Grow your own grapefruit tree with these essential tips.
An easy-care and long-lived backyard tree, a grapefruit tree(Citrusxparadisi)is prized for its productivity.
Ripening in October through January, grapefruit becomes sweeter as it remains on the tree.
Credit:Doug Hetherington
Here’s how to plant and grow your own grapefruit tree.
Citrus is plagued by a widespread and incurable bacterial disease called Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening.
Disease-free plant material is essential for fruit production.
Where to Plant a Grapefruit Tree
Grapefruit grows best in full sun.Direct sunlight is essentialfor fruit set.
Choose a planting location that has at least eight hours of direct sunlight a day.
Bare-root treesshould be planted in February or March.
Dig a planting holeas large as the young root ball of the tree.
Backfill the planting hole with native soil.
This basin will capture water when the tree is young and deliver it to the plants root zone.
Water a newly planted grapefruit tree regularly for about two months.
Grapefruit trees grow in part shade, but fruiting is reduced significantly.
Soil and Water
Grapefruit trees thrive in loose,well-drained soil.
They languish in heavy soil, such as clay.
The best soil for grapefruit trees is somewhat sandy in texture and with the ability to clump when moist.
Choose a planting spot with fast-draining soil for a long-lived tree.
Water during extended dry spells as needed.
Mature grapefruit trees rarely need supplemental watering.
Temperature and Humidity
Hardy inZones 9 to 11, grapefruit trees are sensitive to freezing temperatures.
A freeze likely eliminates fruit buds for the following season and kills entire branches of the tree.
Mature trees are nearly impossible to protect from a freeze.
A healthy grapefruit tree thrives with humidity at a minimum of 50%.
Fertilizer
Young grapefruit trees benefit from fertilization, but it is not essential.
Most grapefruit trees planted in the home landscape source their nutrient needs from the surrounding soil.
Pruning
Easy-care grapefruit trees do not need regular pruning.
Only prune to remove broken, crossing, or diseased branches as soon as you notice them.
The container should be at least twice the height and width of the tree’s rootball.
Position the container outdoors in full sun and water it regularly.
Repotting of the tree only becomes necessary when the tree outgrows its container in about four to five years.
Transplant the tree into a container about 2 inches larger than the current one.
Fill it with fresh potting soil.
Pests and Problems
The most significant threat to grapefruit treesand all citrus treesis Huanglongbing (HLB).
An incurable bacterial disease, HLB has been responsible for the death of millions of citrus trees since 2005.
The best defense is to purchase disease-free plants from a reputable nursery.
Most of these are controlled with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Make the cut beneath a leaf node.
Remove all foliage except the top two leaves.
Dip the cutting in rooting hormone and insert it halfway into a pot filled with sand.
Water the pot and put a plastic cover or bag over it.
Place it in a shady area and mist it three times a week until new growth appears.
Note that many grapefruit tree cultivars are trademarked or patented and it isillegal to propagate them.
Identify the variety of your tree before attempting to propagate it.
Harvesting
Grapefruit maturity varies by variety.
Some varieties are ready to be harvested as early as October, while others ripen in January.
In fact, grapefruit become sweeter the longer they are on the tree.
The fruit can stay on the tree until May.
‘Pink Marsh’
CitrusxparadisiPink Marsh has pink flesh and ripens in December.
It is seedless and juicy.
‘Rio Red’
CitrusxparadisiRio Red is known for its large fruit and deep crimson flesh.
It has few seeds and ripens in November.
Frequently Asked Questions
A grapefruit tree can be grown indoors but it is unlikely to produce fruit.
For fruit production, it needs to be kept outside in a frost-free arm climate year-round.
It takes about five years after planting a young tree until it produces its first fruit.
The initial harvest is often modest.
With proper care, expect a good harvest from the sixth or seventh year onwards.
Grapefruit trees are self-pollinating and a single grapefruit tree will produce fruit.
