Delta (summer ripening)

Description

Delta is a South African Valencia-type orange, also known as Delta Seedless, found in 1952 as a dooryard seedling and thought to be of Valencia parentage. It is classed as an early or near-seedless Valencia, effectively bringing the Valencia harvest window forward while keeping true Valencia character. Trees are vigorous and slightly more erect than other Valencias. The fruit is a classic sweet summer orange: bright-skinned, juicy and sweet with very few seeds, ripening in the warmer months when navel oranges are out of season. In New Zealand that makes Delta a Late harvester on the relative orange scale, a genuine summer orange for fresh eating and, above all, juicing, since Valencias are the juicing oranges par excellence. Valencia fruit also holds well on the tree, allowing an extended picking window into early autumn, and keeping quality is good. Grow in full sun with warmth and shelter for best sugar development, in deep free-draining soil with steady water through summer and regular feeding; allow space for a vigorous tree, on standard or semi-dwarf rootstock.