How to grow grapefruit at home?

Grapefruit is an evergreen member of the citrus family. The plant cleans the air of germs and bacteria, helps get rid of headaches and improves mood. The tree is easy to grow at home.

Growing

Under natural conditions, the tree reaches a height of 15 m, but a homemade grapefruit rarely grows more than 2 m. The plant is hardy, easily adapts to room conditions, but it will not bear fruit without grafting. A tree is grown from a stone for medicinal purposes and for beauty.

Grapefruit is a useful plant for the home

Planting instructions:

1. Wash and dry the fruit pit well.
2. Pour the soil into a pot, first put a layer of drainage, water abundantly.
3. Plant the seed to a depth of 3-4 cm, cover the pot and place in a bright place.

For planting, use special store-bought soil with an acid reaction. Choose a small capacity. Water as needed to allow the soil to dry. The seed takes a long time to germinate, the sprout may appear only after 30–35 days. Scarification will help speed up the process; for this, lightly rub the shell of the seed with fine sandpaper or scratch it with an improvised object. The top layer is broken, the seed will germinate faster.

Citrus fruits reproduce well by cuttings. If there is an adult tree, cuttings with 5-6 leaves are cut from it in early spring or summer. Cuttings are rooted in sand at a temperature of 22-23 ° C, the place is chosen dark.

Growing conditions

In order for a houseplant to feel comfortable, a number of simple rules must be followed. The place for growing is chosen light, it is best to place the pot on the east or west windows. On the south side, you will have to shade the tree. You can keep the plant on the northern windowsill or in the back of the room, but you will have to highlight it throughout the year.

Grapefruit will not bear fruit

In a room where citrus grows, the temperature should not drop below 22 ° C. In summer, it is useful to take the plant out into the open air, but you will have to protect it from direct sunlight. Wood also needs fresh air in winter, so ventilate the room more often. Citrus fruits do not like drafts, remove the pot from the windowsill while airing.

In room conditions, a fruit tree is demanding in terms of air humidity. During active growth, it is sprayed with a spray bottle several times a week. Once a month, dust from the leaves is washed off under a warm shower, this will serve as the prevention of various pests. In winter, the crown is rarely irrigated, only if the room is hot and dry air.

From November to March, citrus fruits need additional lighting. Daylight hours should be at least 12 hours.

Water the plant abundantly, but you do not need to water the soil in the pot. Also, the soil should not be allowed to be too dry. In winter, watering is regulated depending on the conditions of detention.If the temperature in the room is low, then the soil is rarely moistened, and vice versa.

In the phase of active growth, the indoor tree needs additional feeding. Once a month, a solution of mineral fertilizers or special fertilizers for citrus fruits are added. No feeding is done from October to February.

A young plant is transplanted every year by the transshipment method so as not to injure the root system. The pot is chosen a little larger than the previous one.

An adult plant is rarely transplanted - only when the roots are visible from the drainage holes.

Now you know how to grow a grapefruit yourself. There is nothing difficult in this, it is enough to follow the recommendations and transplant the tree in time.

Watch the related video, where an expert will tell you all the secrets of growing citrus fruits.

See also: growing figs

Grapefruit (Citrus paradise) is a perennial evergreen citrus plant belonging to the Rutaceae family. The birthplace of culture is Southeast Asia. Under natural conditions, it grows in the United States, Mexico, Argentina, the Middle East and the Caribbean, reaching a height of 5 to 6 m.Some varieties are real giants with a height of about 15 m.

How a grapefruit tree grows indoors (with photo)

The "fashionable" culture became in the last century, when the dietary "grapefruit diet" became popular. Since then, its cultivation began in houses and apartments by amateur gardeners.

Indoors it grows up to 1.5-2 m. The leaves are leathery, shiny, rich green, wider than that of an orange, 10-20 cm long, slightly pubescent below, on long petioles.

Can bloom and bear fruit in the room. It blooms in spring, flowers are large, white with a pinkish tinge and strong aroma, single or collected in a cluster.

The fruits are large (300-400 g), their peel is quite thick (from 1 to 1.2 cm). They are distinguished by the presence of tasty and juicy pulp. The fruits ripen in late October - November.

It is best to grow young specimens in a room on the windowsills. Adult plants feel most comfortable in greenhouses, conservatories or office buildings.

What a blooming and fruiting grapefruit looks like is shown by the photos below - check them out to get a visual idea of ​​this "green pet":

Characteristics of species and varieties of grapefruit: photos and description of plants

Depending on the color of the fruit pulp, grapefruits are divided into the following types: red and yellow (white) with yellowish pulp. Within their limits, about 20 varieties of culture have been bred, which, in addition to the color of the pulp and peel, also differ in the number of seeds contained inside. There are even varieties that have no bones at all.

The best varieties are considered to be:

Grapefruit "Rio Red".

Flame.

Star Ruby.

Duncan grapefruit.

Grapefruit "Red".

Grapefruit "Marsh".

Ruby red grapefruit.

Grapefruit "Flame".

Grapefruit "White".

Oroblanco.

Melogold.

The first three names on the list are American hybrids. They were bred in Texas on the basis of a red variety patented in 1929 called "Ruby".

"Duncan" considered one of the oldest and most popular on the market. Unlike those named above, he is a representative of white grapefruit. The variety is famous for its large fruits, the shape of which can vary from spherical to flattened at the "poles". It is characterized by a medium thickness skin with a smooth surface. The pulp is pleasant to the taste, has a persistent aroma, contains seeds, and is used for making juices. In terms of ripening, the fruits belong to the mid-early group. The trees are famous for their high frost resistance and abundant fruiting.

The specificity of the "Red" variety is the absence of seeds in the pulp, the shade of which varies from light pink to deep red.

At the end of the season, its color may fade, becoming beige.The description of the fruit of this grapefruit is supported by colorful photos - check out its overall appearance and cut state.

Grapefruit "Marsh" - another of the old variations of the plant, which has medium-sized fruits with a pale yellowish, juicy, tender, soft, fragrant pulp, covered with a yellow rind with a smooth texture. There are very few bones inside. The fruit has a very specific taste - sweet with sourness, so it is used to make juices.

Grapefruit "Ruby red" has a special color peel - yellow, dotted with pigmentation of a bright red hue. The skin is quite hard and smooth. The pulp inside does not contain seeds, is colored red, and is famous for its sugary taste. Pay attention to the photo - they show what a tree looks like with the fruits of this grapefruit:

Grapefruit "Flame" - another representative with a pigmented peel. Its base is colored yellow, the spots are red. The texture is perfectly smooth. The pulp has a deep red hue, a high level of juiciness and sugar content. The bitter taste typical for grapefruits is completely absent, for which this variety is loved all over the world.

The distinctive characteristics of white grapefruit are smooth, light yellow, thick rind and tender, yellowish-white, juicy, pitted flesh. Due to their sweetness, the fruits have become indispensable as a decoration for fruit salads, snacks, raw materials for juice. Check out the appearance of the ripe fruit and tree of the "White" grapefruit in the photos below:

"Oroblanco" differs from its counterparts in fruits that are much smaller in size and weight. At the same time, their peel is thicker, and the white flesh is sweeter. The variety belongs to seedless crop varieties.

"Melogold" - also grapefruit without seeds inside. His homeland is the USA, California. Less heat demanding than other varieties. The peel is relatively thin, the weight and size of the fruits are quite impressive. Grapefruit "Melogold" is a citrus with a pulp that is very sweet in taste and has a tart aftertaste.

Other popular varieties:

Grapefruit "Duncan Foster" ("Duncap Fosteriana") - fruits with pink pulp;

Grapefruit Thompson (C. paradise var. Tompsonii) - blooms in spring, fruits ripen in November - December.

How to grow grapefruit from seed and cuttings at home

The simplest and most common way to breed most grapefruit varieties is from seed. To do this, you need to select fully ripe fruits and extract seeds from the pulp that have the correct shape. To get a 100% result, it is recommended to plant several seeds at once, since not all of them may be viable.

It is not necessary to pre-dry the seeds: after removing them from the pulp, they can be immediately placed in the soil, poured into small flowerpots (for each bone there is a separate container). The substrate in this case will be a mixture of flower soil and peat, taken in a 1: 1 ratio. It is also recommended to add some river sand.

To grow a grapefruit from a seed, the seed should be deepened by 2 cm and poured with a little water at room temperature. Then the flowerpot must be covered with a transparent plastic bag and removed to a warm and well-lit room.

You need to open the mini-greenhouse for airing every day, and water it as the top layer of the soil dries out. Seedlings, subject to these rules, should appear on the 14-21st day.

As soon as the first pair of leaves bloom, the polyethylene is removed, making sure that the direct rays of the sun do not fall on the plant. But the room should still be warm and light.

Growing an indoor grapefruit at home from a stone involves transplanting a tree into a large container, as soon as its height reaches from 10 to 13 cm.Performing the procedure, you need to make sure that the roots that have not yet matured remain unharmed.

A young grapefruit grown from a seed at home is shown in the photo - appreciate the beauty of the plant, which is obtained by following the recommendations described above:

Seedless varieties are propagated by cuttings. The procedure is recommended in March - April or June - July. It is necessary to cut cuttings from 8 to 10 cm long, which have 6 leaves. Before growing grapefruit from cuttings at home, the propagation material should be placed in moistened river sand and covered with polyethylene on top. In order for rooting to occur as quickly as possible, it is recommended to maintain a temperature regime in the mini-greenhouse in the range from +23 to +25 ̊С. After the roots appear (this often takes about 2-3 weeks), you can plant the cuttings in a soil mixture of leafy and soddy soil, humus and sand (2: 1: 1: 0.5), laying a drainage layer on the bottom of the flowerpot. Lighting, location, watering the seedling need the same as if you decided to grow a grapefruit from the seed.

Reproduction by vaccination is possible. Can be grafted onto home-grown grapefruit seedlings. Fruiting occurs in the 4th-5th year.

This procedure can be started only in the spring - until the beginning of May. At this time, the most intensive movement of juices in the plant and growth processes are observed. Slices on the scion and rootstock should be made with a sharp tool, each of them carried out in one even and quick movement. The cambial layers of the scion and rootstock are connected with maximum accuracy, and for this the diameter of the sections must be approximately the same.

The junction is tightly pressed, wrapped with a soft insulating tape.

When asked how to grow a strong and healthy grapefruit, experienced gardeners answer: provide the scion with high humidity. To do this, it is recommended to wrap a bag under the junction, wind a moistened cotton swab or a piece of sphagnum moss next to the graft, fix the bag so that the scion is located inside it. Then the chances of a successful vaccination will increase significantly.

How to plant a grapefruit in a new pot

Plants up to 5-6 years old are transplanted annually, then - once every 3-4 years. This procedure is necessary if the root system fully assimilates the soil in the pot and begins to protrude from the holes at the bottom of the flowerpot.

An adult plant needs to be poured with fresh substrate annually. For transplanting, you need to use loose fertile soil with a neutral acidity index. Good for indoor grapefruit tree and ready-made substrate "Lemon". You can prepare the planting soil yourself from leafy and sod land, humus and sand (2: 1: 1: 0.5). It is important that it is saturated with all the necessary trace elements (boron, cobalt, manganese, zinc, etc.) and macronutrients (nitrogen, potassium, calcium, copper, magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus). It is also recommended to put a couple of nails in the substrate, since subtropical and tropical plants require iron in the soil. Under the influence of acidic secretions from the roots, macronutrients will be released from the nails, absorbed by the plant.

Before planting a grapefruit in a new flowerpot, a drainage 5 to 8 cm thick must be laid on the bottom of the container so that excess water does not stagnate in the root system during watering and does not cause rotting. This layer can consist of fine gravel, foam, expanded clay.

For transplanting, a transshipment method is used, in which the soil on the roots is not disturbed, but transferred to a new pot. The void is filled with fresh substrate. This method provides minimal trauma to the plant root system.

Travel conditions for grapefruit: watering, fertilizing and pruning

Grapefruit needs a bright, sunny window.In summer, before the onset of frost, the plant can be kept in the garden, on the balcony, on the open terrace. In winter - in a bright room. The total duration of daylight hours when growing indoor grapefruit should be from 10 to 12 hours.

It is better to place the flowerpot on the east or west windowsill. If the pot is on the south window, then you need to take care of shading it at noon. On the windowsill facing the north side, you will have to use a phytolamp to organize additional lighting. In autumn and winter, additional lighting will be needed in any case, regardless of the location of the container with the plant.

In the spring-summer period, the optimal temperature regime for the culture is within + 20 ... + 27 ° С, in winter, coolness is needed - from +4 to +8 ° С. We grow grapefruit in such conditions at home - and it will delight you with abundant flowering and fruiting.

Optimum indicators of air humidity for the culture are average: from 50 to 60%. To increase it in hot weather, it is recommended to spray the plant every day with a spray bottle using soft water at room temperature. A warm tree shower is also acceptable.

Watering is needed regularly, in summer it is plentiful, but water stagnation should not be allowed, otherwise the soil will swamp, and the roots will rot. Due to the drying out of the substrate, the culture may also die.

Home care for grapefruit provides: if there is a strong heat outside the window, watering should be daily, if the temperature is moderate - as the top layer of the soil dries out. In winter, the frequency of irrigation is significantly reduced - due to the coolness, the soil will dry out more slowly.

For humidification, take river or distilled water at room temperature. If it is not possible to obtain such a liquid, then you can use ordinary tap water, but it must first be filtered or defended for a couple of days.

Growing a grapefruit tree at home involves regularly applying fertilizers to the substrate. Plants are fed from April to September, twice a month, with complex fertilizers suitable for citrus crops. If the tree is kept in a room with a low temperature during the winter, then feeding completely stops. If the temperature is higher than the recommended one, fertilizing should be applied, but once every 30 days.

Look at the photo depicting a grapefruit grown at home, subject to the described conditions of detention and care rules:

This is an important aspect of tree care. It often reacts positively to the procedure - 2 new ones grow in the place of the cut off shoot. It is immediately recommended to decide on exactly what height the tree needs to be obtained. Further, it is necessary to leave no more than 2 or 3 bearing branches, above which the crown should be placed. Maintain the neat appearance of the plant by pruning it annually. How the crown of a grapefruit grows, is formed, study the photos below - they clearly demonstrate how to trim:

Pests and diseases of grapefruit

Most often, the plant suffers from such pests as:

1. Mealybugs.
2. Shields.
3. Red spider mites.

The fact that one of them attacked a tree is evidenced by the appearance of a thin web, a sticky sugar coating, brown, gray spots, deformations of leaf plates along the edge and punctures throughout their area, yellowing of foliage and its falling off.

To get rid of the parasites, you need to immediately sanitize the home-grown grapefruit. There are several effective methods of fighting parasites - this is the use of one of the solutions:

1. Soapy (30 g of laundry soap per 10 liters of water).
2. Alcoholic (infusion of calendula pharmacy).
3. Oil (2 drops of rosemary essential oil in 1 liter of water).

The agent used must be impregnated with a cotton pad and with its help remove insects from the plant. If there are a lot of them, it is better to spray the crown with the selected solution. In case of excessively intense damage, one should resort to treatment with insecticides ("Aktellik", "Aktara"). They should be used strictly according to the instructions contained in the package. After a couple of weeks, you may need to re-process the crown of a homemade grapefruit tree, if after the first the pests do not completely disappear.

Among the diseases of culture, infections of a viral and fungal nature are the most common:

1. Gum therapy.
2. Atracnose.
3. Wart.

Symptoms of gum flow are the dying off of the bark at the base of the trunk and the appearance of a light yellowish liquid on its surface. To get rid of the disease, the diseased areas of the bark must be removed with a sharp knife to living tissues, and these areas on the tree must be treated with a garden varnish.

To overcome fungal diseases of home grapefruit, which are wart and atracnosis, treatment of the crown with such a drug as Fitovir, or the well-known Bordeaux liquid, helps.

Tips for keeping grapefruit at home (with video)

The plant is very sensitive to conditions. If you violate the rules for growing grapefruit at home, the culture can be significantly affected or even die.

If during the period of winter dormancy the temperature regime is excessively high, the growth of the tree will not stop. In this regard, it expects a significant depletion and further slowdown in development in the spring-summer period, the absence of color and, accordingly, fruits.

If the soil is waterlogged or overdried, most likely, the color, foliage or fruits will begin to crumble (depending on the current stage of culture development). Due to stagnant water in the roots, brown spotting develops and leaf fall begins.

Lack of fertilization leads to a slowdown in tree growth. This can be judged by observing how intensively the indoor grapefruit grows during the active phase. But it is also not worth overdoing it with feeding, otherwise the plant will begin to turn yellow and wither. For example, due to an excess of calcium in the soil, the absorption of many other essential macro- and microelements by the root system will be blocked.

If the ambient humidity is too low, the plant responds to the disturbance in growing conditions with dry leaf tips.

The characteristic of homemade grapefruit, which received a sunburn due to direct rays hitting the crown, is as follows: the leaf plates on the side that was turned towards the sun are covered with a whitish spot.

It is important to consider one more point: the tree reacts negatively to frequent and abrupt movements from one place of growth to another, and even to turning. As a result, the color, ovaries, part of the leaves may fall off.

For as many helpful tips on keeping a grapefruit tree in your home as possible, watch the video below:

Experienced gardeners will share key secrets on how to raise a healthy and robust "green pet" that regularly delights with tasty fruits.

You won't surprise anyone with lemon on the windowsill today. And I wanted to grow something not quite ordinary, but not too difficult to care for. So I sowed seeds from a grapefruit that I bought at the supermarket.

BETWEEN ORANGE AND SWEET

In nature, grapefruit appeared in South America due to the accidental crossing of two representatives of citrus: orange and pomelo. The culture looks like an evergreen tree up to 15 m in height with elongated leathery leaves up to 15 cm in length and white fragrant flowers up to 5 cm in diameter.

Grapefruit fruits are round, up to 15 cm in size, yellow-orange in color, with yellow or red juicy pulp. Despite the bitter inner septa and rind, these fruits are very popular. They are considered a valuable dietary product for lowering blood cholesterol levels.Currently, they are grown not only in America, but also in Africa and Asia.

STARTING THE EXPERIMENT WITH GRAPEFRUIT

Since the grapefruit is a hybrid, when propagated by seeds, the seedlings cannot be expected to be identical to the mother plants. Here it is completely impossible to predict how the wild will turn out. Therefore, my experiment seemed to me especially interesting.

The soil mix for grapefruit is the same as for other citrus fruits: turf and garden soil, humus, peat and sand (23: 2: 1: 1). It is important that there is good drainage at the bottom of the pot with a layer of 5-7 cm. The seeds should be buried 1.5-2 cm in the ground. Then water and cover with foil for 2-3 weeks until shoots appear. Place in a bright, warm place and ventilate daily.

TO YOURSELF AND FRIENDS

Out of 10 seeds, 6 sprouted from me. When the sprouts reached 10-15 cm, I kept the largest of them for myself, and gave the rest to my friends. I placed my seedling by the southern window.

Caring for grapefruit involves regular watering: less often in winter, more often in summer, spraying with warm water. Top dressing twice a month with a weak superphosphate solution (1-2 g per 1 liter of water) and annual transplants into a more spacious (3-5 cm wider than the previous one) pot. If the growth of the tree is small, the transplant can be replaced by replacing the top layer of the earth with a fresh one. In the cold season, when the days are short, the culture should be illuminated with fluorescent lamps.

See also: Citrus fruits at home - advice from experienced gardeners

WINTER GRAPEFRUIT ON THE BALCONY

Given that the space in the room is limited, you should not let the grapefruit grow more than 1.5-2 m in height and width. It is advisable to prune it every spring. This also contributes to the lush tillering of the tree, increasing its decorative effect. The culture tolerates the pruning procedure easily, and the cut branches can be rooted in a wet mixture of peat and sand.

Exposing the grapefruit to fresh air is beneficial in the summer. And in winter, you need to keep it in a bright place with a temperature of 4-10 °. I have this temperature in my apartment on a glazed but unheated balcony.

FIRST THREE

In the 6th year, my seedling finally bloomed, and the first 3 fruit trees started on it. I think this is a great success, since citrus fruits sometimes begin to bear fruit only 10-15 years after sowing.

Grapefruit was pollinated by hand with a soft brush. Transferred pollen from male flowers (with stamens) to female flowers (with pistils). The fruits ripen for a long time - up to 12 months. They are collected in late January - early February.

RETURN THE GRAPEFRUIT BLOSSOMING AT HOME

If you want your seedling to start blooming sooner (in the 3-4th year) and its fruits were varietal, then you can take a branch in the nursery and graft.

To accelerate the onset of flowering of citrus fruits, a technique such as ringing is also used. That is, the skeletal branch is tightly tied at the base with a thick copper wire. Further, in this place, an influx is formed - a thickening, in which the nutrients necessary for the development of flower buds accumulate.

And the grapefruit is blooming. After 6-12 months, the wire is removed, and the place of the constriction is covered with garden pitch.

See also: Growing an olive tree from a seed (seed)

Grapefruit from a stone at home - video

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At home, grapefruit, like all citrus fruits, germinates and takes root well. There are several ways to breed this culture. The simplest and most effective way is to propagate grapefruit with seeds.

In order to plant, you need to choose a ripe, large fruit. The seed for planting must have just been removed from the pulp, otherwise it may not germinate. Large bones are placed in the ground to a depth of 1.5-2 cm.

Before planting a grapefruit, prepare a container with soil. Loose, acidic substrates rich in minerals and organic fertilizers are suitable for cultivation.

After planting, regular loosening of the soil and periodic watering are required. Do not allow the earthen coma to dry out and excessive waterlogging. The land should be constantly moist, but without stagnant water. When a shoot appears, you can spray the plant with water at room temperature.

To grow grapefruit successfully, it is necessary to provide the tree with enough light and heat. Top dressing is carried out 2 times a month with special fertilizers for citrus crops.

A seedling grown from a seed is annually transplanted into a large-sized container, 5-6 year old individuals do not need an annual transplant, it is enough to do this every 2-3 years.

A young, developing plant is comfortable on the windowsill. Upon reaching a grapefruit 1.5-2 m in height, it is placed on a loggia or in a winter garden, where the adult plant will be more comfortable.

The grapefruit does not need pruning and crown formation. If desired, the gardener can form a low bush with a spreading crown. This requires pinching young shoots. Otherwise, the tree will grow upward. When choosing the shape of the crown, it should be borne in mind that this culture has thorns on the branches, therefore, with strong branching, the bush can cause inconvenience.

Under favorable conditions, grapefruit blooms profusely and bears fruit. The fruits ripen by November.

How to grow a grapefruit from a stone so that the tree brings a good harvest and pleases the eye with its appearance? It is important to provide regular and correct care. The plant grows well in a warm, lighted place. It is not recommended to put a container with a seedling on a windowsill near a battery, since dry air negatively affects its leaves, which curl up from excessive dryness. To prevent this from happening next to the tree, you need to put a container with water, or spray it daily.

An adult bush for the summer period is placed on a balcony or loggia before the onset of the first autumn frosts. You can keep the plant in the garden or on the outdoor terrace. For the winter, it is removed to a well-lit place with a temperature of 2-4 ° C. Watering during winter should be limited.

Grown grapefruit and cuttings. Cuttings are carried out from March to April or from June to July. To do this, cut cuttings 8-10 cm long with 5-6 leaves. The bottom sheets are removed, the cutting is placed in wet sand under the film. For successful and fast rooting, dark places with a temperature of 23-25 ​​° C are suitable. As a soil mixture, a composition of sod, leafy earth, peat and sand is used. For grapefruit, drainage from fine gravel is required, which is placed on the bottom of the pot with a layer of 5-7 cm. Care for seedlings is carried out in the same way as when growing grapefruit from a stone.

Pests and diseases

The most common grapefruit pests include citrus whitefly, scale insects, citrus red mites.

Sometimes spots appear on the leaves, caused by excessive dryness of the air or excess moisture in the soil.