Plant family: Rutaceae
Plant origin: South East Asia and West Indian hybrids.
Fruit description: Rio Red Grapefruit have a sweet red flesh, they are a flattened globe - shaped fruit, 125-250 mm in diameter with a yellow or pink slightly pocked skin. They grow in clusters on the tree, not singly like oranges and lemons. The flavour is acidic, sweet, distinctive, refreshing and fragrant.
Flowers: The flowers are fragrant, waxy, white, with 4 petals, which are produced in Spring.
Growing conditions: The grapefruit tree is evergreen. It grows to from 2 to 4 metres high. It can also be grown in a pot. It requires well drained soil. It can tolerate cold and frosts. Plenty of water is required for juicy fruit and plant health. Grapefruit trees like full sun and shelter from wind. Pruning is not required. Feed the tree in Winter and in late Spring. Spread fertiliser around the drip zone (as far as the leaves extend over the ground). Mulch around the tree but do not let it touch the stem or it can cause rot.
Uses: Rio Red Grapefruit can be enjoyed fresh. You can sprinkle the halved fruit with sugar and grill it until it goes golden brown. This is a lovely breakfast or appetiser. Grapefruit juice is excellent on its own or mixed with other citrus juices such as orange, mandarin, or tangelo. The juice is lovely in salad dressing. Grapefruit is used in salads and fruit salad. It makes delicious marmalade.
Grapefruit are rich in vitamin C and dietary fibre.
Medicinal uses: Grapefruit can interfere with certain medications, making them more effective in some cases and less effective in other cases.
Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating.
Harvest time Pick your Rio Red Grapefruit when they are yellow or pink not green, heavy and no longer hard – usually in late Winter to early Summer. They will not ripen after picking. Cut the fruit from the tree rather than pulling it off as this tears the stem. Leave a little stem on the fruit.
Plant relatives Related to other citrus species including Lemon, Lime, Mandarin, Orange, Tangelo, Tangerine, Kumquat, Finger Lime, Kaffir Lime, Grapefruit, Buddha’s Hand Citron, Calamondin, Variegated Calamondin, Pummelo
Special features:
Grown by method: Grafted Pot size: 6 litre
Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 2 metres high by 1.5 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 3 metres high by 2.5 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.
Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 6 litre
