How to Grow Cocktail Grapefruit Trees
Grapefruits are large, tart citrus fruits grown mostly in the sunbelt of Zones 9 and 10. Grapefruits can be classified as red or white, depending on the color of the pulp, and range from sweet to almost bitter. Cocktail grapefruits are specifically a cross between pummelos and mandarin oranges. The foliage of a grapefruit tree is a glossy, deep green, and the fruit, although never released commercially, is popular as a "juice" fruit. Grow this hardy citrus tree in your yard to enjoy the taste of fresh fruit juice at your breakfast table. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Start by choosing a good planting site. Grapefruits and grapefruit hybrids like the cocktail grapefruit require 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day, good drainage and particularly plenty of heat during the growing season for fruit ripening. Since the cocktail grapefruit was first bred and raised in southern California, that temperature is ideal. Choose an elevated site that gets lots of light exposure.
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Purchase cocktail grapefruit seedlings from an approved nursery. Since this is a specialized grapefruit tree, you might need to seek out a specialized nursery. You can also start grapefruits from the seeds you find inside the fruit.
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In California, dig your holes for planting. Make sure the holes are twice as large as the grapefruit tree's root ball, and about 2 feet deep. Once the grapefruit tree is planted, the junction of roots and trunk should be just above the soil surface. If you're planting more than one tree, plant them at 10-foot intervals to prevent interference. In colder areas, plant the tree in a 20-gallon pot using these steps. During harsh winters, bring any citrus tree indoors to protect it from freezing temperatures.
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Supplement your garden soil with compost to give the cocktail grapefruit tree a good start. Use 50% compost to 50% garden soil to fill in the hole over the tree's roots. Pat the soil down firmly around the roots to eliminate any air pockets.
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Water the tree until the soil is moist. Always maintain a good level of moisture, but do not waterlog citrus trees.
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Feed the grapefruit tree once a year with organic fertilizer and calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen supplements. Use zinc, iron and manganese supplements if your soil is deficient in these nutrients. Always follow manufacturer directions when using fertilizer or supplements.
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In fall, prepare an outdoor tree with a strong protection against winter temperatures. Although grapefruits are hardier than some other citrus trees, they should still be protected at temperatures lower than 20 degrees by wind shields or mulch. If you live in an area that gets freezing temperatures in winter, and have therefore planted your cocktail grapefruit tree in a pot, bring the pot indoors for the winter. Citrus trees can survive as "house trees" for a short period of time, or be placed in barns or garden sheds.
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Tips & Warnings
Use cocktail grapefruit to make juice, marmalade or candied peel.
Cocktail grapefruit was hybridized at University of California-Riverside, where it is maintained.
Grapefruits trees, like all citrus trees, can be killed or damaged by frost and cold temperatures.
