Even now..its "only in soucal" on those tropical fruit websites where I learned zero. Don't listen to them,bay area, Even bay area people on those websites are afraid to disagree,or, do believe them.

How far is said tree from your home? I would certainly try to graft from the tree, unless it's outlawed in CA now. I wouldn't think there would be a problem growing orange trees. But maybe getting them to ripen is another matter? But as you get away from the coast the summer temps get much warmer don't they?

CA kate nailed it...

If the tree is grafted to Seville sour it will taste a lot better.

Steve

There has been a huge amount of development in the Bay Area. This has probably been affecting temperatures, with all the buildings giving off heat and paved surfaces. The Bay Area today is nothing like it was in the 1950s.

I think there was some thread a while back about people who were managing to grow mango trees in the Bay Area.

Not to mention we did not have any huge temperature drop events on the West Coast this winter.

I was told by Olivia,the owner, that its a Navel Orange. I'm telling you they are big,sweet,and juicy. I had bought in Oranges won't grow *sweet here..how stupid of me!..I love oranges more now than ever in my sort of old age..ha.

"Navels need the long hot summers of southern California's Imperial Valley to be sweet"...WRONG!

Somewhere in my messy memory-file I seem to remember that citrus need the winter cold at the end to be sweeter and develope good flavor. I might be mis-remembering, but it sounds logical.

CA Kate is right. My "book learning" taught us that the central valley of CA grew great oranges due to the fog and cool winters. Citrus, especially oranges, love that. I would think the bay area would mimic those conditions (without the freezes). There are so many new varieties of oranges out there (especially on flying dragon root stock--which keeps them small and better for picking fruit).

Four Winds has all sorts of citrus and they are located in Santa Cruz valley. They also are certified so ordering citrus from them is legal (have to watch out for the psyllid--we don't want that spread). It is a nasty, nasty bug!