How to Grow Grapefruit Trees

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

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

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

[baldtwinky]

on 3/7/2009 i have a greatfruit tree in my back yard that brings me concern.it has a greenish fungus growing all over the branches.being the frist time involved with this situation i find myself very ignorant to the fact as weather this is normal or if not what to do about it and how.also the leaves are crinkeling up and turning yellow.my landlord has entrusted me to take care of this tree and i would like to do just that but i need the proper information in order to do that.I NEED HELP!!

[treelover]

on 1/29/2009 i planted a grapefruit about 2 years ago land lord wont let me plant it what should i do

[timjones1042]

on 11/7/2008 Planted a grapefruit tree here in Phoenix 2 years ago, has grown rapidly but as yet have seen no flowers and therefore no fruit. Is this normal? If not what am I not doing? Water weekly and put citrus fertilizer spikes in every 6 months.

[juliebrame]

on 10/30/2008 PLEASE HELP
My florida red grapefruit tree is now 18 months old and 4ft high. I live in UK and my tree sits on a window sill in full sun. It has now reached the top of the window-what should I do now? I don't think it would survive the winter outside. Should I pinch out the top to make it bush? If so, when should I do this? Will it ever fruit?
Thanks,
[e-mail]
julie, Suffolk, England

[abbeysheldon]

on 2/25/2008 what does it mean if the leaves start falling off after picking the fruit?