How to Grow Grapefruit Trees

Knowing how to water, fertilize and care for grapefruit trees ensures healthy, handsome trees and a sweet harvest.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Compost Makers
• Fertilizers
• Garden Hoses
• Mulch
• Plants
• Shovels

1. Purchase a grapefruit variety adapted to your area. To produce sweet fruit, most grapefruit need very hot summers, such as those found in Florida, Texas and the California and Arizona deserts.
2. Plant in a warm, sunny area where the soil drains well. If you plant near a south-facing wall or next to a large expanse of concrete, reflected heat will be maximized around the tree and will help sweeten fruit.
3. Water deeply once every 7 to 10 days in midsummer (newly planted grapefruit may need more frequent watering until established). Water less often if it rains or if the weather is cool.
4. Apply 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch to conserve moisture.
5. Fertilize every four to six weeks from February to August.
6. Protect trees from frost if temperatures are forecast to drop below 28 degrees F.
7. Harvest grapefruits when they taste sweet enough. Timing will vary by variety and growing area.

Tips & Warnings

• Rio Red and Flame are popular red-fleshed grapefruit varieties. Oroblanco and Marsh are good white-fleshed varieties.
• In areas where summers are not hot, plant Oroblanco or Melogold grapefruit hybrids, which produce sweet fruit even in milder climates.
• If your grapefruits don't "sweeten up," leave them on the tree longer. They may get better with time.
• Leave a few inches of bare soil between the trunk of the tree and the mulch. This will help keep the trunk dry, preventing some diseases.

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