I've been hearing about this variety, which I think is more popular in Texas and Florida, and cannot find any info about it at all in the state of California, including zero info on UC Riverside's Citrus Variety Collection web site. It sounds like a variety I would like, since I just love my Cocktail pummelo hybrid. Does anyone know if anyone grows it here in California? Would it do well here - perhaps we're not hot enough?? Sounds yummy.

Patty S.

I believe the Golden Grapefruit is a variety with a taste that offers nothing to shout about. - Millet (355 ABO-)

Well, I trust your opinion, Millet. Sounds like maybe it's a wee bit insipid, then? Sure love the Cocktail. So sweet and delicious!

Patty S.

Patty, look through this forum for a post by Mr. Texas about the taste of the Golden Grapefruit, to verify the taste. Hope I remembered correctly. - Millet (355-ABO-)

Thanks, Millet. Yes, he top worked that tree according to his post. So, I'll not bother. I think I've probably got the "best of the best" in my little collection, then. I'm really interested to see how the Valentine pummelo tastes this year. I'm going to wait until about mid to late February to pick the first one. Hoping it's as delicious as everyone in S. California says it is. I did taste one at the Citrus Collection, and it was still a bit acidic, yet, but you could tell it had promise.

I wonder if I can get someone in a non-HLB quarantined state to mail me 'Golden' grapefruit seeds? We can accept citrus seeds in California, just not any other part of the citrus unless it has been certified, since we're just under quarantine for ACP, and not HLB. Maybe I can try growing some seedlings. What the heck.

Seedlings from golden grapefruit make a white grapefruit tree. Golden grapefruit is a very mild tasting grapefruit. I'd be happy to mail you some seeds but I juiced my last ones a few weeks ago.

Thanks mrtexas. Tell me, why would the seeds from the 'Golden' grapefruit make a white grapefruit? Is this variety not true to seed? And, don't think you can mail me seeds, unfortunately, since Texas is now under quarantine for HLB. Those states under HLB quarantine can no longer mail seeds.

I have three golden grapefruit seedling. Every thing but the gold colored flesh is carried over with the seedling tree. Same tree, same fruit just without the gold color. Just not sure why, maybe someone could fill us in.

As far as the fruit goes, it's has a very mild grapefruit taste with no grapefruit bite. Most people that dislike a grapefruit bite, will really like it. One of my friends mom thinks it's the best thing ever. Others think it's OK, but would rather have some other grapefruit if available. It all boils down to what type of citrus you like. The one big drawback is the amount of seeds, it has tons.

My seedling had a few pieces of fruit in year four, and had a nice crop in year five. After that, they produce tons of fruit every year and the tree has no problems. They have been down to around 23 deg. with little to no damage.

You might check and see if all of Texas is under HLB quarantine, I thought it was only in South Texas around the valley area. If Houston is clear, I could send you some fruit, still have tons on the tree. And you can decide if you like it, before growing it.

Thanks, Selkirk. I'll ask the folks at UC Riverside tomorrow during my citrus class why the golden color doesn't carry over with a seedling. Have you tried grafting to see if the grafted tree continues to show the golden colored pulp? Assuming it must. I will check and see with the Texas USDA to see is the Houston area is clear and if you can send me fruit or seeds. That would be great. I know that Rolling River Nursery way up in Orleans, CA near the Oregon/California border is trying to source out budwood for the 'Golden'. They do have the 'Bloomsweet', and want to try the 'Golden'. I think it would be something I would like, since I like the Cocktail immensely (just had one this morning, in fact!) I'll let you know. That would just be so kind of you! Wish I could reciprocate, I think I might be able to mail seeds out, have to check.

A grafted golden carries the gold flesh color over. If you like the Cocktail, I would think you would also like the golden as well. Let me know what you find out on the quarantine.

Marc, the Valentine pummelo hybrid has the interesting combination of flavors. Here's the description from UCR's Citrus Collection site: "‘Valentine’ combines large size and low acidity from its pummelo parent, complex, floral taste from ‘Dancy,’ and juicy red pulp from ‘Ruby’ (orange)." From my limited taste test a couple of weeks ago, I'd say that was a fair description. You could clearly taste a hint of mandarin, but definitely something additional and complex, I think it will have really good acid:sugar balance, which I think is important for a lot of folks who like grapefruits for their more acidic "bite", and aren't so much a fan of the sweeter grapefruit and pummelo hybrids like the Cocktail. It definitely has that grapefruit aftertaste - no doubting the pummelo genetics. I will be tasting it again this Saturday, so hopefully I can pick one that is a wee bit riper. But, by the end of February, I should be able to pick mine, and they should be much riper and sweeter by then, especially if our warm, sunny weather continues.

So the taste doesn't compare to blood orange? I would expect that, considering it's color...

You can tell there is blood orange in the background, Marc, but it's not the predominant flavor. It is complex, which makes it fun to eat. Plus, it is sweet, but has enough acid not to be insipid. You'll get hints of manadarin, then that raspberry/wine blood orange flavor, then it sort of wraps up with a nice grapefruit aftertaste. If it was sweeter, I think I could be more confident of that, but it wasn't quite ripe enough to keep eating, or to get a good mouthful (without wincing, I'm NOT an acid-loving citrus person by any stretch, lol!) Here's a link to a nice article about the Valentine pummelo hybrid that has a lot of good info about it. It is being released and promoted in commercial circles, so you very well may see this variety make it's way over the "pond"

'Valentine', a Recently Released Anthocyanin-Pigmented Pummelo Hybrid Developed at the University of California Riverside