can orange and grapefruit cross?

Susan -homedecsewing's picture

Hi , my orange tree is full of grapefruit size fruit, my neighbor has a grapefruit tree. Is it possible the two could cross pollinate and make an orange-grapefruit blend? my orange juice tasted a bit like grapefruit, am I nuts or what ? Just wondered .

jeana's picture

(post #12720, reply #1 of 4)

The general rule is that, no matter what the pollinating parent is, the fruit is going to be what it was bred to be. The seeds will yield a hybrid fruit, but the fruit should be as it was bred to be the generation before.

That said, there are some exceptions. I don't know if a grapefruit pollinating an orange will make for different fruits.

Jeana Never try to baptize a cat.
Susan -homedecsewing's picture

(post #12720, reply #4 of 4)

thanks for clearing that up for me. Hope you have a nice holiday. Susan

jeana's picture

(post #12720, reply #2 of 4)

This is what I found on the subject...

http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/forum/fruit-treesdon-webercitrus-springs-fl/

Jeana Never try to baptize a cat.
KimmSr's picture

(post #12720, reply #3 of 4)

Cross pollination does not have any affect on the current plants fruit, so the quick answer to your question is no. If you were to plant the seeds that might result from that cross pollination you could get something different.

West central Michigan along the lake shore


A sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, rather it is brown knees.

West central Michigan along the lake shore

A sign of a good gardener is not a green thumb, rather it is brown knees.