Darjeeling Orange

🍊 Darjeeling Orange – Description & Farming Guide

🔍 Darjeeling Orange – Description:

Darjeeling Orange is a traditional mandarin orange variety grown in the hilly regions of Darjeeling (West Bengal), especially in Mirik, Kalimpong, and Kurseong. It’s celebrated for its natural sweetness, thin peel, and distinct mountain-grown aroma. Cultivated under cool and misty conditions, this orange is a seasonal winter delight in the region.

🌟 Key Characteristics:

✅ Darjeeling Orange Farming – Step-by-Step

🏞️ Ideal Conditions:

• Altitude: 1,000 – 2,000 meters above sea level
• Climate: Cool subtropical with moderate rainfall
• Temperature Range: 5°C to 25°C
• Rainfall: 1,500 – 2,000 mm annually
• Sunlight: Partial to full sun; avoid harsh midday sun at high altitudes

🌱 Soil Requirements:

• Type: Well-drained loamy or sandy loam
• pH: 5.5 to 6.5 (slightly acidic)
• Soil should be rich in organic matter and free from waterlogging

📆 Planting Time:

• Best Time: Monsoon (June–August) or early autumn
• Spacing: 5 m × 5 m (approx. 160 trees per acre)
• Use grafted saplings on disease-resistant rootstock for uniform yield

💧 Irrigation:

• Typically rainfed, but supplemental watering is needed in dry periods
• Avoid overwatering, especially during flowering and fruit-setting stages

🌾 Fertilizer & Manure:

Apply organic manure and compost regularly.

• Apply in two splits: post-pruning and before flowering

✂️ Pruning:

• Light pruning after harvest improves airflow and sunlight
• Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches

🐛 Pest & Disease Management:

🍊 Harvest & Yield:

• Fruit Bearing Starts: 3–4 years after planting
• Harvest Season: December to February
• Yield/Tree: 25–40 kg depending on age and care
• Storage Life: 7–10 days in cool, dry storage

📌 Summary Table:

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