Grapefruit and Pomelo Trees
Grapefruit
The various white and red grapefruit trees performed well last year. They produced abundantly in the first half of the year. However, in the year’s second half, the grapefruit seemed to be struggling and had lower yields because they were not flowering as much as they usually do. They had more foliage and larger leaves that remained free of leafminer and aphids. We later discovered they fruited heavily when the fruits began to ripen. They were heavily camouflaged by the vegetative growth resulting from the high temperatures. Th foliage protected the flower and tree roots from the dry heat.
Pomelo
The pomelo, along with the orange, are the genetic parents of the grapefruit. It produces fruit all year, and these giant fruits take longer to ripen than grapefruits. Nonetheless, the fruit ripened a few weeks earlier than usual. The fruits in the year’s drier and hotter second half did not require thinning. However, the trees experienced rapid growth, necessitating trimming in the first and second half of the year. This growth continued after a few thunderstorms in December.
Meanwhile, the fruit yield increased, which threatened branch breaking. To mitigate the trees’ additional nutritional requirements, they received compost or manure five times instead of three times a year. They also received water fortnightly or weekly when possible.
Using Pomelo and Grapefruit
Citrus trees like grapefruits and pomelo are remarkably productive and resilient. While they may have a niche market in Zambia due to their bitter taste, the health benefits of grapefruit and grapefruit juice should not be overlooked. The juices and cocktails can even be frozen for future use! Remove the rind and fibrous covering between the segments responsible for the bitter taste to enjoy fresh grapefruit and pomelo. Some varieties are less bitter than others. Planting a few of these trees in your home garden or orchard is an investment that can inspire a healthy lifestyle.
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