When I purchased my home 5 years ago, there were two citrus trees in the side yard. The previous owner said that they were grapefruit trees that he had planted 7 years earlier (2001) but had never fruited (obviously grown from seed).

I lost one (and almost both) of them in 2010 when we had 4 nights in a row of low 20s (20 F total low) with highs the next days in the 30s. Branch dieback and total defoliation occurred as well as some splitting. It was the worst winter I have ever witnessed here, though I know that there have been worse.

Well, this year the remaining tree has finally flowered, and I am looking forward to (hopefully) 100's of grapefruit next winter.

Here are the stats in case anyone else is trying to grow grapefruit from seed:
-Location: Spring, TX (north of Houston) 8b
-Time: 12 years (2001 - 2013)
-Trunk caliper at base when first flowered: 5.5"
-Height of tree when first flowered: 19.25' (approximately)
-Height of lowest flower: 10.5'





It seems that the tree had reached its node count previously but had not flowered until this year. I am guessing that it is due to the tree recovering from a rough 2010 winter. I am waiting until I taste the fruit before attempting to graft the top of the tree to the bottom. If the fruit is not excellent then I will find a source of budwood so that there will be some fruit accessible to my wife and kids.

A friend waited 17 years from seed for cocktail grapefruit hybrid.

Honestly, I was expecting to have to wait a couple more years. I almost cut it down on several occasions to replace it with a grafted tree, as I am out of space, but I decided to leave it be.

I have two I grew from seed. Both started fruiting in the 5th year.