February 21, 2004
Question: Can you tell me what could have produced this unusual and ugly looking large orange from what appears to be a normal fruiting tree?
- Judy, e-mail
Answer: There is actually a variety of orange that originated in Jamaica known as "Ugly." Since your tree usually produce normal fruits, we can conclude that this is not an "Ugly." This appears to be an off bloom fruit that did not develop normally. Off bloom fruits are produced from blossoms that occur outside the normal flowering season. Fruits from these flowers are almost always normal but an "Ugly" fruit occurs now and again and is not considered an alien.
Stephen Brown is a horticulture agent with the Lee County Extension.
To submit questions call the horticulture desk at 461-7504 between 9 a.m. and 4
p.m. or via e-mail at
shb@mail.ifas.ufl.edu. Listen to the ‘Garden Show’ at 8 a.m. on
1200-AM WINK/WNOG.