Grapefruit Care

Citrus paradisi

An evergreen citrus tree with large, juicy, slightly bitter fruits. It loves heat and is more sensitive to frost than the orange; it grows outdoors only in the frost-free coastal belt.

Frost-tender (protect from frost)

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January

Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost cloth; if in a pot, move it to a sheltered spot. Damage occurs below about -3 °C.

February

Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost cloth; if in a pot, move it to a sheltered spot. Damage occurs below about -3 °C.

March

Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer when it wakes from dormancy. Because yield and fruit quality depend on nutrient balance, having a soil analysis done is especially useful for this plant.
Pruning: Prune just before the shoots break. Because flowers form on this year's new shoots, hard pruning increases flowering. After harvest, do a light thinning pruning; because the fruits ripen inside the crown, do not open the crown too much.
Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
Pests & diseases: Check the branches and trunk for brown, fixed bumps (scale insects).
Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost cloth; if in a pot, move it to a sheltered spot. Damage occurs below about -3 °C.

April

Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering begins.
Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.

May

Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
General care: Flowering continues. Spread mulch 5-7 cm thick over the root zone; it conserves soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk. Drainage is vital for this plant. In heavy soil that holds water, plant it on a raised mound or berm 20-30 cm high, so the root collar stays above the surrounding soil level.
Pests & diseases: Check the branches and trunk for brown, fixed bumps (scale insects). Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.

June

Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
Fertilizing: Apply the second fertilizer dose during the growing season. Do not fertilize after August; late growth will not survive winter.
Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
Pests & diseases: Look for white cottony clusters (mealybugs) in leaf axils. Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.

July

Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
Pests & diseases: Look for cottony white clusters in the leaf axils (mealybugs).

August

Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
Pests & diseases: Look for cottony white clusters in the leaf axils (mealybugs).

September

Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.

October

Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.

November

General care: In winter rains, make sure water does not pool in the root zone; for this plant, drainage is more critical than irrigation.
Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost cloth; if in a pot, move it to a sheltered spot. Damage occurs below about -3 °C.

December

General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost cloth; if in a pot, move it to a sheltered spot. Damage occurs below about -3 °C.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

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