At Cocalni we have already started the 2024/25 campaign and we have done so with two varieties: Clemenrubí and Orogrós. Today we will talk about the Orogrós variety.
Clementine Orogrós® (ref. AVASA PRI 26) is a novel variety that originated as a spontaneous mutation of the Oronules. Discovered in La Vall d'Uxó, in Castellón (Spain), this clementine is an ideal choice for consumers looking for an early harvest mandarin with an excellent combination of taste, appearance and ease of consumption.
Orogrós tree and fruit characteristics
The Orogrós tree has a moderate growth, with a crown diameter between 2.5 and 3.25 metres. It has a leafy, thornless structure, which makes it easy to handle. The leaves are a characteristic dark green colour and slightly curved downwards. Its fruit, rounded and flattened, has an attractive reddish orange colour and a smooth, easy to peel peel texture. The flesh is firm, seedless (unless cross-pollinated) and with a high juice content, resulting in an excellent balance between acidity and sweetness. With a sugar content between 12-15% and a maturity index of 8-12, it is a very pleasant tasting mandarin with a smooth taste.
Agronomic advantages and sustainability
Orogrós ripens internally ten days earlier than Oronules and its colour change is seven days earlier, which means it can be harvested between 15 September and 10 October, ideal for early growing areas. This fruit does not require hormonal treatments for fruit set, and its high and sustained production reduces the need for thinning, ensuring optimum fruit size with less intervention. The plant should also be grafted onto vigorous rootstocks such as Macrophylla or Volkameriana, and it is recommended to shade the trunk in its early years to minimise the development of multi-bud galls.
Orogrós marketing quality and cultivation recommendations
The Orogrós clementine responds outstandingly to degreening treatments, ensuring an attractive colour in the market. Growers can also use foliar treatments to optimise development without compromising the flesh. In addition, thanks to its juicy, firm flesh, easy peel and balanced acidity, Orogrós is an outstanding choice for consumers who value a high quality, responsibly grown mandarin.
The Orogrós clementine is a superior option both in the market and in cultivation, standing out for its earliness, yield and flavour. With this variety, growers are assured of excellent quality fruit from the first days of the season.
