Having a lemon tree in your garden is a delight. Not only because you will have lemons from the branch to your kitchen, but also because it is one of the most beautiful trees there is, with its white flowers when it blooms and that combination of green and yellow of its fruits. But how do you grow a lemon tree in your garden?
If you want to know, we are going to give you all the keys below so that you don't have any problems with it. In addition, it is one of the most resistant trees and, with a few exceptions, it shouldn't give you any problems even if you don't have much time to take care of it. Shall we go for it?
What a lemon tree looks like
The lemon tree, or lemon tree, has as scientific name Citrus limon and is a Perennial fruit tree that can easily reach 3-6 meters in height, although it is normal for it to remain somewhat smaller in domestic gardens.
Its trunk is usually thin and on the branches it puts out, especially on the newest ones, you will see that thorns appear. This is a defense mechanism of the tree itself to prevent others from damaging its branches or its fruits.
The leaves are bright green and oval in shape. But what is most striking about them is their citrus scent. In fact, if you pick one up and rub it, it will leave that smell on your hands. That's why having one in your garden can allow you to enjoy a particular aroma.
As for the flowers, they are called orange blossoms, like those of orange trees. They are white and have a slight greenish-yellow touch, as well as having an odor. The fruits, the lemons, come out of them. Normally they come out oval-shaped, with a thick and rough or smooth skin. Although there are times when the lemons can be double, triple or more (this is usually when the development of the fruit has not been adequate).
These lemons take between 4 and 9 months to ripen, sometimes less. The lemon tree can produce lemons almost all year round, although there are periods when it usually stops to replenish its energy.
Caring for a lemon tree in your garden
Now that you know a little more about the lemon tree, it's time to give you the keys to growing a lemon tree in your garden easily. Keep in mind that the care we are going to give you is general. That is to say, it may be the case that your tree, after a couple of complete cycles in the place you place it, adapts, being able to withstand other conditions.
In general, what you should keep in mind is the following:
Location and temperature
Lemon trees are trees that like sunlight a lot. They need to have between 10 and 20 cm of sunlight. 6 and 8 hours of direct sunlight, although some varieties can receive even more. In fact, the more light they get, the better they will develop, because they will grow more and bear more fruit.
Of course, temperature will have an influence. Its ideal temperature is between 15 and 30 °C, not tolerating strong frosts or temperatures below two degrees below zero. But this depends on the tree's resistance.
If it is the first few years, it is normal that it does not resist, but when it has been in the same location for a while and has gone through the different seasons, it develops a special protection against both high and low temperatures. One of these consequences is the fact that it stops producing lemons.
Another thing to keep in mind is the wind. It doesn't like it very much, so if you put it in a windy area, it's best to put a barrier around it.
Substratum
The most suitable soil for a lemon tree is one that is slightly acidic, with a pH between 5,5 and 6.5. If you are going to have it in a pot, make sure to mix it with garden soil, compost and perlite so that aeration can be improved and the roots can move easily.
If you plant it in the ground, make sure that the soil is well drained, so as to avoid waterlogging when watering.
Irrigation
Watering is one of the most important cares for all trees, and it was not going to be any different for the lemon tree. As a general rule, It is recommended to water in summer 2-3 times a week, While in winter, depending on the soil humidity, you could skip watering or water once a month, every two weeks or a week.
When watering, we recommend that you Always do it at the base of the tree, but not directly on the trunk. If it gets wet, you can cause diseases to appear. Therefore, it is better to do it around the trunk, so the roots will take care of getting what they need.
However, keep an eye on puddles because too much water can cause fungus to appear or the roots to rot.
Subscriber
Because the lemon tree in an orchard is a tree that is almost continuously in production, it is necessary to give it a contribution of fertilizer from time to time. Ideally, if it is growing, it should be given every four or six weeks, while, for fruit production, it should be done every two or three months.
And what kind of fertilizer? You can use two: organic, which can be compost, worm castings or manure; or chemical, making sure they are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc and magnesium.
Pruning
This tree is going to need you to keep an eye on this. To start, with a formation pruning to give it a strong structure. Once it has grown to the shape you wanted, it will be time to maintain it, removing dry, weak or diseased branches.
Branches that extend vertically towards the sky are also removed. These are branches that take away a lot of energy from the tree, as well as preventing it from developing properly.
Plagues and diseases
Among the most important pests to take into account of the lemon tree in your garden, aphid, cochineal or citrus leaf miner are the most significant.
Aphids deform leaves and shoots. You will find scale insects in the trunk or branches. You will recognize leaf miner because they appear in tunnels in the leaves of trees.
To solve them, nothing works like soapy water, diluted alcohol, neem oil or pruning the affected areas.
With respect to diseases, The most relevant are:
- Gummosis: This will affect the trunk and cause it to secrete a gummy substance.
- Iron chlorosis: which will cause the leaves to turn yellow due to a lack of iron.
Now you know how to grow a lemon tree in your garden. Do you want to have one?