Sweet, Red Citrus Hybrid That's Easy to Love The Valentine Pummelo is a unique hybrid fruit that is a combination of the pomelo, mandarin, and blood orange. Its large, grapefruit-sized fruit has low acidity and a sweet flavor with a tart aftertaste, representing the best features of all of its counterparts. The Valentine Pummelo gets its name due to its peak harvest being around Valentine's Day to mid-February. The fruit also resembles a heart shape when halved lengthwise, revealing its vibrant red flesh. In addition, the Valentine Pummelo is easy to peel, full of antioxidants, and self-fertile, so you can enjoy this love-ly fruit and its health benefits effortlessly with just one tree. As with many citrus trees, the Valentine Pummelo prefers warmer temperatures and grows best in Zones 9-11, but can be planted in a container and brought indoors in cooler regions (Zones 4-8). The Valentine Pummelo is a powerhouse hybrid combining the flavor, acidity, and health benefits of three different citrus fruits, along with its own unique qualities. Grow yours today! Planting & Care 1. Planting: Choose a spot that gets at least 8 hours of sunlight per day. For best results, this spot should be a sunny, frost, and wind-free location with southern exposure. Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the rootball. Backfill the hole and fill up loosely with soil, ensuring the tree is secured and standing up straight. To plant your pummelo tree in a container, choose a starter pot that is 3-5 gallons with excellent drainage. Bring the container indoors if the temperature gets below 32 degrees. 2. Watering: Water deeply after planting. Allow the top of the soil to dry out between watering and up to 9 inches down. Citrus trees prefer to be watered deeply and less frequently. A wilted tree that revives within 24 hours of watering indicates the roots got too dry. A tree with yellow or cupped leaves or leaves that don't look perky after watering can indicate overwatering. In that case, water less frequently. Generally, watering deeply once a week is sufficient for ground and container-planted trees. 3. Fertilizing: Feed this tree with a balanced fertilizer monthly during the spring, summer and early fall months. Apply according to label instructions. 4. Pruning: Prune the tree in early spring to maintain a desirable shape and remove dead or diseased branches. Remove all lower growth "suckers" as soon as they pop up to encourage healthy growth. 4. Pollination: This tree is self-fertile, which means you will get fruit with only one plant.
