Plant Doctor Archive

Dry grapefruit

WE have a grapefruit tree which has sweet tasting fruit but has one problem. The flesh is very dry, which is disappointing when one is looking forward to a juicy meal. The leaves on the tree are a dark green, so it doesn't look like it needs feeding. We have mulch underneath, which I would think keeps the moisture around the roots. Could you offer us a solution to our problem? Thanks for your help.

CITRUS trees are very heavy feeders. Feed your tree in August, November and again in February. Trees over ten years old need at least two kilograms of balanced citrus fertiliser per year. Keep your tree well watered in the summer and autumn and hopefully your grapefuit harvests will soon be sweet and juicy. If not, you may simply have a poor performing variety, so cut your losses and plant a new tree in a different position.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.