OK, I’m talking about a grapefruit tree indoors here in the north. I had some of these several years ago, and they were great. When fall came, I gave away all but one, and when I brought it indoors for the winter, my cat liked the large pot. Enough said.
So I’m starting more grapefruit trees. You can do this with any citrus, lemons, limes, oranges, tangerines. Just get old fashioned seedy varieties of fruit at your market, and save some seeds. Our local FFA sells Florida citrus every year, and I buy casesof it. It comes straight from the groves.
I plant the seeds immediately, and don’t let them dry out. I’ve had the best luck using a large pot and planting them about two inches deep. It takes a bit longer for them to sprout and reach the top of the soil, but the roots develop deeper in the soil and the trees are sturdier than shallow-planted seeds. I put lots of seeds in a large, deep pot and wait to see how many sprout. Not all will. Some will be scrawny, so thin them out. I like to end up with about 3 good seedlings in a 12 inch pot. The taproot is quite long, so use a deep pot.
It takes 10 days or more for the seedlings to appear. Keep the pot warm and watered. I don’t cover it for fear of mold growth over the long germination time. Alternatively, you can keep citrus seeds moist and warm in a paper towel until they sprout, and then carefully plant the strongest seeds in pots, but I have had limited success with this.
Here is one of the sprouts about 5 days after it appeared. As the days grow longer, it will grow faster. Late winter is the best time to plant citrus seeds in the north. Just keep them warm, away from cold drafts, and give them plenty of light.
There are many factors that affect bloom and fruit production, but here in the north the trees make beautiful houseplants that thrive on a summer patio.
