Pixie Oranges sometimes known as Citrus reticulata, is a petite, late-season variety in the Rutaceae, or citrus family. The speciality fruit, which is well-known for its sweet and acidic, seedless flesh, enters the season in the late winter while most other citrus kinds are going out of season. Pixie mandarins, commonly referred to as Pixie oranges, were initially made available to producers in the 1960s.
Due to the difficult growing requirements, the fruits were first classified as a home garden variety and were not considered a commercial cultivars. Pixie orange trees alternate-bear, producing significant crops only every other year, and require two to three years to reach fruition. An average of 1 out of 400 blossoms develops into a fruit that can be harvested, and the fruit must mature and endure on the tree for nearly a year before it can be harvested.
Growing Pixie Oranges
Growing pixie oranges may be a very lucrative agricultural endeavour, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The fruit is a hybrid of oranges and tangerines, and it bears fruit after two to three years. The fruit is yellow to orange in colour, seedless, simple to peel, delicious, and packed with nutrients.
Reasons for the Current Boom in Pixie Orange Farming in Kenya
The agribusiness of growing pixie oranges in Kenya has grown more quickly than any other. The apparent causes for this are that it is very profitable. Pixie oranges farming is also favoured by commercial forces. Because they are sweeter and of greater quality than other orange kinds, the demand for these luscious fruits is currently very high. However, as the majority of farmers only recently learned about this kind, there is still a very small supply. That explains why pixie oranges continue to be so expensive even in our neighbourhood grocers. While the international market continues to need the same goods, we have yet to satisfy the domestic market.
Where can pixie oranges be grown in Kenya
Although pixie oranges may grow in a variety of soil conditions, they thrive in regions with fertile, well-drained soil. Soil types with deep sandy loam are ideal there. Due to pixie orange farming, farmers in Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Lamu should already be making millions. The majority of the pixie oranges we eat in Kenya originate from Ukambani because, like all other orange kinds, it thrives in warm or hot climates with low to moderate rainfall. There should be 6 to 8 hours of sunshine per day and temperatures between 10 and 30 °C. Now, regions with such climates as Murang’a, Nyeri, Bungoma, Siaya, and Migori, which were previously unknown for producing any oranges, have gotten into the pixie orange farming business and are succeeding.
Ecological Considerations
• Although they do best in sandy, loamy soils, pixie oranges may grow in a variety of soil types.
• They should be cultivated in deep, fertile, and well-drained soils with a pH range of 6.5-7.3 for best results.
• They do well in arid and semi-arid regions because, like oranges, they thrive in locations with low and moderate rainfall.
• Extremely low or high temperatures can harm the plants. For instance, fruit drops and fruit scarring occur when temperatures rise above 38°C.
• The ideal weather in Kenya for pixie orange farming is warm or hot, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 30°C. To have the best yields, the yearly rainfall has to be at least 1,000 mm, though this can be increased with irrigation. The fruit grows well between sea level and a height of roughly 2100 meters.
How to Plant Pixie Oranges
The bud grafting technique is the most recommended and is used to graft mature and aggressively growing pixie trees with lemon rootstocks to create good pixie orange trees.
Once the rootstocks reach a thickness of a pencil, they are prepared for grafting. Grafting can be done on lemon seedlings that have been prepared in seedling bags or on rootstocks (lemon seedlings) that have been transplanted into a field.
Pixie orange trees have wide-spreading branches and quick growth. For this reason, planting the trees with a 4x5m spacing is ideal. 200 pixie oranges trees can be produced on an acre. The distance between each tree should be 4 meters, and the distance between each line should be 5 meters. East-West should be the direction of the lines. This enables the maximum amount of sunlight to penetrate, particularly during flowering and fruiting.
The planting holes should be dug carefully, measuring 2 feet wide by 2 feet long, with a depth of 2 feet. Many places have topsoil on the first foot and differing bottom soil on the other half. The topsoil is used during planting. Refill the hole with a mixture of topsoil and decomposed manure, leaving only around 10 cm of depth. Additional manure and irrigation water are to be stored in this area.
Do not give up if you live somewhere with clay or black cotton soil. Just a small amount of fine sand needs to be added to the soil and manure mixture during this preparation. Your trees will thrive as a result of better internal soil drainage.
Weeding
Pixie orange orchards ought to be weed-free. Weed growth is reduced by mulching and growing cover crops.
PESTS AND DISEASES
Pests
Pixie oranges are frequently attacked by mites, bark-eating caterpillars, mealybugs, aphids, leaf miners, and fruit flies, to name a few.
Diseases
The pixie orange is susceptible to Gummosis, Collar Rot, Twig Blight, and Damping-off diseases.
• Gummosis must be managed by removing the dark, infected bark and a buffer strip of healthy, light brown to greenish bark from around the edges of the infection, letting the exposed region dry up, and then checking back every few months and repeating the process periodically.
• For the treatment of collar rot disease, one can apply copper fungicides to the base of the trunk to prevent collar rots as well as foliar sprays of phosphorous acid to protect lower fruit from spores in water splashed from the soil after blooming and the main leaf flushes.
• Dumping off Most frequently is caused by Phytophthora spp. and Rhizoctonia solani spp. They are favoured by the soil’s high moisture content. Avoiding infected soils and overwatering will help you control damping off effectively.
If the soils lack some nutrients, pests and diseases might become more severe. Soil testing is essential before planting to make the appropriate adjustments. It’s also a good idea to run the tests again after a while, perhaps after a year.
Grafted types are more tolerant of some diseases and pests. Chemical control should be used in severe situations.
Possible Pixie Oranges Health Benefits
Reduced risk of breast and liver cancer is one of the health advantages of the minerals in pixie oranges. Fruit fibres aid in removing harmful cholesterol from the intestines. Additionally, it promotes healthy blood pressure, prevents colds, strengthens the immune system, keeps skin looking young and radiant, and speeds up the healing of wounds.
Ways you can prepare Pixie Oranges
The flavour of pixie oranges is sweet and acidic, making them suitable for cooking as well as eating raw. The fruits are simple to peel, and frequently eaten as snacks, and the sliced pieces can be added to salads or combined with other fruits in fruit bowls. Pixie oranges can also be blended into smoothies for extra sweetness or used as a fresh topping over yoghurt, cereal bowls, pastries, and tarts. The fruit juice is regularly combined with other fluids to make marinades, syrups, jams, and sauces. The juice and rind are also used to flavour gelato, cakes, pastries, and muffins. Pixie oranges go well with foods like pork, chicken, fish, and other seafood, and herbs like mint, basil, and rosemary as well as fruits like strawberries, bananas, blueberries, honey, broccoli, and fennel. In the refrigerator, a fresh Pixie orange will stay for two to three weeks.
Where to sell Pixie Oranges in Kenya
The main markets for pixie oranges in Kenya right now are supermarkets and grocery stores. This market is already very large and still needs more of these delicious fruits. Pixie oranges appear to be a fruit for the wealthy because a kilo of them can sell for up to Kshs 200 at retail. We are unable to discuss the exporting businesses at this time, who are always looking for fruit and charging up to Ksh150 at the farm gate.
Potential Market for Pixie Oranges
Pixie oranges sell in the domestic, urban, and international markets. One acre of Pixie orange cultivation can bring in up to 1.2 million Kenyan shillings annually, making it an extremely profitable endeavour. At the farm, these fruits are often sold for 80 Kshs per kg. A well-kept tree may produce 60 kilos of fruit annually, and 270 of these trees can be found on a single hectare. A goblin farm would cost approximately 150,000 Kshs to start once. You simply need roughly Kshs 100,000 from this start-up money to initially pay for labour and seedlings. Over time, more of the remainder is required as it is used to maintain the garden by preventing pest problems and providing necessary watering. For the next 20 to 30 years after it is founded, the farm will bring in money for you every year.