How to Grow Meyer Lemon Trees

Meyer lemons are all the rage with celebrity chefs and foodies alike. Growing your own Meyer lemon tree is easy and will reward you with fruit for years.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Meyer lemon seedling
• Organic fertilizer
• Small bag of gravel

1. Assess your growing region. Meyer lemon trees can only be grown outside in climates where temperatures do not go below 32 degrees F or 0 degrees C. In all other climates, Meyer lemon trees will have to be brought inside or raised in a greenhouse during the winter.

2. Plant your Meyer lemon tree seedling. Remove the tree from the pot you purchased it in and loosen the soil around the roots. Tease the roots apart and mist with water to keep them moist. Replant your Meyer lemon tree seedling in a larger container that has at least a 5-gallon capacity to allow root growth. It is best to use a plastic pot rather than a clay one so that the tree can be easily moved indoors or outdoors if there is inclimate weather pending. The pot should have adequate drainage in the bottom and a layer of gravel to assist in water draining from the pot. Make sure that you plant the Meyer lemon seedling at the same depth it was in its original pot. Do not bury any more of the stem or leave any more of it exposed. Tamp the soil down firmly around the roots of the seedling and make sure that the stem is pointing straight upward.

3. Water and fertilize your Meyer lemon tree seedling. Lemons need lots of water, especially when outdoors in a pot. Water your seedling deeply when first planted and water it daily to keep the soil around the roots moist but not saturated. Lemons also need significant amounts of fertilizer to fruit. Choose an organic fertilizer that is specifically formulated for fruiting trees. Apply when you first plant and then on a regular basis according to package directions.

4. Choose a location for your Meyer lemon tree. All fruiting trees, including lemons, love the sun and require a minimum of six-eight hours of direct sunlight per day to fruit. Locate your planter in a south-facing location in direct sunlight. If you live in a Northern location and have to bring your lemon tree inside for the winter, locate it in the sunniest window in the house. If you do not have south-facing unobstructed windows, you may have to add artificial grow lights in order to keep your Meyer lemon tree healthy during the winter.

5. Enjoy your Meyer lemons. Your seedling will begin producing lemons from the second season onward. As the tree grows, so will the number of lemons. Lemons, like most citrus, begin to ripen in late fall to early winter. Pick them as you need them when they turn completely yellow/orange without any green spots. Lemons do not over-ripen on the tree so can be left on the tree until needed.

[brianwwalker]

on 4/7/2009 How long does it take to produce fruit? ...from the time you plant the seed....