Lemon growing manual

Home Grow Your Own Lemons. Grow Your Own Lemons. Lemons can be grown as a container plant, even in Pennsylvania. Find out how to cultivate lemons from blossom to ripe fruit in this article. Photo credit: Laura Nicholas. Photo credit: Laura NIcholas If you enjoy container gardening, you will love having a Meyer lemon tree. Bring it into the house gradually, as sudden temperature changes can result in fruit drop.

A sunny south-facing window is best. Meyer lemon trees like 6 hours of sun a day. The trees are self-pollinating so you only need one to produce fruit. They are pollinated by insects, so you will need to do the job when the tree is indoors by gently brushing the blossoms with a small soft paintbrush.

Buy a grafted tree from reputable vendor or garden center. I purchased a four-foot tree online. Use a large pot with well-draining potting mix.

Fertilize during the active growing season with a high-nitrogen fertilizer. I used a fertilizer specially formulated for citrus trees acid-loving plants.

Don't let tree dry out completely. Once inside, use a humidifier or spritz with water, as they love humidity. Don't panic when baby lemons start falling off. At least 50 baby lemons fell off before I got the clump of three to hang on.

Enjoy the incredible jasmine-like fragrance of the blossoms. It will fill your deck and house with an amazing scent. Remove the infected leaves and destroy. Larger outbreaks can be controlled with traps by encouraging predators like Cirrospilus wasps.

If your lemon tree starts dropping leaves and twigs, you may have soft scales. These are tiny insects that suck sap from the tree. Parasitic wasps and a neem oil soak make an effective control. Thrips are tiny insects that feed on developing fruits. Blast spider mites of trees with water and encourage pirate bugs and ladybugs in your garden.

If you get desperate, insecticidal soap can help. You can plant other citrus trees near each other, but keep them at a reasonable distance. Avoid planting thirsty plants right under your citrus tree. Instead, choose to plant things that attract pollinators and beneficial predators nearby. Lemon trees take years to mature. Harvest time happens when the fruits are yellow or yellow-green, depending on the variety, and firm. Ripening takes at least half a year, though some varieties may require even more time.

You can test for ripeness by tasting the fruit. Some lemon varieties may display their ripeness via a color change. When picking lemons, cut or gently pull them off the stem. Be gentle, lemon varieties with thin skins are easily bruised and damaged. Use fresh lemon juice for drinks , making sauces and dressings, and even for making your own homemade household products such as cleaning sprays. Bring them along as a host or hostess gift or invite neighbors to pick fruit throughout the season if you have an outdoor tree.

Citrus fruits are often ignored by northern gardeners because they are best grown in warm, near-tropical conditions. While folks in California find nothing special about being able to pick lemons off a tree in the yard, I often fantasize about doing so.

If you master the art of growing lemons indoors, be sure to let me know how it goes! This article contains incorrect information. This article does not have the information I am looking for. Your answer will be used to improve our content. The more feedback you give us, the better our pages can be. Your privacy is important to us. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. For now, feel free to continue reading. Meyer Lemon — This is a small lemon tree variety that produces moderately sized lemons.

The fruit is exceptionally juicy and significantly sweeter than other varieties. Meyer lemons are cold hardy and grow in zones Eureka Lemon — Eureka lemons bear large fruit that is highly acidic. This is a highly productive variety that grows in zones 9 and Lisbon Lemon — This tall lemon tree variety produces classic, juicy fruits.

It grows about 15 feet tall and is a popular kind for growers in California. Be careful if you plant it because the trees may have thorns. Hardy in zones 9 and Bearss Lemon — This fast grower produces lots of juicy, high-acid fruits July through December. Bearss comes in a dwarf variety for growing lemons indoors. Ponderosa Lemon — The Ponderosa lemon is a thorny hybrid between a citron and a pomelo.

It produces massive, grapefruit-sized lemons and grows in zones How to Plant Lemons Zones In suitable climates, typically zones depending on the variety, lemon trees may be grown outdoors all year round.

Sun and Soil Requirements Growing lemons successfully requires full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Spacing Avoid open areas where the wind might attack your tree. Growing Lemons from Seed Starting a lemon tree from seed is possible, but takes a while.

Growing Lemons Indoors In northern climes, you can start your lemon tree from seed whenever the mood strikes, but we recommend purchasing a starter plant from a reputable nursery. Caring for your Lemons Watering Water often, but be careful not to overwater your plant. Temperature Lemon trees prefer a warm and humid environment. Dryness is the enemy! Fertilizing Use a balanced fertilizer to feed your lemon tree. Mulching Skip this step with growing lemons.

You may encourage root rot. Lemon Tree Problems and Solutions One of the best tips I can give you to prevent the spread of diseases is by getting rid of insect pests promptly. Problems Yellowing leaves — Plant not looking healthy? Improper drainage is a surefire way to encourage root rot. Fruit drop — This is actually normal for most citrus tree varieties. Once per season, the majority of citrus trees experience a drop where a portion of immature fruit falls off the tree.

No fruits — Your tree may be too young to bear fruit, or you may need to help your plant with self-pollination. Aphids Aphids are a problem when growing lemons because they spread disease. Anthracnose This fungus infects weakened trees during the spring or wet season. Citrus Canker Citrus canker is caused by a bacteria that can be spread by animals, humans, wind, and rain.

Huanglongbing This bacteria is spread by a tiny insect called the Asian citrus psyllid. Tristeza Disease Tristeza is a virus that can cause poor fruit production. Citrus Leafminer This tiny month makes tunnels inside young citrus leaves.

Soft Scales If your lemon tree starts dropping leaves and twigs, you may have soft scales. Thrips Thrips are tiny insects that feed on developing fruits. Spider Mites Blast spider mites of trees with water and encourage pirate bugs and ladybugs in your garden. Companions for your Lemon Tree You can plant other citrus trees near each other, but keep them at a reasonable distance. Store in the fridge and use as needed.