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 may happen that you don't get any pomelo from the seeds. Some of the fruits available under this name in this country are cross products of pomelo and grapefruit, so that all sorts of things can result when propagated from seeds. However, since the tree needs at least eight, and most likely even up to 20 years until the first flowering and fruit formation, you don't have to worry about it.
How do you grow a pomelo plant from seed?
To grow a pomelo from seed, remove the pulp and plant the seed in potting soil. Keep the soil moist and place the pot in a warm, bright location. Prick the seedling into citrus soil as soon as it has developed two to three leaves.
Win seeds
To collect seeds, all you have to do is go to the nearest supermarket and buy a fresh pomelo. If possible, purchase a red-fleshed fruit because, in contrast to the light-colored fruits, these usually contain seeds of the right size. Pomelo seeds are about two centimeters 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 should the seeds be treated before planting?
As with all citrus plants, pomelo seeds germinate best when untreated and fresh. This means you don't need to peel the kernels, dry them or even store them in the fridge. Instead, you can simply plant the seed directly from the fruit into the soil. You should only carefully remove the pulp beforehand.
Planting the seed core
When planting the seed core, proceed as follows:
- Fill a small pot with germ-free potting soil or a coconut substrate.
- Place the core there and cover it thinly with soil, one seed core per pot.
- Keep it moist, but not wet, using a spray bottle.
- Put a plastic bag (€9.00 on Amazon) over it or place the potty in a greenhouse.
- The seedling needs a bright and warm location.
Now you need patience, because the plant usually needs between four to six weeks to germinate - sometimes even a few months.
Prick out the seedling and repot it
The young pomelo needs a larger pot as soon as it has developed two to three more leaves - apart from the two cotyledons. Carefully lift the plant out of the growing medium and place it in a pot with citrus soil. You should initially treat the young plant carefully (i.e. only put it in the fresh air when it is really warm and sunny outside), but larger pomelos are less sensitive than other citrus plants. By the way, pomelos are one of the very fast-growing citrus plants - the plant will quickly outgrow you if you take good care of it. That's why you should prune them at least once a year, preferably twice.
Tips & Tricks
Pomelos grown from seeds take a long time until they bloom for the first time. If you want it to go faster, try to get a cutting and grow it. Also, grafting this or your home-grown seedling onto Poncirus trifoliata (the three-leaved orange or bitter lemon) shortens the extremely long youth phase.
