How to grow Grapefruit Tree in Australia
Marsh (seedless) and Ruby (pink) love the SEQ warmth, which builds the sugar. A big, long-lived tree, so give it room.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 20 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 500 cm
- Time to harvest: 730 days (about 2 years)
- Time to germinate: 1 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Half hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to September | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to September | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to September | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October and November | Marginal. Plant Oct to Nov on the warmest wall. Cool summers keep the fruit sharp; Wheeny copes best. |
| Adelaide & SA | March and April, September and October | Plant Mar to Apr or Sep to Oct. Hot dry summers sweeten grapefruit well. Water deeply through summer. |
| Perth & WA | March to September | |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Tasmanian summers lack the heat grapefruit needs to sweeten. Grow a Meyer lemon instead. |
| Canberra & ACT | November | Very marginal. Plant in November on the warmest north facing wall, with frost cloth for the first few winters. Wheeny copes with cold best. |
| North Queensland | May to September | Plant May to Sep in the dry with regular watering. Tropical heat makes grapefruit very sweet, though skins stay greenish. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to August | Plant May to Aug in the dry with regular watering. Grapefruit handles Top End heat well; skins stay greenish. |
Companion planting
Good companions
Harvest and storage
Storage
Holds on the tree for months. Fridge for 2 to 3 weeks once picked.