Growing Lemons: Tips at a Glance
- Type Fruit tree
- USDA Zones 9-11
- Soil Deeply, twice a month
- Light Full sun
- Food Slow release fertilizer
- Years to Fruit 3-5
- Design Tip Try an espalier
- Location Sheltered from wind
- Planting Tip Expose some root
Lemon Trees: A Field Guide
Lemon trees are grateful sun worshippers. Give these citrus at least eight hours a day, preferably with some humidity, and they’ll (eventually) reward you.
Lemon species vary greatly in size, appearance, and taste of fruit. Meyers produce sweet, juicy lemons, perfect for cocktails. Eurekas provide the sour, supermarket standby. Dwarf specimens work for the space-constrained. Lemon trees have glossy green leaves with white and sometimes pink-tinged flowers. Plant one-year-old seedlings in the spring for the best chance of vigorous growth. Lemon trees are happy in a container, a good option for those outside zones 9-11.