How to grow Pomelo in Australia

Where to plant

Plant in full sun, out of cold, strong wind, in soil that drains freely. Like all citrus, pomelos have shallow roots that die in waterlogged soil, so avoid soggy spots and plant on a raised mound if your soil is heavy clay. Keep grass and weeds out of the root zone, roughly to the edge of the canopy.

Pomelos need long, hot summers to fill and sweeten their fruit, and are tender to frost. They are among the most adaptable citrus for tropical areas, and also grow well in the subtropics.

• North Queensland and Darwin: pomelos love tropical heat and crop well. Plant in the dry season and water regularly until the wet arrives.
• South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: grow very well in a warm, sunny spot.
• Sydney and Perth: plant in spring in the warmest, most sheltered spot. Fruit is smaller and sharper than in the tropics. In Perth, mulch the sand heavily and water deeply in summer.
• Adelaide: marginal. Plant in spring after frost against a warm wall and shelter young trees through winter.
• Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart: not suited; too cold, and summers are too short to fill the fruit.

Choosing a variety

• Nurseries in Australia sell several named pomelos, including Tahitian, Carters Red (pink-blushed flesh) and Watsons Choice, some also as dwarf trees.
• Buy a grafted tree of a named variety; seedlings are slow to fruit and variable.

How to plant

1. Plant in the dry season in the tropics, or in spring after frost in cooler areas.
2. Water the tree in its pot well before planting.
3. Dig a hole wider than the pot but no deeper. On heavy or shallow soil, build a wide raised mound and plant into it.
4. Plant at the same depth as in the pot, with the graft union well above the soil.
5. Water in deeply and mulch, keeping the mulch 10 to 15 cm clear of the trunk to prevent collar rot.
6. Keep the soil moist while the tree establishes, which usually means watering at least weekly.

Watering and feeding

Water deeply, then let the top few centimetres dry before watering again. Pomelos are big, thirsty trees in hot weather; water most of all from flowering until the fruit has set and while it is sizing. Never let the roots sit in soggy soil.

Feed with a citrus fertiliser in late winter or early spring, again in summer and again in early autumn, at the packet rate, spread around the edge of the canopy and watered in. Young trees need only small amounts, little and often.

Pruning and care through the year

• Pick off most fruit in the first year or two so the young tree builds a strong frame.
• Prune lightly: remove dead wood, crossing branches, branches touching the ground and any shoots from below the graft. Dead twigs carry melanose.
• Citrus gall wasp: cut out swollen galls on stems between April and June, or slice the top off each gall in mid to late winter, and bag the cuttings in the sun for a month before disposal.
• Bronze orange bug: knock young bugs into a bucket of soapy water in winter, wearing eye protection and gloves, as they squirt a liquid that burns.

Harvesting

Pomelos take many months to ripen and hold well on the tree. Pick when the fruit has reached full size, the skin has turned from deep green to lighter green or yellow, and it feels heavy. Taste one before picking more, as colour can lag in the tropics.

Cut the fruit with secateurs, leaving a short stalk. Thanks to the thick rind, picked pomelos keep for weeks.

Growing in pots

Only dwarf pomelos suit pots. Use a large pot with premium citrus potting mix, keep it in full sun in a warm spot, and water and feed regularly through the warm months.

Using it

Peel away the thick rind and the membrane around each segment, and eat the sweet, mild flesh fresh or in Southeast Asian salads. The rind can be candied.

Like grapefruit, pomelo contains compounds that can interact with some medicines. If you take regular medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist.