Citrus Growers Forum

charlie23 · Joined: 24 Jun 2011 Posts: 9 Location: houston, tx

can someone recommend a popular and sweet WHITE pummelo tree? I'm in zone 9, thanks.

Millet · Posted: Mon 13 Jan, 2014 7:16 pm

I would suggest that you rather grow a pummelo grapefruit mix. Two very popular cultivars are Melo Gold, and Oro Blanco. In the Huston area, even if you grew a pink variety pummelo such as Chandler, it probably would not develop much of any coloration in your area, because the fruit could not accumulate enough cold unites to do so.. - Millet

John Bonzo · Posted: Mon 13 Jan, 2014 11:29 pm

Sarawak is the white cultivar sold at the Urban Harvest Sale. I've never tasted one but I've read that they are good but seedy.

mrtexas · Posted: Tue 14 Jan, 2014 1:00 am

John Bonzo wrote:

Sarawak is the white cultivar sold at the Urban Harvest Sale. I've never tasted one but I've read that they are good but seedy.

More green than white

mrtexas · Posted: Tue 14 Jan, 2014 1:02 am

Millet wrote:

I would suggest that you rather grow a pummelo grapefruit mix. Two very popular cultivars are Melo Gold, and Oro Blanco. In the Huston area, even if you grew a pink variety pummelo such as Chandler, it probably would not develop much of any coloration in your area, because the fruit could not accumulate enough cold unites to do so.. - Millet

You will get the color in chandler pummelo in Houston but not a lot of flavor or sweetness. The fruit from John Panzarellas mature tree have not impressed me although he says the local Vietnamese are quite impressed with them. I've tasted some fabulous pummelos from Florida.

Millet · Posted: Tue 14 Jan, 2014 1:14 am

Mr Texas, interesting & surprising that you state a Chandler pummelo will color up in a location as warm as Houston. I have a large 7 or 8 year old Chandler pummelo tree growing inside my greenhouse. Day time temperatures during the winter ranges from 60 - 70F, with night temperatures 50-55F. My Chandler pummelo does not turn pink, but matures as a white fruit (actually rather grayish white.). - Millet

GT · Posted: Tue 14 Jan, 2014 2:46 am

Millet,

I second MrTeas' observation: a single fruit on my Chandler was nicely deep pink (almost red) inside, although was not mature when we tasted it in early December (due to a lack of patience and a cold front approaching). Are you sure that your tree is Chandler?

mrtexas · Posted: Tue 14 Jan, 2014 2:53 am

GT wrote:

Millet,

I second MrTeas' observation: a single fruit on my Chandler was nicely deep pink (almost red) inside, although was not mature when we tasted it in early December (due to a lack of patience and a cold front approaching). Are you sure that your tree is Chandler?

Your chandler in December is way past it's prime based on the Panzarella tree. His are over the hill by Nov 1.

GT · Posted: Tue 14 Jan, 2014 3:05 am

mrtexas wrote:

GT wrote:

Millet,

I second MrTeas' observation: a single fruit on my Chandler was nicely deep pink (almost red) inside, although was not mature when we tasted it in early December (due to a lack of patience and a cold front approaching). Are you sure that your tree is Chandler?

Your chandler in December is way past it's prime based on the Panzarella tree. His are over the hill by Nov 1.

Hmm, very interesting. I picked mine in late November-early December (do not remember the exact day but definitely after Thanksgiving). The flash was firm, kind of dry, and not too sweet. Perhaps, this was because the tree was planted last spring and was still too small?

charlie23 · Joined: 24 Jun 2011 Posts: 9 Location: houston, tx

i picked up a 5 gallon Sarawak pummelo at a local nursery yesterday, anyone grow this variety or have any feedback?