WHERE TO PLANT A LEMON TREE
Lemon trees are frost tender, they do best in a consistently sunny, moist environment in an area sheltered from harsh winds.
Sun- Plant your lemon tree in a warm sunny spot, at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Heat- Whether they are planted in the soil or in pots, citrus trees will respond well to pavers or stones on the ground around them or a hot concrete wall next to them to radiate the heat.
Sheltered- Avoid planting a lemon tree in a spot that gets harsh winds.
Airflow- An area in your garden with good airflow (yet not too windy) helps plant health. Airflow can be achieved by thinning (pruning) out some branches in the middle of your tree.
Frost Sensitive- Lemons are frost tender, especially young plants and new growth. If you live in an area with frosts, observe your garden to see if there are any spots that don’t get frosted ie. under soffits or patios. If not, planting your tree against a north facing wall, hedge or shed is a good option. These spots tend to be drier and so more watering of your lemon tree will be required.
If your lemon tree is in an area exposed to frost then cover it overnight when a frost is expected.
A double layer of fabric, such as a sheet or frost cloth will work. Remove frost cloth during the day.
Growing citrus in pots is a great solution to the cold, this way you can bring your trees undercover during winter to avoid frosts.
Free Draining Soil- Lemon trees do not like wet feet so make sure you plant your lemon in free-draining soil. You can do a soil drainage test by digging a hole the size of a standard bucket, fill the hole with water and the water should have gone within the hour for suitable drainage.
VARIETIES OF LEMON TREE FOR NZ GARDENS
‘Meyer’ lemon is the variety that is the most hardy to frost. ‘Lemonade’ and ‘Yen Ben’ can cope with a light frost once established.
Meyer has a mellow sweet flavour, it will produce fruit all year once established.
Yen Bens are juicy with a true lemon flavour, they will be ripe in the winter.
Lemonade is a sweet easy peel fruit that can be eaten like an orange. It ripens in late winter to early spring.
CARING FOR YOUR LEMON TREE
Mulch around the base of your lemon tree will help keep the soil temperature warmer in the winter and keep moisture in the soil in the summer. The mulch also breaks down to add nutrients into the soil.
Keep your lemon tree healthy by keeping the soil moist. In the warmer months water your lemon trees deeply every couple of days. Water potted trees everyday.
Compost will feed the soil, there are also specialist citrus fertilisers available. Magnesium deficiencies can be common in citrus, shown by yellowing leaves. Sprinkle epsom salts into the soil to add more magnesium.
Remove any small fruits that develop in the first two years, this allows the tree to devote its energy to growing strong healthy stems and roots.
Feed generously over spring and summer (every 6 weeks) but stop feeding in late summer so you do not encourage new tender growth before the winter
As mentioned above, cover your tree at night with a frost cloth if you expect it will get frosted.
PRUNING
A lemon tree only needs to be pruned if you need to restrict its size or alter the shape of the tree. To allow for more windflow to prevent pests and diseases, you may remove branches in the centre of the tree.
Pruning in winter is preferable as Lemon Tree Borer will not be flying around looking to invade fresh cut wood. If your tree is likely to get frosted then prune in spring after the last frost to prevent any new growth getting frost damage. Lemon Tree Borer will be flying around in spring, summer and autumn so if you must prune during this time seal your cuts straight away with a pruning sealer.
Upright thorny shots coming from the bottom of your lemon tree are called suckers, they need to be pruned off at the base as they take energy away from the tree.
PESTS
As with all plants, prevention of pests and diseases is key.
Stressed out plants are more likely to be the victim of pest and diseases.
Keep your plants moist and well fed with nutrients in the soil. The best way to do this is with a thick mulch or compost, mulch will hold moisture in the soil as well as provide your soil with nutrients that your plants need.
Natural air flow is important for plant health. Airflow around and through each plant reduces the damp and still conditions that most pests and diseases prefer.
HARVESTING
Lemons are predominantly a winter fruit. However different varieties of Lemon ripen at different times of the year.
Smooth skin and a strong aroma is a sign of ripeness but the best way to see if a lemon is ripe is to cut it open and see. Many fruits colour up long before they can be eaten so just because your lemon is yellow it doesn't mean it is ready to pick.
Cut fruit off with secateurs.
Once picked, citrus fruit doesn’t continue to ripen or sweeten. Fruit will keep much longer on the tree than if picked and stored.
For more advice like this see What Plant Where- A Simple Garden Making Guide For Aotearoa New Zealand Gardens or book an on-site garden consultation with Artful Gardens today