{"id":11981,"date":"2022-10-01T13:44:28","date_gmt":"2022-10-01T13:44:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=11981"},"modified":"2022-10-02T07:40:02","modified_gmt":"2022-10-02T07:40:02","slug":"how-to-grow-a-grapefruit-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-grow-a-grapefruit-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Grow A Grapefruit Tree {A Simple Guide}"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Grapefruits are sub-tropical to tropical citrus trees, so if you live in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11, then you\u2019re in luck, as growing grapefruits outdoors is possible in your area. They love heat and are a great addition to any yard being evergreen. Even if you don\u2019t live in the perfect location, you can also choose to raise them in pots as attractive houseplants and keep them inside over winter. Let\u2019s learn more about how to grow a grapefruit tree of your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Grow A Grapefruit From A Seed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s possible to grow a grapefruit from seed. First, you\u2019ll need some seeds, but these can simply be taken from a ripe grapefruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several seedless grapefruit varieties so be sure to check when purchasing one from a store. The best solution may be to get some seeds from a friend or from a tree you already have growing on your property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve acquired some seeds, they are fairly easy to sprout and grow into young plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main thing to remember here is that any tree grown from seed will not necessarily have all of the attributes of its parent plant. Like us, they are individuals with their own unique traits that are only similar but not identical to the parent.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

With citrus fruits, the nucellar embryony means that the trees are often more true to type than with many other types of fruit tree, so it can be worth a gamble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commercially, grapefruit trees are generally propagated using bud grafting onto rootstock. There are several benefits to this over growing the trees from seed. Firstly, they are clones of their parent tree and will have all the same traits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, they mature a lot faster and will produce fruit in a few years as compared to seven or many more for seed-grown trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other options are to root some green cuttings taken from a mature tree. Again these will mature more quickly and have the same DNA as the tree they were taken from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because seed-grown trees can vary in quality, it is best to grow as many as you can and then select the strongest specimens to grow on into mature trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Prepare Your Grapefruit Seeds For Planting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unlike many other types of fruit tree seeds, grapefruits don\u2019t require any stratification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where the seeds must be taken down to a cold winter-like temperature for several months to mimic a dormancy period they would naturally have over winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because grapefruits grow in hot climates, their seeds don\u2019t require this stratification process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll need to choose really ripe grapefruits to take your seeds from. Immature fruits mean immature seeds that won\u2019t germinate well, if at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare some small pots or seed trays and make sure they are washed and clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wash the seeds thoroughly and wipe them dry afterwards. Leave them on damp kitchen paper to prevent them from drying out while you prepare everything else for planting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t want to plant them straight away, then allow the seeds to dry and place them into a jar for later use. You\u2019ll need to revive them by soaking them in water for 12 to 24 hours before sowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sowing And Germinating Grapefruit Seeds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although the best time of year to germinate seeds is in early spring, it can be done at any time of year, providing they are kept warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Start by ensuring your chosen pots have some drainage holes<\/strong> in the bottom.<\/li>
  2. Next, open your bag of soil-less potting medium<\/strong>. You can also create your own by mixing equal parts a) sterile garden soil, b) dampened sphagnum peat moss, c) washed all-purpose sand or dampened perlite. All of these ingredients will be readily available from any good garden store.<\/li>
  3. Fill your pots<\/strong> with your potting medium and water thoroughly until saturated, allowing them to drain for a few minutes.<\/li>
  4. Place a couple of seeds in each pot<\/strong>. Place them away from each other and push down so they are an equal distance below the surface of the soil as the length of the seed.<\/li>
  5. Cover the seeds with the soil<\/strong> and place a small plastic bag over each pot secured around the bottom with an elastic band.<\/li>
  6. Place the pots in a warm place<\/strong> or use a grow mat to keep the soil at an evenly warm temperature.<\/li>
  7. Mist the soil to keep it slightly damp every day<\/strong>. Remove the bag and check the moisture level each day. If it is starting to feel dry give the pot a good misting to ensure the water penetrates down to the seedling. The soil needs to stay damp but never wet. Don\u2019t forget to replace the bag afterward. This acts like a mini greenhouse to increase warmth and create some humidity.<\/li>
  8. In around two or three weeks, you should see the first shoots appear<\/strong>. Once the first leaves have unfurled, place the pots close to a sunny south-facing window, but not in direct sunlight.<\/li>
  9. Once the seedlings have grown several inches, transplant them<\/strong> into larger individual pots. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How to Transplant Grapefruit Seedlings Into Larger Pots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Your grapefruit seedlings will take several months to grow large enough to transplant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Use sterile soilless growing medium in three or four-inch pots, or again you can make your own as shown above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ensure you remove the seedlings very carefully from their seed pots or trays and don\u2019t disturb the roots at all, as they will be very delicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Make a large enough hole to take the entire \u201cplug<\/em>\u201d and water thoroughly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Be careful that they are planted to the same depth they were before and that your new pots also have drainage holes in the bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Place them back close to your south-facing window, but this time allow them to receive direct sunlight for around four hours a day. Ideally, the temperature should be between 60 and 70\u00b0F.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Continue to keep the soil moist, but don\u2019t water excessively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Keep repotting your seedlings into slightly larger pots when they grow several inches taller. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After a year, they can safely be taken outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How To Move Your Young Grapefruit Trees Outdoors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    You\u2019ll need to find a bright but sheltered place to put the young trees the following spring. This helps them get used to the fluctuations in the outside temperatures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To begin with, it\u2019s important not to place them in direct sunlight, as this needs to be done gradually a little longer each day after the first week of acclimatization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If there is any chance of cold weather, bring them back inside until it has passed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Feed your trees in the spring by adding some slow-release citrus tree fertilizer to the pots as instructed on the label. Or a small handful of organic compost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Planting Your Grapefruit Seedlings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    By the third year, your seedlings will be ready to plant outside. Note that grapefruits grown from seed are not usually suited for growing in pots as they grow too large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To discover how to plant them take a look at our article on How To Plant A Grapefruit Tree<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How To Grow A Grapefruit From A Cutting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The most common way for grapefruit trees to be propagated is from cuttings taken from a healthy grapefruit tree of the type you want to reproduce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The great thing about growing new trees from cuttings is that they take on the same characteristics as the parent tree, so you know what you\u2019re going to get. This is not always the case with trees grown from seed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Another advantage is that they will mature faster than seed-grown trees making them more attractive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s learn more about how to grow a grapefruit from a cutting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Soil<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Just like growing grapefruits from seeds, you\u2019ll need some soil, and it is the same mixture. Sterilized soil, which you can purchase in a garden store, sphagnum peat moss, and perlite. Sterilized soil is vital as non-sterilized soil can contain pathogens that will infect and kill your cutting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Prepare Your Tools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    First, you\u2019ll need to clean your cutting tool thoroughly. Wash with mild dish soap and water to remove any sticky residue that may be on the blade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Dry it thoroughly, and just prior to cutting, wipe the blade over with a lint-free cotton cloth dipped in a little rubbing alcohol. This ensures the blade is sterile and won\u2019t transmit any disease or fungus to your tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Taking Your Cuttings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The best time to take cuttings is after the tree has flowered and the fruits are just starting to set. This allows you to take cuttings from sections of the tree without any fruit growing on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ensure any branch you select looks healthy and has plenty of leaves along its length. Or, if you\u2019re cutting before leaves appear, there are lots of healthy-looking nodes or buds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The cut should be made at a 45\u00b0 angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Preparing Your Cuttings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If your cutting has leaves, remove all but the top three of them, but ensure to preserve the leaf stems (petioles) on the cutting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can cut the preserved leaves in half. This helps to direct all of the energy into growing roots while still allowing some photosynthesis to take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    5. Pots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    16-inch pots are a good size to start your cuttings. Fill them with your soil mixture and water well so it is good and damp before you put your cutting into the pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    6. Rooting Hormone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    To help your cuttings grow roots, you can use a rooting hormone. This comes in both powder and liquid forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Just before you are ready to plant your cuttings, with a small, sharp-bladed knife, scrape off about an inch of bark directly below the bottom bud or stem. If the bud or stem is further up the cutting, then shorten it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is because the new roots will appear at this point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you have powder, first dip the de-barked end of your cutting immediately in some clean water and then into the rooting powder. Knock off any excess back into the pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you have a liquid rooting hormone, just dip the de-barked end in until it is covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s important to do this as soon as you remove the bark, as the area will immediately begin to oxidize, and if left too long, this will prevent root production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    7. Planting Your Cuttings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In your already prepared pots, use a stick or your finger to make a hole in the middle of the soil around 3 inches deep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Place the cuttings in the holes – one in each pot – and gently tamp down the soil. You want the rooting hormone to stay on the cutting, so be careful not to knock it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    8. Plastic Bag Greenhouse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    To help your cutting retain moisture and keep it warm, place a clear plastic bag over the top of it and secure it around the pot with some twine or an elastic band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Ensure the bag is tall enough not to touch the top of the cutting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    9. Watering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Keep the soil around your cutting damp, and don\u2019t allow it to dry out. It also doesn\u2019t want to be swimming in water as this will kill the roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    10. Taking Root<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In four to eight weeks, your cutting should have taken root. Once you start to see new leaves growing, you can be sure that all is going well and can grow your cutting on until the following season, re-potting it as necessary as it grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In this video, you can see how to propagate grapefruit tree cuttings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hTRC1DQ8AXo<\/a>