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| Readers disparity in fruit size |
Q. I wanted to know a couple of things. First, what happened
to my Ruby Red grapefruit tree. Why are my fruits so small relative to the
store bought one that I show in the picture. I call it “orange
sized”. Granted it is a young tree
(planted in 2010) so is that why? It not only put out only 2 fruits but tiny
ones at that.
to my Ruby Red grapefruit tree. Why are my fruits so small relative to the
store bought one that I show in the picture. I call it “orange
sized”. Granted it is a young tree
(planted in 2010) so is that why? It not only put out only 2 fruits but tiny
ones at that.
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| Thickness of the rind or albedo |
Also if you
look closely at the picture of the cut fruit there is more rind than
fruit. What would have caused that? The first year the tree put out one
grapefruit and although it was small the fruit while sour the fruit looked like
a typical ruby red grapefruit in proportion of fruit to rind. The two from this
year had that little flesh inside and it was pale, not like a white grapefruit
and definitely not ruby red.
look closely at the picture of the cut fruit there is more rind than
fruit. What would have caused that? The first year the tree put out one
grapefruit and although it was small the fruit while sour the fruit looked like
a typical ruby red grapefruit in proportion of fruit to rind. The two from this
year had that little flesh inside and it was pale, not like a white grapefruit
and definitely not ruby red.
A. The picture of the plant that you sent is a bit odd. It
was hard to discern from the leaves whether or not it’s a grapefruit.
Grapefruit leaves have pronounced ‘wings’ on the petioles (the little ‘stem’
holding the leaf blade and the branch). If you see most of the leaves with the
winged petiole then I vote for grapefruit.
was hard to discern from the leaves whether or not it’s a grapefruit.
Grapefruit leaves have pronounced ‘wings’ on the petioles (the little ‘stem’
holding the leaf blade and the branch). If you see most of the leaves with the
winged petiole then I vote for grapefruit.
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| Readers grapefruit tree |
Another
test is to taste the young leaves. Lemon leaves taste like lemon, lime leaves
taste like lime and I’ll bet you can guess what young grapefruit leaves taste
like.
test is to taste the young leaves. Lemon leaves taste like lemon, lime leaves
taste like lime and I’ll bet you can guess what young grapefruit leaves taste
like.
The fruits
in your pictures with the very thick albedo (rind) look like grapefruit and a
very thick albedo on fruits coming from a mature plant can be caused by too
much nitrogen, overly wet conditions and just quirkiness.
in your pictures with the very thick albedo (rind) look like grapefruit and a
very thick albedo on fruits coming from a mature plant can be caused by too
much nitrogen, overly wet conditions and just quirkiness.
If you can
taste the fruits, taste the leaves and check to see if the leaves have winged
petioles then confirm it’s a grapefruit then I wouldn’t worry. This is a juvenile
plant and will produce higher quality fruits as the plant matures.
taste the fruits, taste the leaves and check to see if the leaves have winged
petioles then confirm it’s a grapefruit then I wouldn’t worry. This is a juvenile
plant and will produce higher quality fruits as the plant matures.
The plant
looks fairly healthy so do the confirmation checks about the type of citrus . .
Keep it watered and fertilized. Remember the saw for when to apply fertilizer
is Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day and the most important is Labor Day. If you
want to fertilize more often with less fertilizer at a time, that would be
great.
looks fairly healthy so do the confirmation checks about the type of citrus . .
Keep it watered and fertilized. Remember the saw for when to apply fertilizer
is Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day and the most important is Labor Day. If you
want to fertilize more often with less fertilizer at a time, that would be
great.
Let us know
after you check the fruit and/or leaf taste and leaf morphology (cool word,
huh?) for the winged petioles and get back to us. Just remember the citrus
plants will live for decades and once they mature the fruits get much better.
Terry.
after you check the fruit and/or leaf taste and leaf morphology (cool word,
huh?) for the winged petioles and get back to us. Just remember the citrus
plants will live for decades and once they mature the fruits get much better.
Terry.
PS.
The pictures of the leaves really look like grapefruit
leaves. . . Besides the winged petioles the bright, shiny, emerald green color
are so indicative of grapefruit . . Terry
leaves. . . Besides the winged petioles the bright, shiny, emerald green color
are so indicative of grapefruit . . Terry