Plant family: Rutaceae
Plant origin: Southern China, Malaysia, and Polynesia.
Fruit description: Carters Red Pummelo is also known as Red Pummelo. Carters Red Pummelo has the biggest fruit of all citrus, with a very large round or pear-shaped fruit, up to 25cm in diameter with a thick yellow or light green slightly pocked skin. Each fruit can weigh several kilograms. The flavour is acidic, sweet, and refreshing, similar to grapefruit without the bitterness. Carters Red Pummelo has pink flesh. The pith is very thick and inedible but easy to peel. The flesh is moist, coarse and segmented. The membranes around each fruit segment are tough and bitter and are usually not eaten.
Flowers: The flowers are large 3-7cm in diameter, fragrant, waxy, white, with 4 petals in a star shape. They are produced in Spring, singly, or in groups up to 10.
Growing conditions: The Carters Red Pummelo tree is evergreen. It has big glossy dark green rounded leaves and grows upright to 5 metres high. It requires rich, well-drained soil. It can tolerate cold, and thrives in warm, humid conditions. Plenty of water is required for big juicy fruit development and plant health. Pummelo trees like full sun and shelter from cold wind. Pruning is not required. Feed the tree in Winter and in Summer. Mulch around the tree but do not let it touch the stem or it can cause rot.
Uses: Carters Red Pummelo can be eaten fresh, or dipped into salt, chilli and sugar. Use the flesh in Thai or Vietnamese salads, or it goes well with seafood. Pummelo can be added to fruit salads for a refreshing flavour. Pummelo fruit makes delicious marmalade, and Indian or Asian pickles and preserves. The peel is used in Chinese cooking or candied as a sweet snack. Pummelos are rich in vitamin C and dietary fibre.
Medicinal uses:
Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating.
Harvest time Pick your Pummelo when they are yellow, heavy and no longer hard – usually in late Winter and Spring. Cut the fruit from the tree rather than pulling it off as this tears the stem. They will not ripen after picking but keep well at room temperature.
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 2.5 metres high by 2 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 5 metres high by 3 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.
Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 6 litre
