The lemon is the king of all citrus fruits. Did you know then, that the lemon (citrus limon), is actually a hybrid fruit created by crossing some of the more ancient citrus fruits – most likely a citron and a bitter orange – thousands of years ago?
SOME LEMON FACTS
- The main season for lemon picking is January – March, but depending on the variety, lemon trees can bloom and be picked all throughout the year.
- A lemon has an average acidity of 5-6% by weight of the lemon’s juice.
- A lemon tree in a grove grows up to 3-6 metres and can yield up to 1,500 lemons a year.
GROWING YOUR OWN LEMONS AT HOME
Lemons are a generous plant that can be grown in pots or in the ground.
The success of growing a lemon tree depends on numerous factors. Firstly, lemon trees cannot withstand temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, and need plenty of sunlight.
Therefore, if growing in pots, move your lemon tree indoors or to a cool greenhouse as the colder nights arrive.
Hot, centrally heated rooms are not good for the plant and will cause stress. They should always be placed in a sunny position. Lemon trees grown in a pot will reach about 1-1.5m tall.
Lemon trees prefer fertile, well-draining soil. A tray filled with gravel underneath the pot can help maintain humidity; fill it with water just below the surface of the gravel. Keep the soil evenly moist and fertilise as needed.
Minimal pruning is required for lemon trees. Never prune back more than a third of the plant, which can be started in the first or second year to allow the plant grow as desired.
The tallest branch can be cut back to encourage bushy growth. On the whole, make sure to remove crossing, diseased or dying branches, and don’t be hasty to remove healthy branches.