Hello, I've been reading over the threads about grapefruits. I have two grapefruit trees. They have never bloomed. I'm wondering if they will need some kind of special coaxing as I live in Winnipeg and they are therefore indoors for a good chunk of the year. I think they're getting close to being about 10 years old now, but they aren't particularly big as they are in pots. The last couple of years I have put them outside as much as possible once the weather gets nice and they grow very nicely outside in the summers. I guess they're about 4 feet tall or so now. I have heard that they can start to have fruit by 5-7 years, but I imagine that is for trees planted outside in warmer climates. I am wondering if my trees are big enough to have fruit yet and if there is any kind of encouragement that I should be giving them this spring to help them along? thanks
Unfortunately you have heard wrong. A seedling grapefruit tree takes 12 to 15 years to become mature, and begin to bloom and fruit, *if* the tree is planted outside in the ground in a warm location like Southern California or Florida. Regretfully, I must tell you that a containerized grapefruit grown half the year indoors and spending summers outside, will never mature and bloom, because it will never reach the required node count. A seedling grapefruit tree is the worst citrus variety to grow in containers. It would be possible for your tree to mature and begin blooming if the tree was growing is a 60 to 75 gallon container, and in a greenhouse, with a very high ceiling. But in a small container, or even a medium sized container, in a residence, - unfortunately never. - Millet (1,405-)
Vancouver's Law courts, had under a ceiling of glass, grapefruit trees planted in massive sized planters (the half size of an Austin Mini Cooper ) I recall this was during the 1980s to 90s..., years had passed before they bloomed and set fruit. They were 2 metres tall and resembled a bushy shrub. Today, they are gone...scale/ pests! Does anyone else remember them? I actually picked a large fruit, and it was ripe!
Please pardon my ignorance, but what is a node count? I don't mind if they don't end up blooming, as they do make nice house plants, though it would be neat if they did some day.
