Blood oranges are a variety of oranges that have a crimson color on their flesh. This is almost as dark as blood which is why people often refer to the fruit as blood orange. You should note that the distinctive color of the fruits is usually due to the high presence of anthocyanins in them. The main reason why these are loved by people is because of the high amount of nutrients present in the fruit. These also have a delicious flavor which makes them healthy as well as tasty.
Tons of users think about planting them in their gardens so that they can directly eat the fruit after harvesting it. Though, you should note that there are also tons of problems that you can run into with blood oranges. When it comes to this, a common question that is often asked is “Why is my blood orange not red?”. If you are getting the same problem with your fruits, then going through this article should help you in finding some reasons behind it. We will also provide you with solutions that can be used to get rid of your problems.
Blood Orange Not Red
- You Might Be Growing Tarocco Oranges
When growing fruits like oranges in your garden, people should understand that there have several varieties that you can choose from. Depending on which one you decide to grow, the characteristics of the plant and fruit can greatly vary. Talking about this, blood oranges themselves have three varieties that people can select from.
One of these is known as the Sanguinello oranges which have a deep full-blood color on them. These are the fruits that most people decide to grow because of their crimson color. Though, another variety that can be planted is Tarocco. These are mostly found in Italy, but the fruit has been quickly spreading to other regions as well.
The main reason behind it is that Tarocco blood oranges are the sweetest variety of oranges that can be harvested. These also have the highest quantity of vitamin C which makes them quite healthy. You should understand that the color of these fruits is half-blood which means that they don’t have the same dark crimson color as other varieties.
Considering this, if you are growing these in your garden then that might be the reason behind the dull color. Most people should easily be able to confirm this by eating the fruit but if you are still having trouble distinguishing it then observe the fruit. Tarocco blood oranges are seedless which helps in easily telling them apart from other varieties.
- Temperatures You Are Keeping Your Blood Oranges In
Another reason why the color of your blood oranges might not be as dark can be that they are not planted in the correct spot. The temperatures around these fruits play a huge role in how their color will be. You should understand that blood oranges form their dark red shade during the night.
However, this is only possible when the temperatures around your plant are cold. In most cases, the color is formed during autumn and winter nights. The cold temperatures help the oranges in forming a dark shade on their flesh which makes them look beautiful.
Keeping this information in mind, you can easily check if your harvest is getting the same temperatures required. If they aren’t then that might be the main reason behind your problem. Simply changing the position of your blood oranges should allow you to fix the issue.
- Using Fertilizers On Your Blood Oranges
If you are still getting the same issue with your blood oranges, then adding fertilizers is a great solution. Keep in mind that the amount of water and sunlight they are getting also plays a huge role in how the fruits will grow. As long as these two requirements are met, fertilizers are not required.
Although, if water and sunlight are not enough to keep the flesh of your oranges, red, then the only solution that you have is to find a reliable brand for fertilizers. Make sure that you pour them on your fruits every month for consistent results. You should also ensure that the soil is kept moist so that the fruits can easily consume the nutrients from it.