Nothing beats the bracing tang and gorgeous scent of a homegrown lemon tree.
Words Chloe Thomson
If life isn’t giving you lemons, it’s probably because you don’t have a backyard lemon tree — so this is your cue to plant one. Now!
It doesn’t need to take over your whole backyard; you can grow a productive lemon tree in a big pot.
If you choose the right variety for your location and climate, a homegrown tree will provide you with year-round fruit and beautifully fragrant blossoms.
You’ll have lemons on hand for zesty dressings, tangy desserts or a classic gin and tonic whenever you need one.
Planting and care
Lemon trees love a sunny spot with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. This is where a large pot (40–50cm wide and deep) is ideal because you can find the sunniest spot, even if it’s on paving.
If you’re planting in the ground, a lemon tree prefers a well-drained, slightly acidic soil that’s been enriched with organic matter.
If you’ve got really heavy soil or poor drainage consider a raised garden bed or container instead.
When growing in a large pot, choose a dwarf lemon tree and look for a potting mix that’s either organic or specific to citrus trees.
Full-sized lemon trees can reach up to 4–5m tall and 2–3m wide, so allow space if you choose a non-dwarf variety.
Care tips
- Once planted, your lemon tree will need regular watering so the soil is consistently moist, especially during flowering and fruiting. Deep waterings will encourage strong root growth and a good layer of mulch around the drip line of the tree will help prevent the topsoil from drying out too quickly.
- Fertilise your lemon tree with an organic potassium-rich fertiliser in early spring, midsummer and again in autumn. If your plant shows signs of nutrient deficiency such as yellowing or mottled leaves, look for a complete macro- and micro-nutrient fertiliser and apply as per the label.
- Prune regularly to keep your tree to the desired shape, removing any dead or disease-damaged wood as you go. To improve airflow and reduce pest or fungal infestations, it’s a good idea to prune to open up the centre of the tree. Lemon trees can handle a very hard prune or skeleton prune if needed, but it will impact fruit development for a year or two afterwards.
- Common lemon-tree pests include aphids and scale, which love soft new growth. Encourage beneficial insects such as ladybirds, lacewings and parasitic wasps by planting plenty of flowering plants nearby. If necessary, control aphids and scale using a petroleum-free, organic pest oil such as eco-oil or eco-pyrethrum PLUS.
- Citrus gall wasp is another pest that infests the stems of lemon trees and causes swollen galls, which can really weaken young trees. See last issue for more detail on gall wasp.
Harvesting and storing
Lemons typically ripen 6–9 months after forming and a mature lemon will feel firm and have a vibrant yellow skin.
I prefer to cut lemons from the tree to preserve a little bit of stalk — that way you don’t rip a hole in the skin and the harvested lemon will keep longer.
It’s best to leave lemons on your tree until you’re ready to use them or pick a few each week for use.
If you do need to pick a lot at once and you end up with a glut, you can grate the zest and freeze it in small ice-cube trays. You can squeeze juice into ice-cube trays for freezing as well.
Other uses include lemon butter and lemon curd, preserved lemons, lemonade and even cleaning products.
Varieties to try
‘Bush Lemon’ A naturalised lemon that grows wild in subtropical regions, this hardy plant with thick-skinned fruit grows to around 4m tall in a sunny spot.
‘Eureka’ A classic year-round harvester with minimal seeds and a thin rind, perfect for juicing, this tree also tends to be relatively thornless.
‘Lemonade’ Super-sweet and juicy, this one’s fruit can be eaten straight off the tree. Thorny.
‘Lisbon’ Another thorny variety, this variety thrives in cooler climates and produces high yields.
‘Meyer’ produces sweeter, less acidic fruit. Naturally smaller than ‘Eureka’ or ‘Lisbon’, it can also be bought on super-dwarfing rootstock so is ideal in pots or for smaller gardens.
• Remember: All these varieties can be found grafted on to dwarfing rootstock.
Lemon label
Common name: Lemon
Botanical name: Citrus × limon
Family: Rutaceae
Aspect & soil: Sunny, sheltered; well-drained soil
Best climate: Temperate to tropical
Habit: Small evergreen tree
Propagation: Budding
Difficulty: Moderate