5 Easy Tips for Growing Lemon Trees

by Alli

Lemons are a huge favorite at my house. A glass of iced tea is not complete without a big squeeze of lemon. If you love lemons, why not grow your own? These 5 Easy Tips for Growing Lemon Trees will help you become a pro in no time at all.

For me, summertime is about fresh produce, berries and using lemons in everything! I use lemons in salad dressings, cakes, squeezing over chicken, and even cleaning my house! Lemons are very versatile and add a delicious brightness to any dish.

5 Tips to Growing Lemon Trees

Lemons are not that hard to grow on your own. Wouldn’t it be great to have a fresh supply from your very own lemon tree?

As long as you treat your tree properly, it will do just fine and you’ll soon be an expert at growing lemon trees.

Growing Lemon Trees

5 Tips for Growing Lemon Trees

1. Climate 

Lemon trees grow best in tropical regions. So if you live in a place that the temperature drops below 50 degrees, you should plant your tree in a large pot and keep it in your house somewhere that has a lot of light, like a sunroom or next to a window. 

2. Sunlight

Some plants are capable of doing very well with little sunlight. However, lemon trees are not one of those plants. They need lots of sunlight (seven to eight hours every day) to thrive and give you the best yield possible.

3. Watering

I know this may seem like a no-brainer. Everyone knows plants need water to live, but I’m talking about a lot of water. You won’t need to water all the time, but when you do you need to give it a good long soaking.

Lemon trees don’t tend to respond well to frequent shallow soakings, but once a week giving it about two gallons (however much it takes to soak it well and get down to all the roots) has done wonders for my lemon tree.

4. Pruning

Pruning is when you cut off what’s not necessary so all of the plant’s energy goes into the branches producing the lemons. Prune dead branches or branches that never flower. This will help with getting a higher quality of lemons.

If you live in a warm climate, you have a lot more leeway on when to prune. Don’t do it when it’s roasting hot. For everyone else, February through April are the best pruning months. However, you can prune any time the tree is producing flowers.

5. Soil

This is so important. You know the saying, “you are what you eat?” Well, the same rule applies to your plants in the sense that the soil they are in can drastically affect their growth. Sandy soil is great because it has great drainage which lemon trees love.

A soil with high clay content can stunt the growth of your tree. An easy fix is to mix in a little sand or gravel to improve the drainage. There’s also plant food specifically for citrus trees to give you your best chance at a high yielding tree.

5 Tips on Growing Lemon Trees

Follow these tips and soon you’ll be a pro at growing lemon trees.

Questions About Growing Lemon Trees

How long does it take to grow a lemon tree?

It usually takes about three years before you’ll see a harvest suitable for picking. If you start a lemon tree from seed, it may take three to six years.

How big will a lemon tree get?

A Meyer lemon tree growing on its natural roots can get as tall as 10-15 feet. A true lemon tree can grow as tall as 20 feet.

How often do you water a lemon tree?

Your tree needs to be watered twice a week until it shows new growth. After that, citrus trees need to dry out between waterings. Once your lemon trees are established, deep-water once a week or every 10 days.

What is the best fertilizer for lemon trees?

Lemon trees need to be fertilized with nitrogen to produce strong growth. The best source of nitrogen is a slow-release fertilizer. Fertilize from once a month to every other month during the spring and summer and every two to three months during fall and winter.

A nitrogen deficiency is often to blame for leaves turning yellow.

When should I prune my lemon tree?

The best time to prune is soon after harvest in winter and before bud break in spring.

 

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