The first mandarins of autumn can feel like the opening of the citrus season, but oranges do not all arrive at once. Some cultivars are harvested before Christmas, while others extend the season well into spring. A box ordered in November may contain rather different fruit from one bought in April, even if both are described as Spanish oranges.<\/p>\n
The Spanish orange and mandarin season broadly stretches from autumn into spring, with different cultivars overlapping.<\/strong> The exact timetable varies with growing region and weather. Treat any calendar as a guide to what may be worth looking for, not proof that every citrus fruit sold at that time was grown in Spain.<\/p>\n Early mandarins and clementines begin appearing as the season gets under way, depending on the growing area. Smaller fruit that is easy to peel is particularly convenient for packed lunches and snacks. Flavour can differ noticeably between cultivars and stages of harvest; an easy-peeling mandarin is not automatically the sweetest one available that week.<\/p>\n The name \u201cmandarin\u201d is used across several commercial groups. Clementines, satsumas and various hybrids can differ in peel, acidity, size and seed content. A precise variety name can be useful when the grower provides it, but you do not need to memorise every cultivar to make a sensible purchase.<\/p>\n When ordering a large case early in the season, look for an indication that the variety is an early one and see how the seller describes its flavour. If strong sweetness is your main priority, trying a moderate quantity before committing to a large box may be worthwhile.<\/p>\n As the campaign develops, different cultivars in the Navel group commonly become available. Navelina is relatively early, followed by other eating oranges. These are popular for eating in segments and many have relatively few seeds.<\/p>\n The timing is not perfectly fixed. Temperature, rainfall and the grower’s harvest decisions can shift availability. Different parts of Spain do not ripen at exactly the same pace either. If the origin matters to you, read the stated growing region rather than assuming it from the date.<\/p>\n If you are choosing between oranges for eating and for squeezing, think about how you will use the box. Navel can be juiced, although certain cultivars may develop bitterness if the juice stands. Valencia Late is known for its suitability for squeezing. Our eating versus juicing oranges guide<\/a> explains the practical distinction.<\/p>\n As winter moves towards spring, later-maturing Navel oranges such as Lane Late may take over from earlier cultivars. Juicing varieties can also keep the citrus offer going. Valencia Late is associated with a later season than many early Navels, but actual harvest dates still depend on the local crop.<\/p>\n The mandarin selection shifts as well. Some hybrids can continue to appear after the main harvest of earlier clementines has passed. That does not mean an autumn variety should remain available indefinitely; it may simply be replaced by a later one with different characteristics.<\/p>\n This does not mean every variety is sold throughout the entire season. Weather may move harvest timing by days or weeks. Storage and fruit arriving from other countries can also explain citrus appearing on shelves outside the local picking period.<\/p>\n For a large order, pack size matters alongside season. Compare the price per kilogram and delivery costs, but also the variety, approximate fruit size and expected condition. A ten-kilogram box may suit a family that eats citrus every day while being far too much for someone who has one orange a week.<\/p>\n Mandarins with delicate skins may need particular care during handling. Open the box soon after delivery, inspect the contents and separate damaged pieces. Store the fruit somewhere cool and ventilated; refrigeration can help when you need to keep it for longer.<\/p>\n A Spanish seller may also offer imported fruit, so the country of origin should be clear in the individual listing. The retailer’s business address does not tell you where each mandarin or orange grew. Named varieties and transparent origin information make it easier to compare real offers rather than promises.<\/p>\n In autumn, try early mandarins from the new crop. In winter, compare the Navels actually available. Later, look for clearly identified late-season oranges. The value of the calendar is not in rigid dates but in knowing what is worth searching for now and which details to check before paying<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Shopping seasonally does not guarantee perfect flavour in every fruit, but it helps you understand the succession of cultivars and discover when your favourites return. A retailer that explains those changes makes the calendar a practical buying tool rather than a piece of trivia. For a mixed citrus order, look at the mandarin and orange boxes available<\/a> and confirm their actual origin.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Spanish oranges and mandarins have overlapping but different harvest windows. Find out what to look for from autumn into spring.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18637,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[527,521],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-citricos","category-frutas"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tAutumn opens with early mandarins<\/h2>\n
November through winter brings eating oranges<\/h2>\n
Later varieties extend the season<\/h2>\n
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\n \nStage of the season<\/th>\n What you may find<\/th>\n Why it can be useful<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Autumn<\/td>\n Early mandarins, clementines and some first oranges<\/td>\n Convenient fruit and the start of the local crop<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Winter<\/td>\n Broad selection of Navels and various mandarins<\/td>\n Daily eating, family boxes and home juicing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Spring<\/td>\n Late oranges and selected citrus with extended seasons<\/td>\n Continuing with Spanish citrus where origin is confirmed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Ordering several kilograms changes the equation<\/h2>\n
Making the most of each part of the season<\/h2>\n