Can grapefruits be grown in containers, and

[NewGen]

be reasonably productive? Also what's the sweetest variety?
Thanks!

[brian]

There's an exotic plant store near me that has a few citrus trees including grapefruits or pummelos that are over 10ft tall in 2ft wide containers.   Also Longwood Gardens' nursery nearby has similar size trees in containers.  Finally, in the Place Versailles in France they have many many large citrus trees in containers (Millet posted about this recently).  All look to be productive. 

I have a pummelo and two grapefruits that are much younger and in <1ft wide containers but they haven't produced fruit yet.  I expect they will next year.

[NewGen]

Thanks Brian, that's good to know. I love the fragrant flowers of grapefruit trees and want to place the containers near my patio. I do have space in the ground, but it's far from the patio.

[Millet]

A grapefruit tree grown from seed is the worst choice of citrus tree to grow of all the citrus family.  However, as Brian wrote, grapefruit certainly can be grown  as a container tree.  Try to purchase a grafted grapefruit tree, preferentially grafted on a dwarfing rootstock such as Flying Dragon.   Even then grapefruit is a large tree so keep enlarging the container as the tree grows.  You will probably end up with a 2 or 3 foot wide container.  Whatever size container you eventually reach it will not have to be more than 20 inches deep.  Good luck. - Millet

[NewGen]

Thanks Millet! Also for the info on MG potting soil, working great so far.

[Millet]

NewGen, Hope you wrote a typo. I recommended Miracle Grow GARDEN soil, Not Miracle Grow Potting Soil. - Millet

[NewGen]

Oops! Definite typo, I used Garden Soil, non water retentive.
 

[Pancrazio]

Hey newgen, in my understanding all citrus do relatively well in container, if you willing to accept slightly smaller fruit than field grown plants. My suggestion if you are going to grow them in container is to by/get a plant grafted on a dwarfing rootstock (poncirus trifoliata flying dragon should do the trick) to have a plant easier to keep at a more manageable size.