Having lemon trees in your backyard means enjoying the fresh flavour daily with all your drinks and meals. Pluck a lemon, cut in half, squeeze it over the meal and enjoy how wonderful it is?
Lemons, being a symbol of exotic tropical, are low maintenance easy to plant and grow. With its aromatic leaves and citrus scent that spreads out, the lemon tree never fails to perk up any garden. Do you want to grow your own lemons too? Don’t heed out; stick with us as we embark on a journey to learn about the types of lemon trees, their specific growth requirements, and the necessary care needed to grow a lemon tree.
Lemon Trees Growth
The Lemon trees can be planted just after the end of frost in the early spring. Lemon trees don’t like soggy and cold conditions. While selecting a plantation site, make sure that the site is well-drained and has a full sunspot for the tree. Moreover, if there are indications for chills then always plant your lemon tree against the south-western wall and shelter it.
What shall be the spacing, depth, and support for lemon trees?
While planting lemon trees, remember that lemon trees usually grow tall up to 10-20 feet and 10-15 feet wide, so space them accordingly. For the dig depth, it is recommended to make it twice the length of the root ball. If the root ball of the sapling is like half a foot, then dig a foot in length. Lemon trees don’t require initial support, but once they take up fruit, they do require support. You can place them against the wall or give them a stick of support.
Lemon Tree Types
There are three main types of lemon trees: Meyer, Eureka, and Lisbon.
A) Meyer
One of the amazing flavours of a lemon tree with the versatility of growing both indoors and outdoors is the Meyer Lemon. The Meyer lemons are known for their reduced acid content and sweet and savoury flavours. Meyer lemons have a thin skin, which allows the citrus juice to fully develop, making them a perfect choice for sprinkling over salads and desserts.
The Meyer lemons are thorn less and can be cultivated all year. Meyer lemons are ideal to be grown in pots they can reach up to the heights of 10-15 feet tall.
B) Eureka
The Eureka lemons are a top choice to be grown indoors over the patio because of their dwarf size and easy harvesting. Eureka lemons are effortless home-grown fruits with the benefits of drought tolerance. With their sweet flavour, Eureka lemons are lemonade’s favourite. Eureka lemons can’t survive cold conditions and are best suited for warmer areas. They spread sideways, and are adaptable to a variety of soil conditions while being safe from pests and diseases.
C) Lisbon
Lisbon produces its main lemon fruit in the winter and is cold tolerant. Lisbon trees have thorns, and their fruit has more seeds than that of Eureka lemons. The fruit, in terms of Lisbon, grows inside the tree, where it remains protected from the chills. Lisbon lemons have denser foliage and are more upright plants than Eureka.
Lemon Trees Care
Lemon trees grow well in sunny to full sun conditions. For a healthy fruit ripening lemon tree requires at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day. So, plant your lemon tree in an area where it gets a sufficient amount of sunlight.
If you plan to plant your tree in a pot indoors, then it’s useful to place the pot over a trolley. With a trolley, the pot can be easily moved around to places where the sun shines well to ensure the best growing conditions.
Soil
Mainly citrus fruits like oranges and lemons require soil of medium to slight acidic texture and moderate depth for effective fruit ripening. Lemons require soil that are well drained.
Water
Lemon trees, during initial planting and establishment, require frequent watering, like twice a week. But once grown to length, they prefer moderate rainfall. As they mature up, they develop drought tolerance and can thrive in nearly no water conditions too. During warm summers, keep the soil around lemons moist, especially for young trees. While watering lemon trees, be careful not to over water or waterlog the plant. Excess watering results in the yellowing of leaves, which shed over time.
Temperature and Humidity
Lemon trees prefer warmer temperatures and humid conditions. Ideal lemons growth occurs when humidity is close to 50% and the temperature is between 75-85 Fahrenheit. Young lemon trees are sensitive towards cold conditions so if the temperature drops, you must pay extra attention for their shelter.
Pruning of Lemon Trees
Different lemon tree types have different growth styles and therefore have different pruning requirements. Prioritise pruning your lemon trees with long lateral branches for improved fruit growth and aesthetics. Pruning improves airflow between the branches and allows light to penetrate the centre. You can pinch out the foliage to control the shape and encourage bloom. Frequent pruning of the young trees can encourage a good branch structure. The upright growth habit of the Lisbon lemon trees can be maintained by regular pruning and, hence, can increase fruit production too.
Fertilizers
Fertilisers encourage healthy growth and boost fruit production. Lemon trees are energy-hungry trees; additives like Nitrogen, phosphorus, and Potassium in the soil can improve healthy fruit growth and make the fruit riper. We recommended benefitting your lemons with nitrogen rich fertilizers every four to six weeks.
Harvesting
The best part about growing and caring for lemon trees is the harvesting time. Harvesting the lemons is way easier than it seems. You can pluck the lemons when their skin is yellow or yellow green. Most of the lemons are ready to harvest at the end of each season.
Common Pests and Diseases of Lemon Trees
Lemons from lemon trees are one of nature’s wonderful gifts. Meanwhile, the fruit lemon trees also attract hosts of pests and plant diseases. Citrus leaf miners, mites, scale insects, and aphids are among the pests that frequent lemon trees.
Diseases usually discolour the leaves of lemon trees. Among the diseases these five commons shall be observed:
1) Citrus Greening
Citrus greening is a bacterial disease that is characterised by yellow-blotchy leaves and disfigured fruit.
2) Citrus Canker
Pinpoint spots over the leaves that enlarge and develop as yellow halos are referred to as citrus canker. It’s a common plant disease in lemons that can only be cured by full sun baths and fungicide treatments.
3) Greasy spot disease
Yellow spots over the leaves that turn into blisters are the symptoms of greasy spot disease. Greasy spot is a fungus disease that occurs during humid, wet weather and vanishes under full sun.
4) Melanose
Melanose is another fungal disease that occurs during the rainy season. Raised, sunken lesions that are rough in texture and crack out over time are the symptoms of Melanose.
5) Citrus Scabs
Corky growth over the stem, leaves, and fruit is referred to as citrus scabs. Citrus scabs can only be controlled with copper-based fungicides.
Conclusion
The lemon tree offers the opportunity to enjoy fresh, flavourful lemons daily. With low maintenance and specific care requirements, lemon trees can add a citrus scent to your garden. By selecting the right lemon tree variety and providing adequate sunlight, well-drained soil, and proper watering, one can ensure healthy growth and bountiful harvests. Although pests and diseases can pose challenges, but taking proactive measures can help protect your lemon trees.
Embrace the joy of cultivating your own lemons and enhance your drinks and meals with their wonderful flavour.
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References
CPG12/CG093: 2022–2023 Florida Citrus Production Guide: Irrigation Management of Citrus Trees. edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/CG093. Accessed 6 July 2023.
“Citrus: Lemons, Oranges, and Limes.” Almanac.com, www.almanac.com/plant/citrus-lemons-oranges-and-limes. Accessed 6 July 2023.
Lutz, Amanda. “How to Grow and Care for a Meyer Lemon Tree.” Architectural Digest, 9 June 2023, www.architecturaldigest.com/reviews/home-products/meyer-lemon-tree.
Lemon | Diseases and Pests, Description, Uses, Propagation. plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/lemon/infos. Accessed 6 July 2023.