Pomelo?

[Catriona]

Was in tescos last night and i found a fruit that I havent seen before. It looks like a grapefruit but is twice the size and green. Its called a pomelo. Does anyone know anything about it and how to eat it. I bought it but havent done anything with it yet. Anyone know if the seeds will grow? Thanks, Catriona

[Geordie]

Like grapefruit, pomelos are pinkish- or greenish-yellow, with fibrous flesh separated into segments by membranes. Their flavor may range from very tart to very sweet.
The segments inside a pomelo can be a bit difficult to get to. The rind surrounding it is extremely thick; you have to cut off some of it, and then pull off the rest of it before you even get to the fruit inside. Then, you have to pull off the membranes that surround the segments, because unlike grapefruit, the membranes are tough and inedible. The pulp is also quite thick-skinned compared to a grapefruit. But don't be misled by this: The "flavor cells" are very juicy. Enjoy!

[Catriona]

Thanks Geordie! It seems soft so will try it tonight. Another fruit question for you. I love custard apples and you dont know if their seeds would grow and fruit here do you? Catriona

[Geordie]

As far as i am aware the custard apple can be propagated readily from seeds; the seedlings begin producing fruit when 4 to 5 years of age. It also can be grafted or budded on seedlings of the same species, or on those of soursop, sweetsop, and pond apple. Trees of the custard apple grow well on a wide range of soil types and are better adapted to the drier regions of the Tropics than are the other annonas. They cannot tolerate excessive soil moisture.
Bear in mind this will be a tree that will grow to about 25' tall. I know they are grown in The Ultimate Fruit Garden in Wimbourne, Dorset, but they are grown inside a large glasshouse with other exotics. So i guess i you have a tall greenhouse go for it!!

[Catriona]

I guess i wont be growing custard apples then! I dont have a greenhouse so anything tropical has to be grown inside the flat and i dont think it would fit. Shame, they do taste yummy and are hard to get hold of in the shops. How do you know all this random knowledge? Is gardening a hobby or job with you? Thanks Georgie, Catriona

[Acorn]

Pomelo v Grapefruit

It's funny that 'pomelo' is grapefruit in Spanish, and being Spanish I always thought that they both were the same fruit! I don't like the bitterness so I didn't know there was a difference between the two of them!!

[Catriona]

The pomelo was really nice. It was like a combination of orange and grapefruit. Its like a grapefruit to eeat (but a bit more tricky) but wasnt sour. Mine wasnt sweet either but was nice. Would get one again and if you are feeling adventurous i would recommend trying it.

[andrewo]

Now I know!

Saw one of these too in the supermarket and ummm and ahhh about buying it but glad I didn't - hate grapefruit! Always associate it with faux 70s diets.

But the world pomelo, just whispers to you...pomelo....pomelo, she called through the long grass...

It's been a long day...

Andrewo

[Pantman]

We really enjoyed our first pomello today - looking forward to MANY more! Yum!

I noticed it came from China - don't think of China as having a warm climate - can they be grown here?

[Alice]

China is a very big country, stretching from Hong Kong to Siberia.So some parts are sub tropical although other parts are continental (bitterly cold in winter). They do grow rice in the warmer regions, so just because they grow Pomelo doesn't mean we can grow it here. Mind, you can grow anything if you spend enough to provide the growing conditions.

[that dave1]

pomelos are the type of fruit you come across once in a while and you either love em or hate em (bit like marmite !) myself, i love them i think they are like the chinese lanterns (fasarliss) spelling could be wrong. in that i mean they dont taste like fasarliss, but it`s the not knowing how something so weird looking can tatse so good. and if you have never tried the chinese lantern, please do because they are something unusual.
up the pomelo and long may they have appeal !

[momol]

I love it ! If you are lucky, you will get the sweet one. The inside is really like giant orange/ grapefruit with pink or whittish colour. The challenging part is peeling it.
Once peeled, you can eat the pulp just like eating orange or use it in fruit salad. As for taste it can be sweet or realy sour.
Enjoy....

Hello and welcome to the vine Pantman and That Dave1 !

[terrier]

Another newbie sneakin' in. Hi, Dave That1, welcome to the 'vine'.
We tried a Pomelos last week, it was nice enough but just to much messing about to eat, probably stick to grapefruit in future