I have an orange tree in my backyard -- it was near death when I moved here and this year finally has a large fruit set. It set one fruit last year, which I thought was navel by ripening date and flavor, but navel end wasn't obvious -- so I assumed it was Valencia.

If Valencia, I assumed they would start ripening by March in my area, at the very soonest. However, they are full, softening, and were starting to drop two weeks ago -- Yesterday I pulled off 5 of the softer oranges and they were mildly tart, but sweet enough for me eat (i.e. not like my Wash Navel). They juiced just fine w/a small bit of sugar. NONE had seeds. Skin wasn't overly thin or thick (not thick like Wash, but not thin like clementine mand).

How can I differentiate between a Trovita and Valencia (seedless) or do I have a new sport on my hands ;-) : by fruit (shape, rind, seeds, cling past one season) or leaf (petiole, blossom, thorns, etc). Perhaps do only Valencias re-green?

So you think this is likely Trovita? The oranges are cut in half (both ways) and it peeled easily, just like my navels. They still aren't sweet enough yet.

Also, this is the 1st year the tree has produced since I revived it (starting many years back). I picked these off the tree since they were the larger ones, which on our other trees is not uncommon for the rind to be so thick for the "overgrowns" in our area.

So you think this is likely Trovita?

The oranges are cut in half (both ways) and it peeled easily, just like my navels. They still aren't sweet enough yet.

Also, this is the 1st year the tree has produced since I revived it (starting many years back). I picked these off the tree since they were the larger ones, which on our other trees is not uncommon for the rind to be so thick for the "overgrowns" in our area.

Is this a Trovita?

TIA

Put it as optional link also.

Unless there is (another) Navel sport that doesn't have a prominent navel/double fruit end? Or vice versa, a type of Valencia that has a thicker rind and easy to peel.

I opened a few and only one was sweet, the others were more acidic. Looks like the tree retained a few too many, since I discovered a few branches hanging over my neighbors fence with LOTS of small ones.

Remember this tree looked like dead sticks many years ago, I didn't know what it was, but after nursing it back to health, this is the first year it has produced a crop. The branches are still few, scraggly and it's a quite bit under-leaved IMO. By next year it should be great.

Thanks for taking the time to view and reply.