Grapefruit: growing at home, how to graft, care and pruning

Growing grapefruit at home is a long process, but possible. Useful citrus in the garden will not take root. And in the conditions of an apartment, a tropical tree will begin to bear fruit in a few years. To harvest, you need to choose the right variety, get the seeds and be patient. The advice of agronomists on caring for exotic plants will also help.

Suitable varieties

Not every variety of grapefruit is suitable for home breeding. Recommended varieties:

Name	Short description	Description of fruits
Red Rio	The latest selection achievement.Gives a big harvest	Red pulp, few seeds
Duncan	Not afraid of frost. Tall	Sweet and sour fruits with seeds
Anniversary	Grows up to 2 meters, the harvest can be stored for a long time Afraid of low temperatures. Strong citrus smell	No seeds, slightly bitter aftertaste

Grapefruit is low in calories. The pulp is suitable for making syrups or smoothies, and delicious candied fruits are obtained from the peel.

Features of growing grapefruit from the seed at home

Grapefruit is a rather capricious plant. To grow citrus at home, you need to properly care for the tree at all stages of development.

Preparation of containers and soil

Grapefruits love space. A wooden box or even a bucket is suitable for growing. The main thing is to correctly form the soil composition. The easiest solution is to purchase citrus tree mix from a specialist store.

In the absence of suitable soil, you can prepare the substrate yourself. Sod is mixed with humus in equal proportions and then sand is added. A standard potting soil will also work if you add a sandy layer with peat.

Fitting technology

The most common method to grow a grapefruit is to use the seeds of the fruit. Choose fully ripe citrus fruits. The bones are thoroughly cleaned of pulp and washed with water. The material of the correct form is suitable for planting, without flaws. Experienced gardeners advise taking a few seeds. The rule applies: a separate container is allocated for each seed.

The landing hole is about 2 centimeters deep. Sprinkling the selected specimens with earth, water and cover the container with a film of polyethylene.The improvised greenhouse is ventilated every day. Irrigation is recommended to resume after the soil has dried. The film is removed after green shoots appear.

Rules for plant care

Grapefruit needs to create comfortable conditions for full development.

Lighting, temperature and air humidity

In the warm season, the plant can be placed on the balcony, with the onset of cold weather it is better to move it indoors. Grapefruits should receive light for 12 hours a day. In winter, it is recommended to turn on fluorescent lamps next to the citrus. The optimum temperature for a native of the tropics is up to 28 ° C. In order for the plant to bear fruit, the humidity is maintained at 50%. In the heat, use a spray bottle.

Water and fertilize

For grapefruit, both abundant irrigation and excessively dry soil are harmful. Deviations from the norm often cause root rot. Usually, the soil is moistened every 2-3 days; in hot weather, the frequency of watering is increased. For top dressing, fertilizers for citrus plants are used. Useful additives are applied to the soil every 2 weeks from October to March.

Transfer

Within 5 years, the container for grapefruit is changed every other year. Subsequently, a new container is selected after 3 years. Each time, an additional layer of earth and drainage are poured into the flower pot. The plant is rolled over, keeping the soil on the roots to avoid injury to the shoots.

Wintering

In winter, grapefruit is placed in cooler conditions. The air temperature must not exceed 9 °C. For these purposes, unheated loggias or balconies are suitable. Be sure to provide additional lighting. Once a week, it is useful for the plant to take a shower of warm water.

Subtleties of Grapefruit Grafting

Grafting speeds up the fruiting period of the grapefruit. The best time is considered the second half of spring or August. Usually 2 methods are used.

Eyehole

With this method, the bud of the plant is cut off and placed on a section of the tree, previously cleared of bark. From above, the eye is wrapped with a cloth and covered with polyethylene. Full survival occurs after 2 weeks.

Shank

The stalk is cut off, holding the knife in a horizontal position. Then they retreat 2 centimeters and make a vertical incision on the trunk. A branch of the plant is placed between the bark and wrapped with tape to create a greenhouse effect. Vaccination must be regularly ventilated. Yellowed leaves indicate the successful completion of the operation, black indicates failure.

Diseases and pests

For grapefruit, ticks, mealybugs, and scale insects are dangerous. The plant signals the appearance of pests by falling off and deformation of the leaf cover. Microscopic brown spots or cobwebs appear on the plates.

For treatment, prepare a mixture for processing. Solution Options:

1. A small amount of laundry soap is stirred in a bucket of water.
2. Rosemary essential oil is added to 1 liter of liquid.
3. They take calendula infused with alcohol.

With a cotton pad moistened with any of the solutions, traces of pest activity are removed. The remains are sprayed on the diseased grapefruit. To combat fungal infections, preparations containing copper are suitable. A good effect is achieved with Bordeaux mixture.

Harvest and storage of crops

Ripe grapefruit can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Then it will begin to lose smell and taste and gradually dry out. To accommodate unripe fruits, choose a room with low temperature and high humidity. Grapefruits can lie in such a place for several months.Temperature and humidity control, regular watering and fertilization will have a positive effect on the citrus tree. Tropical fruits can be harvested without leaving home.

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