Red Grapefruit

Pink fleshed varieties of grapefruit, such as ‘Ruby’ and ‘Thompson’ have been available for some years, but they often fail to colour well in Australian gardens. The new red varieties ‘Star Ruby’ and ‘Rio Red’ surpass the pinks in colour, flavour and reliability. Red grapefruit plants grow into medium-sized trees from 3-4m (10-13′) tall. The fruit looks like ordinary grapefruit, except the rind is thicker and ripens with a red hue. The red juice has a sweet flavour with just a hint of tartness, and it is very nutritious. One half of an average-sized red grapefruit provides 80% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C and some important anti-oxidants.

Climate: Red grapefruit grow well in most parts of Australia, except for the mountain areas. They are frost tolerant, but the fruit develops best in warmer climates.

Good points:

nutritious, tasty juice fruit colours up well in coastal areas attractive medium-sized tree for the home garden good in pots

Citrus care:

A position in full sun is best. Keep trees well watered when the fruit is forming in spring and early summer. Trees growing in the ground should be fertilised in August and February. Complete Citrus Food alternating with Dynamic Lifter would be suitable. Feed citrus growing in pots every six to eight weeks. Once again alternate Complete Citrus Food with Dynamic Lifter, or use 3-4 month Osmocote applied in spring and early summer. Water well before and after fertilising. Keep the area beneath your trees free of grass and weeds. Mulch with compost or other organic material, but make sure that the mulch does not touch the trunk of the tree.

Getting started:

Check with your local nursery, if they don’t have plants in stock they can order them for you. Expect to pay $25-$30 for a plant in a 15 litre bag or 250mm (10″) pot.

Our segment was filmed at Engall’s Nursery, 997 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW. Phone: (02) 9651 2735.