In this blog, we have previously discussed orange cultivation. The truth is that Sanguinelli oranges are cultivated in the same way as any other orange, but what differs is the variety. There are different groups and varieties of oranges, and the Sanguinelli belongs to its own group: Blood Oranges. To learn more about them, we visited María Jesús's field. It's a field with one hundred orange trees, carefully tended in a traditional way by her, who has lovingly and diligently cared for her trees for ten years.
Orange trees, like other trees, must be grafted to bear fruit. This means that we have a tree that we call a rootstock, border, or pattern, and a tree with a specific variety. The rootstock tree must be grafted with the variety to produce fruit with certain characteristics. In this blog article, we answer all possible questions you may have about why it is useful to graft trees.
But returning to Sanguinelli Oranges, also known as Red Oranges or Blood Oranges, for them to grow, first, the rootstock tree must be grafted with the Sanguinelli variety. Then, they need to be cared for like any other orange tree, and finally, they need to be exposed to cold, which is key to achieving their reddish color.
Everything in María Jesús's field looks very well-kept. She hasn't owned it for many years, but she dedicated herself completely to cultivating the best Sanguinelli oranges in the area:
I've dedicated myself to this because I bought a plot of land and I'm dedicating myself to planting and then harvesting what I consider to be the best orange there is. The Sanguinelli has a great flavor, lots of juice, and is good for eating. Also, it's good for people with diabetes or those with high cholesterol because it's not very sugary. Children can also easily suck on it through a small hole and get the juice in optimal conditions, because it hasn't passed through plastic or glass. It's totally natural from the tree.
María Jesús decided to hire an agricultural engineer to advise her on how to take each step correctly and successfully harvest the oranges following a specific plan for her crops:
She created a cultivation, nutrition, and natural fertilization plan for me to grow in my garden. My grandparents were from the countryside, so I consider it the orange of my childhood, the one I like best, and it's the one I grow on this plot.
If there's one thing that's consistent among our fellow farmers at Campos del Abuelo, it's the love for what we do. Indeed, agriculture is very hard work, and if there isn't a passion for the land, it would be almost impossible to do.
In María Jesús's case, she bought her trees when they were three years old and planted them:
I didn't buy small ones or seedlings or anything like that, because that takes a long time, so I went and bought older trees from a nursery and together with two or three experts, we planted, measured the field, and began this rather elaborate process that takes many years.
It's important to be trained to properly care for trees, and the Sanguinelli Orange agriculture did so with regard to pruning:
I took courses with expert people who taught me how and when to prune each type of orange variety. Because it's different to prune a small branch tree that has just been planted, as you have to direct it and give it the optimal orange shape to be able to harvest later.
It's not just about having trees and waiting for them to bear fruit; behind every crop there's work, study, and many hours of digging and hoeing. For example, María Jesús recounts that when there were frosts and the orange trees were still small, she covered her hundred trees one by one. It was a lot of work, but that's how she managed to get the trees to survive and continue their cycle. These are the same trees that today, after ten years of work, give her the best Sanguinelli Oranges in the area.
For María Jesús, the Sanguinelli Orange she cultivates in her fields is suitable for both eating and juicing, and they taste like real oranges: with just the right amount of sweetness and acidity. To conclude, she tells us, at the foot of her orange trees, that everything has been a great learning experience for her:
Look, at first, I dedicated myself to clearing the field by hand; I didn't use tractors or anything, I did it with a hoe, and then I started training myself in the types of field instruments, but all by hand. And then, when the land was clear, I started by planting simple things: pumpkins, vegetables, then fruit trees, and varying a bit there. I realized how difficult it is for fruit trees to take root and thrive, for example, lemon trees, which need a lot of water. It has been such a great learning experience, you know? You have to observe everything.
The area where she has her oranges is ideal because it has the most important factor for cultivating Sanguinelli Oranges: temperature changes. This is what gives this variety of orange its reddish color, when it transitions from hot to cold. First, the peel pigments, and then it expands until it reaches the pulp.
Nature is surprising. This orange came about through what is called a spontaneous mutation, that is, naturally. And from there, it began to be cultivated regularly. Its season begins in mid-March, although some start harvesting in late February. In the case of María Jesús's field, the harvest begins in March, until there are no more oranges left on the trees.
And nature not only surprises with the fruits it provides, but also with how it impacts human beings. To conclude, María Jesús tells us:
This work with the trees and the earth has saved me from stress, from anxiety, from medication. I don't regret what I've done. I've spent many hours in the field. I've even forgotten to come down to eat lunch or dinner. There's nothing like nature, and it's a bit magical, because at first I didn't have water, and until they gave it to me, rainwater was fine, because the land was also very good. I've truly been very lucky to be able to do this, you know? Nature is healing.
For today, we're done; María Jesús's experience with her Sanguinelli Oranges is inspiring. There's always time to do what you love. Especially when the fruits are healthy products.
Remember that at Campos del Abuelo, you can build your box with fruits and vegetables starting from one kilo. You place the order, we harvest it, and send it with all the freshness and flavor of the countryside.
Until next time, and thank you very much for reading!
