Anyone grow lemons at home?
Discussion
Wife really wants a lemon tree, but obvs the UK climate not really ideal.
We're not nearly posh or wealthy enough to have an orangery, but we do have a sheltered patio that gets sun morning and late afternoon/evening. No greenhouse though.
I've found a reputable supplier claiming that the tree (in pot) can be kept on a patio in the summer, but indoors during the winter. We can achieve this, but does it work? Should add - I'm not very green-fingered.
Any experience? TIA
We're not nearly posh or wealthy enough to have an orangery, but we do have a sheltered patio that gets sun morning and late afternoon/evening. No greenhouse though.
I've found a reputable supplier claiming that the tree (in pot) can be kept on a patio in the summer, but indoors during the winter. We can achieve this, but does it work? Should add - I'm not very green-fingered.
Any experience? TIA
I have lemons, limes, blood oranges, satsumas and grapefruits in the garden in Summer , but i move them to the Greenhouse in Winter ...(which has heat if its freezing) . i find the lemons and limes more prone to leaf drop in frost compared to the rest. I have the planters on stands with wheels to make it easy to move around . May have to prune to get them in greenhouse this year 
.
The smell of the blossom is fantastic, fruits tend to be very pithy and not very juicy but OK in a G&T.
.The smell of the blossom is fantastic, fruits tend to be very pithy and not very juicy but OK in a G&T.
Yes i grow them. I bring them inside in winter, leave them out from may/june.
Only got the one tree, I've also got a lime tree. Much smaller though.
They hate CH because it dries them out, i use a winter and summer fertiliser.
If you're going to get one go to a decent garden centre.
Only got the one tree, I've also got a lime tree. Much smaller though.
They hate CH because it dries them out, i use a winter and summer fertiliser.
If you're going to get one go to a decent garden centre.
Edited by borcy on Tuesday 11th June 08:20
The Three D Mucketeer said:
I have lemons, limes, blood oranges, satsumas and grapefruits in the garden in Summer , but i move them to the Greenhouse in Winter ...(which has heat if its freezing) . i find the lemons and limes more prone to leaf drop in frost compared to the rest. I have the planters on stands with wheels to make it easy to move around . May have to prune to get them in greenhouse this year .
The smell of the blossom is fantastic, fruits tend to be very pithy and not very juicy but OK in a G&T.
Nice! .The smell of the blossom is fantastic, fruits tend to be very pithy and not very juicy but OK in a G&T.
beagrizzly said:
Thanks to all.
Starting to wonder if I should get a small greenhouse - enough for the tree, maybe 2. Could go on the deck on t'other side of the house where it'd get the best winter sun.
Thoughts on type, size and supplier welcome.
They don't mind cold, but you must avoid frost and big day/night temperature variations (they'll drop all their leaves), and give them plenty of light & ventilation over winter. Starting to wonder if I should get a small greenhouse - enough for the tree, maybe 2. Could go on the deck on t'other side of the house where it'd get the best winter sun.
Thoughts on type, size and supplier welcome.
Scale insect over winter is my bête noire, no matter how much chemical warfare I engage in!
I've got 3 plants that I grew from seeds recovered from my G&T lemon slice They're about 3 years old now but still no flowers or fruits as yet. Getting a bit leggy and likely need pruning. They live inside in my half built and as-yet unheated building by the balcony French windows. The temperature has varied between 0 and 38 degrees and so far they have survived. I just water them as required (not too much) and give them some seaweed feed occasionally.
Have currently got a bit of an ant infestation problem - anyone know how to solve that more easily than washing all the soil off the roots and re-potting?
They're about 3 years old now but still no flowers or fruits as yet. Getting a bit leggy and likely need pruning. They live inside in my half built and as-yet unheated building by the balcony French windows. The temperature has varied between 0 and 38 degrees and so far they have survived. I just water them as required (not too much) and give them some seaweed feed occasionally.Have currently got a bit of an ant infestation problem - anyone know how to solve that more easily than washing all the soil off the roots and re-potting?
Partly depends where in the country you live and how sheltered your garden is. In the South in a sheltered garden I managed with two lemon trees to get away with two winters fully outside, with a fleece cover over them in the depth of winter. Then moved to a more exposed place, but with a greenhouse. Same trees (potted, taken with me) now thriving in the greenhouse, but almost killed off in Dec 2022 when it was extremely cold for about a week (minus 8 here at one point) and dropped their leaves. They've recovered since but taken since then to get back to where they were before that period.
MiL has one which is brought into her house over winter and is constantly hanging on for life, clearly doesn't like being inside.
TLDR: probably only really suitable if you live in the south and/or have a greenhouse (preferably heated in extreme cold). Don't bring them in the house unless in an unheated conservatory or similar.
MiL has one which is brought into her house over winter and is constantly hanging on for life, clearly doesn't like being inside.
TLDR: probably only really suitable if you live in the south and/or have a greenhouse (preferably heated in extreme cold). Don't bring them in the house unless in an unheated conservatory or similar.
We have a lemon and it overwinters in an unheated greenhouse. I cover it in a fleece bag and use bricks / wood to lift it off the floor. Lots of leaf drop this winter but plenty of new growth has come in the past couple of weeks. Perhaps need more protection this winter as I think in a few years we've had maybe one lemon.
Thanks all.
We now have one, and it's on the patio and seems to be doing ok for now - though obviously it's very early days.
The care sheet that came with it, as well as the 'bible' for citrus that I got on Amazon all talk about watering routine and the dangers of overwatering. However, it's stood out in the rain, and the weather is crap at the moment - is this likely to be a problem, or is generally not enough water to have a detrimental effect?
We now have one, and it's on the patio and seems to be doing ok for now - though obviously it's very early days.
The care sheet that came with it, as well as the 'bible' for citrus that I got on Amazon all talk about watering routine and the dangers of overwatering. However, it's stood out in the rain, and the weather is crap at the moment - is this likely to be a problem, or is generally not enough water to have a detrimental effect?
I have one that’s about 4 years old, grown from a seed. I over winter it in the conservatory and put it outside from about May / June onwards. It’s really struggled this year with not much new growth, and it’s currently suffering from an infestation of scaly bugs that I’m unable to contain just by scraping them off.
I’ve yet to see any fruit (or even flowers) and suspect I may never
I’ve yet to see any fruit (or even flowers) and suspect I may never
Latest: Tree doing very well, insofar as it is still alive (!), looks healthy, and the one small green lemon that was on it when it arrived here is now a glorious large yellow lemon.
However, it flowers well and regularly, and then starts growing fruit, but the new lemons simply fall off after a while. The largest got to about 3-4cm long and got us quite excited before it fell. Any ideas why they aren't staying?
However, it flowers well and regularly, and then starts growing fruit, but the new lemons simply fall off after a while. The largest got to about 3-4cm long and got us quite excited before it fell. Any ideas why they aren't staying?
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff