WineLovers Discussion Group

My friend, Jenise, is pretty sure someone here has an answer. At our winter house we have a lovely Meyer lemon tree and a healthy white grapefruit tree. I don't enjoy much grapefruit and there is soooo much more than my husband can eat and I can afford to ship north. I would LOVE to have some limes. Does anyone know if limes can be grafted on to a mature grapefruit tree? I might try it if I could find appropriate lime twigs/branches. I'd prefer to have a professional do it. The trees are in the Coachella Valley in southern California. Does anyone have any experience? Recommendations? Sage advice?

Susan, why not just plant a Meyer Lemon? I gave a friend a very small plant in a pot and the first year she had almost a dozen heavenly lemons. She has a greenhouse attached to her home, never lower than 68 degrees even if minus 30 here in Wisconsin. We had a great time using all of the zest and juice for various projects.
Seems like a sure bet rather than the work and worry of a graft.

Thanks, Christina, I must not have made myself clear. I have a beautiful and healthy Meyer lemon tree. I also have this grapefruit tree and am not sure I have enough room for a third, lime, tree. Nor am I certain I want to cut the grapefruit tree down. So I was hoping to find a way to trade in some of the grapefruits for limes.

I think this would work. I suggest contacting a local horticulturalist and asking about the possibility of grafting lemon branches onto a grapefruit tree.

-Paul W.

Susan, almost all citrus is grafted anyway, likely including both of your trees, so there's no reason I know of why this shouldn't be possible. I'd suggest you contact your local Master Gardeners organization (assuming there is one) for help in locating somebody to do this for you.