kentucky, reared in Missouri, and eventually migrated to California in the 1820's. He became a Mexican citizen, and was awarded a large land grant after the Mexican liberation from Spain, and Mexico's seizing from the Catholic church, former mission lands. He was a rancher of sheep and cattle, had large vineyards (he was the largest wine producer in southern California), and developed large tracts of citrus.
                                      

 

During this period citrus were all started from seed. This created a great deal of inconsistency in the fruit. From the same grove, there would be differences of size, color, flavor, and yields. Wolfskill worked at hybridizing to develop a consistent summer orange that was juicy, flavorful, and gave good yields. He named his orange Valencia, after the city in Spain with a reputation for delicious sweet oranges. The city of Valencia in the Santa Clarita valley is named for this orange, and Orange county owes its name to William's sweet summer fruit as well. 

His timing was perfect. When the gold rush hit, he was in the right place at the right time. He sold oranges to markets in San Francisco, which in turn sold them to miners, who needed the vitamin C to prevent scurvy. He made a bundle.

 In 1866, he sold his patented variety to the owners of Irvine ranch...yes, that Irvine. The Irvines planted half of their land holdings with the Valencia orange. They grew well, and eventually became the most popular juicing orange in the United States. The Valencia was exported around the world, and was widely planted in Florida, after a little bit of genetic tweaking. The Valencia is the only variety processed for juice; the navel orange is much drier, and when processed for juice has substances in it which make the juice taste bitter.

The Valencia orange sold at most garden centers are all descendants of this prototypical summer fruit, and they bear fairly well, and are certainly juicy. They have seeds, which is a bit of a drawback. They are not a great orange for eating out of hand, primarily because they are almost impossible to peel; most folks slice them into quarters if they desire to eat them. Most people plant a Valencia to extend their sweet orange harvest into the summer months.

If you already have a Valencia, you are probably happy with it. But if you are considering starting your own citrus, hold the bus. Plant a Midnight Valencia instead. 

Midnight Valencia was first discovered in Addo, East Cape province of South Africa in the 1930's, it is assumed to be a sport of Valencia oranges brought to South Africa as budwood from California. It was a favorite orange in South Africa and in 1985 budwood from this tree was brought back to California, received into the UC Riverside citrus experiment station; therefore a very recent introduction to California growers. 

I received one in 1998 to test as a variety in my canyon-side orchard. At the time I was also growing standard Valencia, Delta Valencia, and Hart's Tardiff Valencia. In time Midnight Valencia became without any doubt whatsoever my favorite of the Valencias, and in fact, became my second favorite citrus variety in my entire orchard. Here are my reasons.

1) The tree is a better grower than standard Valencia. It is hardier than Valencia and Hart's Tardiff, though slightly less vigorous than Delta. It is a shapely, and aesthetically pleasing tree. 

2) It is completely seedless.

3) The fruits are larger, and more shapely than Valencia.

4) It is juicier and sweeter than Valencia. 

5) The flavor is far superior to Valencia. In South Africa, they classify Valencia as having very good flavor, but rate Midknight as excellent. I thoroughly agree.

6) Valencia has a one note flavor, but Midnight has a richer, more complex and interesting taste.

7) It begins to have harvestable fruit 3-4 weeks earlier than Valencia, and extends its season well beyond Valencia. It was not uncommon for me to have oranges available from March to mid October.

8) Color of the interior and exterior of the fruit is much more deeply colored.

9) Bears heavily.

There is one down side, if you are resolute about trying to peel a Midnight Valencia. They are absolutely impossible to peel. The peel adheres to the flesh of the fruit tenaciously. There is no way to remove the peel from the fruit. Just cut them for serving, or juice them.

These terrific trees have historically been a tough find. But recently, they are appearing more and more. In fact, on a trip to Costco in Poway last week there were five I spotted among the citrus varieties offered for $18.00. Buy one from your favorite local garden center. I foresee great things for Midnight. Plant one in your garden.