Grapefruit

Grapefruit with walnuts

Grapefruits belong, just like the orange and the pomelo, to the Citrus family. Actually, it is a hybrid between the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and the Pomelo (Citrus maxima). There is some confusion of names as grapefruits are sometimes called pomelos. Grapefruit is bigger than an orange but smaller than a pomelo. It has a yellow skin and a rather bitter taste. It was first grown in Barbados.

Names

Scientific
   Citrus paradisi
English
   Grapefruit
Dutch
   Grapefruit
Spanish
   Pomelo
   Pomelo rosado
   Toronja
French
   Fruit en grappe
   Pamplemousse
   Pomélo
German
   Grapefrucht
   Grapefruit
   Paradiesapfel
Italian
   Pompelmo

Taxonomy

Genus
   Citrus
Family
   Rutaceae
Order
   Sapindales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

The origin of grapefruit is Barbados, where it was developed as a hybrid between the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and the pomelo (Citrus maxima).

Distribution:

Grapefruit is a subtropical tree. Many fruits are produced in the United States (Florida, Texas, Arizona, California), Mexico, China, South Africa, Syria, Israel, Turkey and India.

Evergreen or deciduous:

It is an evergreen tree.

Flowers:

Grapefruit has white flowers about 5 cm in diameter.

Leaves:

Thin dark green leaves that are up to 15 cm long.

Fruits:

Grapefruit fruits more or less round with a diameter of 10 to 15 centimeters. Most grapefruits are yellow or orange-yellow in color. The pulp of grapefruit can have different colors, often yellow, pink or red, depending on the variety. The pulp consists of many membranous juice sacs which are enclosed in a number of wedge-shaped compartments. Most grapefruits have a rather bitter taste but sweeter varieties exist as well.

Climate and weather:

It is a subtropical plant. It does not tolerate freezing.

Pollination:

Grapefruits are self-pollinating, but it is reported that hand-pollination will increase production.

Height:

Trees are usually about 6 meters tall, but can sometimes much taller and reach about 14 meters tall.

Spacing

The trees can be grown at a rate of 300 to 700 on a acre. This corresponds to a plant distance between 2.5 and 4 meters.

Propagation:

Grapefruits are usually propagated by budding, for example onto sour orange seedling rootstocks. Growing trees from seeds will not give a tree of the same variety and is not recommended.

Insect pests:

Diseases:

Fruit development:

Harvesting:

Fruits are harvested by hand, by pulling or clipping the fruits.

Uses:

Grapefruits are usually eaten fresh, for example as a dessert fruit. As a breakfast fruit, the fruits are usually chilled, then they are cut in half with the sections loosened from the peel (using a curved knife). The pulp can then be spooned from the half fruits. Some people will add white or brown sugar, or some honey.
Fruits are also used to produce grapefruit juice.

Proverbs and Quotes

I’m on a grapefruit diet. I eat everything but grapefruit (author unknown).
There is a lot more juice in grapefruit than meets the eye. (author unknown).
Life is like a grapefruit. Well, it’s sort of orangy-yellow and dimpled on the outside, wet and squidgy in the middle. It’s got pips inside, too. Oh, and some people have a half a one for breakfast. (Douglas Adams)
I am a grateful…grapefruit. (Bjork)
Because at some more flexible period he had advanced from oranges to grape-fruit he considered himself an epicure. (Sinclair Lewis)
The taste seemed to come in two parts – a sort of awakening sharpness followed quickly by a wash of sweetness; and each of those little globules (which were about the size of tadpoles) seemed to burst separately in my mouth. That was the grapefruit of my dreams, I don’t mind telling you. (Julian Barnes)
So far I’ve always kept my diet secret but now I might as well tell everyone what it is. Lots of grapefruit throughout the day and plenty of virile young men at night. (Angie Dickinson)

Did you know that?

The grapefruit is one of the “Seven Wonders of Barbados.”
Grapefruit is also called the “forbidden fruit” of Barbados.

Crop categories

Fruits
Food crops
Subtropical crops

Pictures