Q: Ellen,
I have a grapefruit tree that I actually rooted from a seed that was
germinating inside a grapefruit I bought. It is now outgrowing its
pot. Does it have any chance of bearing fruit?
Hardiness Zone: 7a
Bekkicat from Charlotte
A: Bekkicat,
There is always a chance, but the odds are not exactly in your favor-especially growing it indoors. Grapefruit bought at the supermarket are usually the result of hybrid plants developed by breeders. Once these plants develop the appropriate desirable characteristics, they are propagated asexually in order to reproduce copies of the parent plant. A few of these "clones" turn out to be sterile, but many will produce fruit. If you do get a fruit producer, the grapefruit probably won't exhibit the same size and flavor characteristics as the grapefruit you took the seed from, but that doesn't mean it won't be good.
About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
I also planted a seed from a grapefruit I bought at the store. I started it in a pot and transplanted it into the grown. That was about 3 years ago. Its now about 14 feet tall and I got a large crop of very good grapefruit from it. They are about the size of a navel orange, but very sweet. (03/22/2007)
By Barbara
My wife planted a grapefruit seed about 10 years ago. A friend gave it to her as it had sprouted in the fruit. She grew it in a pot in the house. Shortly thereafter I planted an orange and lemon tree (and the grapefruit tree) from the valley of course they were grafted and produced fruit the first year.
The grapefruit tree made a beautiful tree. All it made was thorns. I trimmed the lower limbs down so I could mow. This spring it finally bloomed. My daughter called us. We were in Florida for the winter. It probably has 500 to 1000 fruits on it now they are ruby red and really sweet. The only problem is I thought the tree would never make and let it grow without pruning. It is now over 20 feet tall. Trees will grow from seeds, but it will take many years. I know this tree is 10 to 12 years old and this is the first year to bloom and produce. So if you plant one don't give up on it as I did. (12/02/2009)
By savage
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