Pruning indoor grapefruit tree

[Frederic]

I have a grapefruit tree that I grew from seeds from a grapefruit that I brought back from Florida three years ago. I live in Michigan in the Detroit area and take the tree out each Spring and leave it out untill the Autumn. It is now three feet tall and new growth is appearing at the top. My question is, should I pinch it out to make it fuller and also is there any chance that it will flower or bear fruit?

[Newt]

Hi Frederic,

Here's information on your grapefruit. Don't pinch out the top.
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/m...rapefruit.html
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/c...grapefruit.htm

Newt

[Sue Darton]

Yes your tree can flower and bear fruit but because you have grown it from a seed it will take much longer than those that have been grafted. Mine took about 18 years before it started to bloom. ;) But it's amazing when it does...the scent is phenomenal.

I have a grapefruit tree that I grew from a seed that is 32 years old, and had never flowered, or fruited. I figured it would never, but your post gave me some hope. I am going to wrok very hard on getting mine to flower, too.

I live in Malta, 100km south of Sicily (Italy) and in our garden I have sown grapefruit trees about 12-15yrs ago. Since it never flowered I was goig to use this tree for rootstock and graft it with orange or mandoline, but now I have read that it would take 12-18yrs before blooming. This year I counted 5 flowers !! WOW!!

I am a beginner and need some basic good practice tree care

The tree (now April 2005) has formed several small leaflets. It resides in our garden and have plenty of light but full shade from Oct - Apr, and partial to full sunshine from Apr to Sep.

I was thinking of pruning the lower branches now so as I encourage leaf formaton at the upper part of the tree which receives more sunlight. Is it the right time to prune or now that new season (spring) leaves are growing is not ideal?

Are there precautions or practical things I can do to avoid the buds / flowers from falling ?

How long a Grapefruit tree (seedling) lives?

[mariabkw]

This is more of a question than a reply. I got a grapefruit tree from my aunt, who grew it from a seed over 20 years ago. I was in very poor shape with a few branches and dried up or crinkly-looking leaves. I took it home and cut off the top 1 to 2 feet, leaving only one branch with a few leaves. I fertilized it and put it in a sunny window. Now there are new baby leaves growing out, as well as several tiny buds forming along the lower trunk, so it looks as though it is being rejuvinated. The problem is that the new baby leaves are also crinkly-looking. I believe it has "crinkly leaf virus". Is there any cure for that?

[Newt]

Hi Maria,

Your curling leaves could be from either aphids or leaf miners. Take a look at these sites to see what fits.
http://monroe.ifas.ufl.edu/faq_citrus.htm
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/TOPIC_Citrus_Pests_Diseases

Newt

So what would the deal be, with growing a grapefruit tree indoors. I realizse that eventually I would have to take it outside. But, is there a way I could keep in inside and still have it grow fruit?

[Newt]

Hi Unregistered Guest,

I'm not sure what you want to know exactly when you say 'deal'. If you read the links I gave you should find what you're looking for. You can also do a search at www.google.com with terms such as:
pollinate + grapefruit
if that is your question.

Newt

I have a potted grapefruit tree for over 20 years in Virginia and it has flowered but the flowers have fallen off. I also take it outside from spring to autumn. This year however I searched on ebay for citrus fertilizer and got some pellets from plantman. Now I have over 30 flowers and they are staying on. Should I remove some of the tightly packed flowers to leave room for the fruits or just leave them all on?

[Newt]

You aren't registered so I don't know if you'll get back here, but the links I gave to Frederic should give you all the info you need. No need to thin except as stated in those links.

Newt