You bought a pomelo and want to grow a plant from the seeds? Go ahead, because this tree from the citrus family is - compared to its relatives - quite easy to grow and care for. However, it can happen that you do not get any pomelo from the seeds at all. Some of the fruits available under this name in this country are crossbreeds between pomelo and grapefruit, so that when propagated from seed, anything can come of it. However, since the tree needs at least eight, most likely even up to 20 years until the first flowering and fruiting, you don't have to worry about it.
win seeds
All you have to do to get the seeds is to go to the nearest supermarket and buy a fresh pomelo there. If possible, buy a red-fleshed fruit, because - in contrast to the light-colored fruits - these usually contain seeds of the right size. Pomelo seeds are about an inch long, quite angular, and pale yellow in color. However, some fruits only contain millimeter-sized cores, which are not suitable for growing a plant. If you have brought home a fruit with seeds, eat it as usual and collect the seeds.
How do the seeds have to be treated before planting?
As with all citrus plants, pomelo seeds germinate best untreated and fresh. That means you don't need to peel or dry the seeds, or even store them in the fridge. Instead, you can simply plant the seed straight from the fruit into the soil. Only the pulp should be carefully removed beforehand.
Plant the seed
When planting the seed core, proceed as follows:
- Fill a small seed pot with sterile potting soil or a coconut substrate.
- Stick the core in there and cover it thinly with soil, one core per pot.
- Keep it moist but not wet with a spray bottle.
- Put a plastic bag over it or put the potty in a greenhouse.
- The seedling needs a light and warm place.
Now you need patience, because the seedling usually needs between four to six weeks to germinate - sometimes even a few months.
Prick out the seedling and repot
The young pomelo needs a larger pot once it has developed two to three more leaves apart from the two cotyledons. Carefully lift the seedling out of the growing medium and place it in a pot with citrus soil. You should treat the young plant carefully at first (i.e. only place it in the fresh air when it is really warm and sunny outside), but larger pomelos are less sensitive than other citrus plants. Incidentally, pomelos are one of the very vigorous citrus plants - with good care, the plant will quickly outgrow you. Therefore you should prune them at least once a year, preferably twice.
tips and tricks
Pomelos grown from seed take a long time to bloom. If you want it to go faster, try to get a cutting and grow it. Refining this or your self-grown seedling on Poncirus trifoliata (the three-leaf orange or bitter lemon) also shortens the extremely long youth phase.
IJA