Grapefruit

Where does Grapefruit grow?

Found in: Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central America, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, Ecuador, Europe, Fiji, French Guiana, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Guianas, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are 20 Citrus species. Several hybrids have been formed.

Status: Becoming popular around the world. Not widely grown in Papua New Guinea.

Growing Grapefruit

Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed. The seed should be sown fresh. Often seedling trees breed true. Trees are best grown by layering or grafting. A spacing of 6-8 m is suitable.

Edible Uses: The fruit is eaten as fresh fruit, or the juice is used in drinks. They are made into marmalade. The juice can be used for vinegar or wine. The peel is candied. The essential oil from the peel is used for flavouring drinks and desserts. The oil from the seed is bleached and refined into a culinary oil. Caution: Grapefruit can react dangerously with some medications, increasing the effect of the medicine.

Production: Seedling trees take 3-5 years to produce while grafted trees take 2-3 years. Fruiting tends to be seasonal from April to August in the Southern hemisphere. Fruit take 6-8 months to mature. A healthy tree can produce 100 fruit in a year. Fruit can be left on the tree for 3 months after they first ripen.

Nutrition Info

Grapefruit Photos

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