Yes, Pomeloo is very easy to grow but papaya is very hard because of the bugs love them. Here's a picture of my pomello. I've been harvesting fruits for 4 years now.
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here's one of my papayas on its 42nd day

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Marg, I live in z5 and been growing citrus in pots for yrs..The object is to bring citrus indoors before it gets too cold outside, otherwise you'll have leaf drop galore. Once they're inside, place in a bright window. (I've never grown papaya, but I'm sure the same applies to this plant, too) Once winter comes and heat is turned on, keep citrus away from air forcing. Dry air will harm the plant, drying out leaves, etc. If possible, use a humidifer and mist leaves. Also, a wkly shower perks plant up.

Ben is that the Papaya you started from seeds? Toni

I thought all papayas starts from seeds.

Ben, don't be a smart a&&>>LOL. What I meant to say is, I recall you getting seeds I believe this winter..Are those t he plants started from seeds? Toni

heh-heh!
ha-ha
Got you!

My next question: Where do I buy Pummelo and Papayas to plant in containers? Do I get plants or seeds? How did you all get your Pummelo and Papaya? Thanks. Margaret

For the papayas I tried to look for the address but couldn't. It's in Hawaii. Only 3 feet and will fruit on you. I'll try to find it. For pomello I think Toni can give you an address where to order.

Hey Summer Fashion,

I believe they are selling Papayas to eat at my grocery store. If you can't find one I'll make arrangements to send you one. As for the Pummelo, they were selling them at the grocery store over by my parants house, however when I cut it open it was seedless. The next time I see them I will try again. Now of course I do grow from seed typically, so if you are not looking for seeds and are looking for a seedling or small plant then I am not quite sure.

VTY
-Mark

I buy my citrus at www.briteleaf.com and/or www.harriscitrus.com Check out my website to see how tall plants will be. Toni

Ahh.... I found it.
http://www.alohaseed.com/cgi-loc/webcart-frames.cgi

Once there click on Search scroll down and and click on Papaya seed.
Look for seeds that will bear fruit from 3 to 4 feet in height.

The only problem growing things from seed is that you have to wait 8 to 18 years for them to flower. I am willing to spend $20 per tree if I can have my fruit the year I bought it or the next. Also seeds are susceptible to soil diseases and you donÂt know if they will live from year to year. They are spindly looking and the maintenance year after year will take the toll from you whereas a grafted tree is much more bushy and easy to take care. HereÂs some example of my bought grafted citrus trees:

Satsuma 2nd year fruit

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Trovita orange, Algerian and Midknight. Their 1st year fruit.

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Washington navel
2nd year
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Well, I tend to disagree. From my research it seems that grafted plants seem to be much much more susceptible to disease. Yes the seeds may get infected with something from the soil, however it is my experience that it is a stronger plant ulimately and overall. Flowering will take more time, but not necessarily 18 years. I planted my Grapefruit from seed, they are 4 years old now. I should hope to start expecting something next year, if not, then that is ok as well. Even though the trees got scale, they did not catch any disease. I had that confirmed at Cornell University. The scale is not basically irradicated, and 2 or 3 more Malithion sprayings should hopefully ensure that :). I have both grafted and seed plants. It was the grafted one that actually brought the bugs in. But there is not reason why the seedlings couldn't have gotten it from being outside 3/4 of the year on their own.

VTY
-GunsaMaster

I agree with most of what you said Gunsa. The 18 years did not come from me but from a person who was a member from where I was a member also. I was going to email you the forum where I got this from but you have no email.
Of course the plants are stronger overall if it come from seed- bigger too.
And calamondin will start to flower from seed from 3 years on up and also the lime cultivars.
Grapefruit? I believe it is 8 years.
What I am referring to why grafted trees are not prune to root deseases is that the growers choose rootstocks that are immune to root deseases such as trizteza and so forth. Or they may choose a rootstock for dwarfing varieties or perhaps multiple fruits in one tree and this you can attain within one year. Just what I have done. Just 2 days ago I grafted 23 scions of 8 different rare fruits in one tree. I expect to have fruits next year or two.
I am not saying I am an expert. I am just letting you know what I've learned from this forum.
There is always an exception to the rule.
My rule of thumb is: Whatever will make you happy go for it.
The ultimate decision is you and you alone who can decide what you want.
Take care,

Benny

Fixed the e-mail problem, now any member can e-mail me :). I understand where you are comming from as well with grafting and the plus side of getting fruit sooner. I do admit also being a techie guy and into the Windows XP 8in1 cd's and related that I really enjoy the idea of the 42in1 trees guys (and gals) are growing out there. I totally respect them and how you grow your plants. I just perfer to grow from seed and see what pop's up. Don't get me wrong though, I really like my graft tree's too (Aussie Fingerlime and Calamondin Orange) of course, they are great to have.

VTY
-Mark

Have some Orange seeds (ate an "eating orange" from Kroger, don't know what kind it was but it was sweet, not tart or sour) so I saved the seeds. Next question, is there a nursery that sells Pummelo that's grafted onto the Flying Dragon rootstock? Or since Pummelo fruit is so huge, maybe the nurseries don't graft onto Flying Dragon? Margaret

Check 4-winds all they grow are dwarf varieties. All of my pomellos are dwarf kinds.

Here's my first Chandler Pomello that had been grown in a 15 gallon pot. And is grafted too and less than 3 feet tall. Notice the 2 large fruit hanging. I got them to ripened and bore fruit on its preceeding years. And I still have it and been transplanted to the ground but it is still only about 4 foot tall. I clipped all the fruits this year so hoping it will grow vegetatively this year however.
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I really like those photos of your Pummelo. They are impressive, both the fruit and the picture. Bencelest and Hopefulauthor, could you each reply with the kind of soil mixture you're using for your citrus? Please could you include the ratio? How many parts soil to perlite, etc.? Thank you. Margaret

I really don't have any ratio. Whatever I have available but to give you a safe ratio:
=> 1/4 coarse river sand, 1/4 composted pine
1/4 sandy loam.
1/4 perlite add a handful of steer manure.
There is one that came out and lot of people swear it is the best kind for citrus the coconut husk or CHC 1/4 size.
And as long as you have a porous soil meaning water drains very easily you'd be OK.

Marg, like Ben I do a guestimation when repotting..but I can give you an approximate ratio. 1/3 part all purpose potting soil, (black) 1/3 sand and 1/3 peat..I also throw in a couple handfuls of Perlite.
Because of the number of plants I have I buy 40 and 50lb bags of potting mediums.
Out here you can get smaller bags of Perlite, but w/sand it only comes in big bags..but the thing about buying bigger sizes, it lasts a long time..And if you grow other types of plants you can mix your own soil come repotting time. For instance, when I pot up cactus and succulents, I add more sand/perlite than all purpose. When potting a tropical I use less. But it all evens out at the end..Toni

Toni:
You should buy by the truckload instead of by the pound if "because of the number of plants I have..." counts. (LOL). I only have 40 citrus and you have over 400(?)and I buy 50# bags and not enough.

LOL Ben..I do have a good number of plants, but not all are citrus..did u not know that???
Many are in small pots, and don't need regular repotting. I transplant so many a yr. When something looks like it needs repotting then I get a pot, mix soil and do my thing.
Can u imagine this big truck dumping soil on my front yard? LOLOL..Toni

my papaya tree is rotting/drying at the base it has seperated completely from the roots.

The 4 ft. tall plant still "appears" healthy.

Can i cut the base above the rot and replant it - or is it a goner?