How to Grow Myers Lemon Trees

Meyer lemons remain an easy to grow cirtus tree indoors or out.

The citrus fruit produced by the Meyer lemon tree is less acidic and slightly sweeter than regular lemons. This lower acidity level makes Meyer lemons a favorite citrus among cooks and chefs alike. Meyer lemon trees produce lemons at an earlier age than regular lemon trees. The Meyer lemon tree is extremely hardy and can grow indoors in containers, or outdoors in tropical climates such as that found in the Gulf Coast states.

Things You'll Need

• Meyer lemon tree
• 10-gallon container
• Organic fertilizer (2-1-1)
• Grow light
• Pruning shears
• Potting mix with sand or peat moss
• Bucket

Instructions

Growing Meyer Lemon Trees in the Garden

1. Purchase a Meyer lemon tree at a garden center or nursery. Remove the Meyer lemon tree gently from its packaging and apply a light misting of water on the exposed roots. Lightly pull the roots to loosen them from their original compacted form.

2. Dig a hole two times deeper and wider than the Meyer lemon tree root ball. Make sure the location you chose receives at least eight hours of sunlight per day. Add two to three scoops of sand into the hole and mix to combine.

3. Place the roots of the lemon tree in a bucket full of water. Gently swish the plant back and forth to remove the packing soil from the root ball. Place the Meyer lemon tree into the dug hole and cover with soil.

4. Keep the soil moist with regular watering. Apply a regular feeding of organic fertilizer according to the label instructions.

5. Prune Meyer lemon trees in the spring and summer by removing all dead or diseased branches. Harvest when the Meyer lemons reach yellow or orange in color.

Growing Meyer Lemon Trees in Containers

1. Purchase a 2- or 3-year-old Meyer lemon tree from a garden center or nursery. Make sure to choose a 10-gallon container that has drainage holes at the bottom.

2. Add a 2-inch layer of gravel to the bottom of the container. This layer of gravel provides proper drainage to keep the roots from rotting. Fill the container with a potting mix containing sand or peat moss. Meyer lemon trees prefer this soil to thrive and grow a healthy crop of lemons.

3. Place the Meyer lemon tree in the soil mix and cover the root ball. Do not cover any part of the lemon tree trunk with soil. Planting the Meyer lemon too deep could result in the trunk rotting.

4. Set the container outside or next to a southern-facing window for at least eight hours every day. Supplement indoor lighting needs by placing the Meyer lemon tree under a grow light.

5. Pollinate indoor-growing Meyer lemon trees by taking cotton swabs to rub the pollen inside the white flower. Keep the Meyer lemon tree's container regularly watered. Indoor trees require light misting daily to maintain humidity levels.

6. Bring the Meyer lemon tree containers indoors when temperatures threaten to drop below freezing.

7. Prune the Meyer lemon tree when it has reached a height of at least four feet tall. Cut all of the dead and diseased branches off at the base of the lemon tree.

Tips & Warnings

• Fertilize garden and container Meyer lemon trees in the spring and summer with a light feeding of nitrogen-rich fertilizer such as 2-1-1.

References

• Meyer Lemon Tree: Growing Your Indoor Meyer Lemon Tree
• Washington State University Whatcom County Extension: Meyer Lemon