5. Good Organic Gardening - September-October 2016 AvxHome.in

TIME TO PLANT | Grapefruit
- in the -
orchard
Grapefruit
Citrus × paradisi
A hybrid of orange and pomelo from Asia, this delicious
fruit is, aptly enough, a tangy combo of sweet and sour
Words Melissa King
If sour lemon sucks your cheeks in and
orange is candy sweet, grapefruit sits
somewhere in between, a delicious
combination of citrus tang with a bitter twist.
Grapefruit halves dusted with sugar are a
breakfast favourite but this versatile citrus
can be used to add a refreshing zing to
everything from seafood dishes and salads
to sorbets and fruity cocktails.
‘Marsh’s Seedless’ is a timeless yellow
variety with medium to large fruit and a
sweet, zesty flavour. It’s a vigorous tree that
produces a big crop of juicy grapefruits from
mid-autumn to winter.
‘Wheeny’ (a pomelo hybrid) is another
traditional variety, with big yellow fruit with a
thin–medium rind. It’s a strong, vigorous tree,
so give it space to grow and you’ll be rewarded
with a bountiful crop from late summer.
I’m a fan of the red or pink grapefruits,
which tend to be sweeter than other varieties
and add a rosy blush of colour to the plate.
Keep an eye out for stunners like ‘Rio Red’
with wonderfully coloured flesh, ‘Thompson’s
Pink’ with few or no seeds, or the beautiful
deep-red ‘Star Ruby’.
Grapefruits are self-fertile, so just one
tree will produce a good crop. They are one
of the larger-growing citrus trees, often
reaching heights of 4–6m, but can be kept
to a manageable size with pruning and make
lovely evergreen fruiting screens or hedges.
If you’re short on space, look out for
varieties that have been grafted onto dwarf
rootstock or try your skills at espaliering one
against a fence or wall.
Growing conditions: Give grapefruit trees
plenty of sunlight to grow and set a good
crop of fruit — at least six hours of sun a day
The pink varieties are sweeter
If short on space, look
for varieties grafted
onto dwarf rootstock.
Grapefruits are self-fertile
so you only need one tree
is ideal. They prefer deep, well-drained soil so,
if drainage is poor, dig in plenty of compost
and organic matter before planting and break
up clay or grow them in raised beds.
Feeding: Citrus trees love their food, so
give them a boost throughout the growing
and fruiting season with regular doses of a
complete organic citrus food.
Planting tip: For best success, look for
grafted trees of tried and trusted varieties.
Growing tip: The ideal time to plant young
citrus trees is now, in spring, after the risk of
frost has passed.
CanStockPhoto
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