Lemons are a delicious, but sour, citrus fruit that’s popular all around the world. This sour fruit is used in many dishes, beverages, scents, and even cleaning products. Lemons have become a massive stable for many of us, leading you to believe that these citrus fruit trees have been around for centuries. But did you know lemons have only been in existence for a few thousands of years?
Are Lemons Man-Made
As humans, we created all lemon tree varieties. You may be familiar with Eureka lemon trees, the Meyer lemon, and other variations of the lemon. Through cross-breeding two fruits, the bitter orange and citron, humans created a culmination of the two fruits. This process is believed to have originated in Asia.
How to Grow a Lemon Tree
A lemon tree is an excellent addition to any garden, as they are relatively easy to care for and produce delicious fruit. If you want to grow your lemon tree, here are a few lemon tree care tips to help you get started:
Decide which lemon tree variety you want to grow. A popular choice is the Meyer lemon, but other options include Eureka lemon trees, Avalon lemon trees, and the variegated pink lemon trees. You’ll also want to verify that you live in one of the citrus fruit growing zones. Depending on your location, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to grow citrus fruit trees outdoors.
- Choose a sunny area in your garden with well-drained soil for your lemon tree. Your lemon plant must receive enough sunlight throughout the day to remain healthy.
- Amend the soil with compost or organic matter before planting. High-quality soil and fertilizer will help your citrus fruit trees grow abundantly.
- Plant the lemon tree in an area that is at least twice the size of the root ball.
- Backfill the hole with soil and pat it down gently. You don’t want to pat the soil down too heavily because you still want water to be able to penetrate the ground quickly.
- Water well after planting and moist soil until the tree becomes established.
If you’ve ever seen a lemon tree indoors, you may have wondered how it can maintain itself. If you want to try growing a lemon tree indoors, you will need adequate lighting and temperature. The same method as above should be applied, except you will need an appropriate-sized pot to plant the lemon tree. If you love other citrus fruit trees, such as limes, you can grow them similarly to lemons. Growing both lemons and limes will give you a variety of delicious sour fruit for your dishes and needs.
How To Grow A Lemon Tree From Seed
Growing your tree can be an enjoyable experience as you watch the love and care you invested into the earth produce delicious fruit. Lemon trees are a great addition to any garden, and they’re not too difficult to grow from seed. Of course, growing a lemon tree from seed will grow much slower than a young citrus fruit tree planted into the ground.
- Find a leveled spot in your garden and high-quality soil.
- Fill a pot with potting soil and plant the lemon seed about 1/2 inch below the surface. For extra lemon tree care, use a proper fertilizer to help increase its growth rate.
- Water regularly and keep the soil moist, but not wet. Too much water can prevent the fruit tree from drowning in the soil and unable to grow roots.
- When the seedling is big enough, transplant it to its final destination in your garden or lawn. Be mindful of the amount of sunlight the zone will receive throughout the day.
- Enjoy your delicious lemon tree! Keep up with general tree care as needed.
Do Lemons Trees Have Thorns
When you think of plants with thorns, you may think of certain flowers like roses. But, lemon trees also have thorny branches that can be just as sharp as a rose bush. Unlike flowers, lemon fruit trees bear fruit, and the fruit itself can be easily removed from the thorny branches.
Not all lemon trees have thorns; some hybrid species have been grown to produce little to no thorns.
Eureka lemon trees are one particular tree that doesn’t grow with thorns. These lemon tree varieties are safer if you have children at home and easier to harvest ripe lemons.
How to Prune a Lemon Tree
Whether your lemon plant is just beginning, grown into a bush, or has become a full-fledge citrus tree, pruning your plant is essential in keeping it healthy and promoting growth. If your plant is still small or in a pot, you’ll want to pull any weeds by hand. While pulling weeds, you’ll also want to remove any dead branches or leaves. Removing this excess allows the plant to maintain more energy to grow and produce fruit.
For larger fruit trees, you may use hedge clippers and or large scissors to help prune away excess branches, dying lemons, or weeds growing around the base of the trunk. Proper lemon tree care is essential in maintaining your lemon tree, regardless of its size.
How Long Does It Take To Grow a Lemon Tree
Like all fruit trees, citrus fruit trees take a few years before they can bear fruit. How long it will take to grow a lemon tree depends on the variety of lemons you’re growing. Another factor to consider is how moderate your temperature is for its growing season. If you grow your lemon tree in a pot or container, you will have a much quicker growth rate than if you plant a tree in the ground. But, growing a lemon tree outdoors allows you to have a much larger plant and fruit for harvest.
How to Ripen lemons
The best way to ripen lemons is to allow the fruit to ripen naturally on your citrus tree or bush. Patience is essential, as lemons do not typically grow for months after the first flower. When you remove fruit too quickly, the natural ripening process is halted, and the taste and quality of the fruit are diminished.
It’s best to If you don’t have the time or patience to wait for your lemons to ripen on their own, there is one way you can speed up the process. Keep your lemons in a place that will receive natural sunlight or a well-lit area. The light will continue to assist in the lemon’s ripening.
Where to Buy a Lemon Tree
We sell much more than just citrus trees. We grow shrubs, palms, perennials, fruit trees, annuals, tropicals, and more. If you’re ready to grow a lemon tree, remember to follow proper lemon tree care to ensure that your plant grows into a healthy, robust and abundant fruit tree.
You can find high-quality, healthy lemon trees at our nursery! Give us a call at 941.923.3756 and let us help you find your new favorite plant pal.
We inspect all plants for disease and insects before delivering your order and actively use preventative measures to ensure your plant’s longevity. Our knowledgeable staff can help answer any pertinent questions you may have and help you find the best lemon fruit tree that meets your needs.
