Sorry - this is in-ground, the trees look to be 10 years old (guessing of course). Don't know the variety. They are in my town which is near the SF Bay in Sunset zone 17.

Looks like the Nitrogen To phosphorous ratio isn't balanced which would result in thick peels and less fruit

To much Nitrogen= Thick Peel and less juicy
To much phousporus = Thin Peel and more juicy

If these are navels, and the cut one does seem to have a navel, they wouldn't be ripe now anyway. Navels ripen in late winter/very early spring. They will turn yellow/orange way before they're sweet.

Why are they cutting off the green ones now also?

I'm not sure why she has the thick pith though. That does seem odd, unless they're from a root stock branch? Cuban Shaddock rootstock has thick pith, but I don't think it has a navel. Very odd.

Serge, the first question - why is she picking the fruit, now? If the fruit was ripe in April, she needs to wait until NEXT April to pick ripe fruit. Oranges ripen once a year, either navel or Valencias. If it is a navel orange, fruit will be ripe in the winter (Nov-Jan), but do hang on the tree very well. So, if this is a navel orange tree, your neighbor needs to wait until they are ripe. However, the odd thickness of the skin makes me suspect that she has a rootstock branch going on. She needs to look at her tree very carefully, and examine that branch to see where it is emanating from. If it is coming from below the graft, then she'll need to prune/saw it off.

Patty S.

Would a rootstock branch explain the off season fruit?

Duplicate post

This post was edited by serge94501 on Tue, Aug 12, 14 at 5:03

Yes, most definitely, Serge. Your neighbor needs to check that branch out carefully, and follow it's origin back to the trunk. If it is emanating from below the graft line, or, coming up straight from the ground, she needs to remove it.

Patty S.