🍈 Pummelo
Citrus maxima
The grapefruit's enormous ancestor — mild, sweet, and the size of a toddler's head.
Sun
Full sun, 8+ hrs
Days to harvest
3–4 years to fruit
Spacing
20–25 feet apart
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
How to grow
Pummelo is the chillest citrus — literally the parent of the grapefruit, but sweeter and less bitter. Same Florida citrus rules apply: certified disease-free stock, psyllid control for greening, and a warm microclimate. 'Chandler' and 'Hirado Buntan' are solid picks.
Water & feeding
Deep watering 1–2 times weekly; like all citrus, shallow roots plus Florida sand equals thirsty.
Common problems
- Citrus greening (HLB) — same fight as oranges; keep trees vigorous
- Citrus canker lesions on rind — cosmetic on thick pummelo skin
- Fruit splitting after heavy rains following drought
Harvest
Pummelos sweeten on the tree — taste-test before the big pick. The thick rind means they store for weeks; the world's most patient citrus.
Nerdy fact: The pummelo is the largest citrus fruit on Earth, and it's one of only a few original wild citrus species — grapefruit, sweet orange, and tangelos all descend from it. The undisputed citrus patriarch.