Swingle citrumelo – Citrus paradisi x trifoliata

Description

Description

Swingle citrumelo (Citrus paradisi x trifoliata) is a hybrid between a Duncan grapefruit and trifoliata. It was originally hybridized by Walter Tennyson Swingle in 1907 and has been a favoured rootstock choice in many countries in the world for decades.

As a rootstock, Swingle citrumelo is resistant to Citrus tristeza virus and Phytophthora root rot, Citrus blight, freezes, and citrus nematode. It is highly vigorous and grows much faster than trifoliata. The main negative with Swingle citrumelo is that it suffers graft union benching with some varieties.

There are many taste reports for Swingle citrumelo available, and they can be basically summarized as saying that it makes a large amount of juice, which when sweetened makes a passable lemonade. Swingle citrumelo is often grown as a cold hardy Citrus for areas too cold for most other Citrus varieties.

Swingle citrumelo seeds are highly polyembryonic, so almost all seedlings will be the exact Swingle citrumelo variety, with few off-types. See our article on Nucellar embryony for further explanation.

Seeds per packet: 10

Germination Instructions

Upon receipt of these Citrus seeds, either

1. Soak them in water for a few days until they swell. After soaking for a few days (with a few water changes), plant the seeds directly into a seed raising mix, and keep warm, and they will sprout after 2-3 weeks
2. Direct sow into seed raising mix, misting regularly for about a week to ensure the seeds are well hydrated. Keep warm, and they will sprout after 2-3 weeks.

These seeds were treated with Thiram fungicide (bright green) before export, so make sure to wash your hands after touching them.