How to grow a pomelo tree from a seed and care for it at home

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Pomelo belongs to the genus of citrus fruits. This is a tropical plant, reminiscent of grapefruit in taste and pulp structure. It contains many vitamins, macro- and microelements that are beneficial to humans. Let's look at where and how pomelo grows, and also find out what properties it has.

• general characteristics
• Description of the plant
• Pulp
• Taste
• Beneficial features
• Contraindications

How does pomelo grow and where can it be grown?

Where and how does pomelo grow?

The homeland of pomelo or pomeplius is the south of China and the equatorial islands of the Pacific Ocean. In particular, it is quite common in the Cook Islands. In the 15th century, Pomeplius came to Europe and spread to Barbados and the Caribbean islands. Now it grows quietly in Taiwan, southern Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Tahiti, California, and even Israel.

Since this fruit was brought to Europe by the English navigator Shaddock, in some places the name was assigned to it after his name, and it is called “shaddog”. In its homeland in China, this fruit is especially popular. The Chinese consider this fruit to be a symbol of prosperity and give it as a New Year's gift to bring prosperity and good luck to the home. Maybe this is why the Chinese kept these fruits secret from foreigners for so long.

Pomelo trees are quite tall, sometimes reaching a height of 8-10 meters. The branches have large glossy leaves and many internal spines, some varieties are spineless.

Pamela blooms with large white flowers, the fruits grow either singly or in 6-8 pieces in close proximity to each other. The fruits are large, ranging in size from two to three kilograms, sometimes up to 10 kg.

The peel is dense, yellow-green in color. Under the skin there are large slices and large seeds. The aroma is quite pleasant, like all citrus fruits.

Although Pamela looks like a grapefruit or an orange, it is much larger in size, and the taste is also completely different, less sweet with a slight pleasant bitterness. The peel is quite thick on the outside, dense, and comes off quite easily. Inside, the fruit is divided into large slices, which easily fall apart into peculiar fleshy juicy threads.

Healing citrus

Pomelo grows in South Asia and Thailand. Initially, the culture appeared in China, but then this thick-skinned fruit was not available to everyone and only noble families could enjoy it. In India, the pomelo also took its place of honor, but in Europe it was not immediately appreciated. Currently, pomelo is grown where it is warm and humid: in Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China.

Citrus loves warmth, like any fruit. Pomelo grows on tall evergreen trees reaching a height of 10 meters or more. It matures for a long time, about seven months. The color of the fruit is green or yellow, the peel is thick and inedible. The fruit is used in folk medicine for edema, tumors, and coughs. Citrus is good to eat for breakfast, because it contains many vitamins and microelements.

It is used for the prevention and treatment of colds, infectious diseases, fungus, it is successfully used in the production of cosmetics, it has a good effect on the skin and hair.

What are the benefits of citrus:

• contains useful minerals (sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, etc.);

• rich in carbohydrates, proteins, fiber;
• increases physical activity;
• improves digestion (if eaten in moderation);
• helps prevent cancer;
• burns fat;
• normalizes hormonal levels;
• increases immunity.

But you should not overuse this citrus fruit, especially for children, as it can cause allergies. If you have diabetes, you can eat it, but in small quantities, and if you have problems with the stomach, intestines, or a tendency to allergies, then consulting a doctor before consuming it is mandatory.

What is the calorie content of pomelo?

Pomelo is a low-calorie product. 100 grams of pulp contains no more than 35-40 kcal. But its nutritional properties are such that after eating three hundred to four hundred grams of pamela pulp, a person feels full. This property is very valuable when dieting for weight loss; when you eat, you seem to be full, you don’t want to eat, and at the same time you get a minimum of calories. But, nevertheless, it contains quite a lot of different microelements: calcium, potassium, iron, sodium, phosphorus. Fiber is only 0.5%-0.7%, protein 0.4%-0.8%, fat 0.1%-0.3%. Vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B5, B9 are present. According to the recommendations of nutritionists, pamela is good to use both for fasting days and for a mono-diet.

Pomelo fruit - benefits and harm

This fruit is very juicy and perfectly quenches thirst and hunger. Very rich in essential oils, antioxidants and ascorbic acid. In its homeland, pomelo is widely used in the treatment of colds. Pamela juice is rich in flavonoids, which weaken the effect of free radicals that cause aging of cells, and also has antiseptic properties and the ability to strengthen the immune system. Seed extract is successfully used in the treatment of infectious diseases of the skin and mucous membrane, in the treatment of eczema, fungal infections, and psoriasis. The pulp of the fruit has a beneficial effect on the digestive system, it absorbs toxins, improves the breakdown of protein and fats, and cleanses the liver, pancreas and intestines.

In fact, pomelo is a natural antibiotic. It is successfully used to prevent the body from low hemoglobin, atherosclerosis, high blood sugar, and hypertensive heart disease. Pomelo helps improve vision in the dark. Using pamela in nutrition increases hemoglobin. Local healers use pamela to prevent the development of cancerous tumors. To do this, they use the peel, which contains a large amount of bioflavonoids that can stop the development of cancer cells. This is especially effective for treating breast cancer in women. What this looks like from a scientific point of view is not yet known, but there are many, many positive examples.

What are the benefits of pomelo fruits, what taste do they have?

Not everyone knows about the benefits of pomelo, although in fact its healing properties have been known since ancient times. The Chinese used this fruit as a treatment for heart disease, asthma and colds.

The positive effect came soon, so the Chinese and Hindus began to bring pomelo to the gods and use it in their religious ceremonies, considering it sacred.

The low calorie content allows the product to be included in the diet menu; the fruit is used for weight loss. The composition contains a lot of sugar, so it allows you to quickly get rid of hunger without adding excess weight.

The product contains fiber, which promotes intestinal health and speeds up the metabolic process.

The pulp contains calcium, so these fruits are recommended for people with joint and bone diseases.

The composition contains a lot of ascorbic acid and essential oils, which are necessary to support the immune system. The body develops resistance to many bacteria, infections and diseases.

The oil also has a positive effect on the central nervous system and acts as a sedative and antidepressant.

It was recently discovered that the fruit contains substances that are necessary to prevent cancer and can destroy existing malignant formations. The substances also have a positive effect on vision and prevent the development of cataracts.

Freshly squeezed juice lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol, breaks blood clots, and is a good preventive measure against atherosclerosis.

In addition, the fruits are often used for:

• treatment of cough, bronchial asthma;
• eliminating cramps and pain in the abdominal area;
• treatment of intestinal infections;
• to relieve intoxication after alcohol;
• normalize the menstrual cycle and the production of female hormones.

Despite the large list of positive properties and pleasant aroma, not everyone likes pomelo. There is bitterness and astringency, but this can be removed if the fruit is consumed with sugar, honey or other ingredients.

We invite you to watch a video about pomelo fruits and their benefits:

Contraindications

Along with the fact that pomelo has many beneficial properties, you need to keep in mind that, like any product, it has its own contraindications for use, so you need to use pomelo in your diet with caution in cases where you are taking medication. This is reflected in the fact that it weakens the absorption process of certain medications used: to lower blood pressure, to eliminate allergies, for high cholesterol levels. As a result, the effectiveness of these drugs is reduced. Some medications may have the opposite effect. Therefore, during treatment with such drugs, it is better to avoid using pomelo or consult your doctor. Keep in mind that the effect of pamela juice in the body lasts for three days.

Growing pamelo at home

Regarding the fact that Pamela is an exotic fruit, this is already clear. However, not everyone knows that this fruit also grows at home.

Many growers grow pomelo fruit at home. To do this, enthusiastic exotic lovers use seeds from the fruit. Just like keeping other citrus trees in the house, Pamela loves a lot of attention and good care. For those who are interested in growing this crop, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with how it grows in apartments and houses.

In order to grow pamela fruit in your home, you first need to take care and acquire seeds. To do this, you need to purchase fresh fruit from the store. For planting, you need to select only the largest seeds and leave them in the air for a while so that they dry out.

Then you need to take a saucer (or another shallow container) and line its bottom with a napkin or cotton wool soaked in water. Then you need to place the seeds in a warm place, regularly moistening the napkin. Such conditions are considered the best for germinating pamela fruit seeds.

When the fruit seeds sprout, it will be necessary to prepare another container for the subsequent cultivation of the crop tree. The bottom of the container must be laid with drainage, and then completely filled with substrate. Pamela grows well at home in ordinary soil mixture, which can be purchased at almost any flower shop.

Pomelo seeds are planted in holes about 1.5-2 cm deep. In this case, the roots must be directed downward.

How to choose a pamela?

When purchasing, you need to pay attention to their maturity. The shape of the fruit can be different: pear-shaped, flattened or round. The color of the ripe fruit can range from light green to golden. The stronger the smell, the riper it is and, of course, the more palatable and healthy it is. Externally, the fruit should not have any mechanical damage: dents, cuts, cracks. The peel should be dense and smooth, and when pressed on it should be elastic. Choose fruits with smooth and shiny skin, hard and heavy, they will contain more juice. The pulp of the fruit also comes in different colors: greenish, yellow, pink, and almost red. The taste of ripe fruits is sweet and sour without bitterness. Buy only ripe fruits.

Fruit varieties

Stores often sell green or yellow-green fruits with light flesh. But there are much more types of pomelo. The main varieties include:

• Khao horn – white flesh, yellow-green peel, sweet taste, similar to grapefruit;
• Khao namphung - the inside is light yellow, the color is greenish-orange, the fruit is sweet, pear-shaped, reminiscent of a lemon;
• Khao paen - white flesh, divided into 12-15 segments, flattened ball shape, green skin, sweet taste with sour-bitter notes;
• Khao phuang – yellowish-white flesh, pear-shaped, green-yellow color, sweet and sour taste;
• Thongdi is a pomelo that is pink inside and dark green on top, spherical in shape, sweet in taste.

How do you eat pomelo?

Pomelo can be eaten in a wide variety of forms. As a main dish, as a snack, as a dessert or just as a juice. Most often in tropical countries, in Thailand and the Philippines, pomelo is eaten fresh with a seasoning of chili pepper, sugar, salt and hot pepper. Well, of course, this is not for everyone who has a tinned stomach. And for us the best option: simply peeled into slices like an orange, as an additive to salads, sauces for fish and meat dishes.

Pomelo for weight loss

Pomelo very effectively improves digestion, creating a gentle alkaline reaction when digesting food. The special enzyme contained in pamelo absorbs fats and reduces the content of sugar and starch in the body. As a result, with regular use, overweight and obese people can lose excess weight. The juice can be consumed in the morning to increase appetite and tone. In cooking, pamela gives a special taste to the filling; the pulp of this fruit goes well with meat and fish fillings, with fruits and vegetables, with cheeses and spices. It can be safely added to fruit and vegetable salads, jam, ice cream and even cakes. It can truly be considered a dietary and medicinal product.

Simple recipes

Thanks to its rich taste and delicate aroma, this citrus is appropriate in a number of dishes. If you add it regularly, the benefits to the body are guaranteed. What can you cook with pomelo:

1. Fruit salad. Cut an apple, ¼ of a pomelo, and a banana. Add some ice cream and condensed milk. Place in the refrigerator for 40 minutes.
2. Jam. You will need one pomelo fruit and 500 g of sugar. Peel off the films, add sugar and leave for a day in a cool place. Cook over low heat for 30 minutes and pour into jars after cooling.
3. Pie. Beat one egg, 250 g sugar and 100 g butter. Add 1 tsp. slaked soda. Add 300 g of flour and knead the dough with your hands. For the filling, mix the pulp of half a pomelo with 200 g of sugar and citric acid on the tip of a knife. Stir and leave for 10 minutes.
4. Beef stew. Cut 500 g of meat and fry in vegetable oil until golden brown. Chop 2 hot peppers and 4 heads of garlic. Place the pulp of one pomelo, peeled and film-free, into a frying pan with garlic, pepper and meat. Salt and pepper to taste. You can add 200 ml of dry red wine. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.

This exotic fruit must be included in the diet, added to different dishes, and experimented with. Pomelo is very tasty and contains many vitamins, but you should not abuse it, because there should be moderation in everything.