• • How are oranges grown?

Although farmers start some crops with seeds, farmers grow orange crops in a different way. Growers start by planting young grafted trees.

A grafted tree is made of two trees. The farmer takes a part of one young tree and attaches it to the roots of another young tree. The trees grow together to make a stronger tree. A grafted tree also produces fruit that is better than the fruit of an ungrafted tree. The grafted trees start producing oranges after about 2 years.

Development of an Orange Tree

A grafted tree ready to be planted

grafting scar

A young orange tree

bud

A mature orange tree

fruit

When the oranges are ripe, farmers harvest the fruit. Most farmers pick oranges by hand. Then they take the oranges to a storage area.

Farmers sell almost half of the harvested oranges to people who make orange juice. They also sell oranges to people who make perfumes, oils, jams, and candies. Some oranges go directly to a market where you can buy them.

Review

• 1. Check Your Understanding Why do farmers graft orange trees?

• 2. Check Your Understanding What are some of the ways that people use oranges?

• 3. Vocabulary Follow these 3 steps to draw and label a sunflower:

  • Step 1 Draw the stem and leaves.

  • Step 2 Draw the flower head.

  • Step 3 Add these labels: stem, leaf, flower.