LEMON PLANT, CHARACTERISTICS AND TIPS FOR GROWING IT - LIFESTYLE

Lemon plant: characteristics and tips for growing it at home

A lemon is a source of vitamin C, fortifies the body and helps to keep the figure thanks to its low calorie intake and typically sour taste. Having it at home means being able to always benefit from its scent and its antioxidant properties, because do not try to grow it at home? Did you know that there are lemonades that do not involve the exclusive use of these citrus fruits? Watch in the video how to make one based on basil and blueberries.

The lemon plant: characteristics and flowering

Among all the citrus fruits that survive the winter, the lemon is one of those whose cultivation is also allowed in pots. In this way it is possible to have a breath of joy and Mediterranean smells even in the northernmost regions of our country. its typical canary yellow color puts you in a good mood even on the darkest days, helping to make the tree an excellent ornamental choice.

The lemon tree, Citrus limon, is native to India and Indochina and is an evergreen plant like the other citrus fruits of the Rutaceae family. According to some currents of thought, the lemon is not a real species but a hybrid, between the cedar (Citrus medica) and lime (Citrus aurantifolia), just like other citrus varieties. This ability has contributed to their spread throughout the world, diversifying them and making them adaptable to different conditions.
The lemon tree, however, is different from other fruit trees because it is able to produce fruits more times a year. Its fruit, the lemon, is extremely common and is easily found in Italian kitchens: it has a thick colored skin. yellow and rich in perfumed essential oils, its shape is elliptical and has an "end called" umbo ".

Typically an average lemon tree is 3-6 meters high (without pruning), with irregular and thorny branches and can easily develop in different climates, therefore it is possible to grow it in pots or in the ground with relative simplicity. Obviously in pot it will have a smaller size, but for this reason it is also loved to embellish the terraces of large cities.

The lemon plant also produces very aromatic flowers that appear in pairs or alone. They tend to be arranged close to the dark green leaves and are characterized by having a beautiful white color with purple hues in the lower part.
If the tree is kept well it is able to bloom again several times in different periods of the year, and this condition often occurs when there are also favorable climatic conditions for its growth.
Normally, the flowers appear in spring, a period in which winter lemons are also born, and in early autumn, from which the verdelli lemons are born, which ripen in the following summer.
The flowers of the lemon plant are called zagare and they are immediately visible because they are beautiful big. It is not certain that flowers and fruits appear at different times, it can also happen that they appear in synchrony.
The lemon tree begins to bear fruit after the fourth year of age and generally ripening occurs from spring to late autumn. The evergreen plant is very productive, so much so that in addition to the fragrant flowers it gives those who grow it from 350 to 600 lemons.
The maximum life span of a lemon tree is around 50 years, but it takes an expert hand in gardening to keep it alive for that long and it also depends on the variety you choose.

The main varieties of lemon plants that can be purchased are the Feminello Comune, the Feminello Siracusano, the Feminello Continella and the Feminello Bianco Zagara or Feminello Fior d’Arancio.

Ideal climate and soil for growing lemon

The plant lends itself well to different climates and temperatures, but like all plant species it has ideal temperatures and weather conditions.
In particular, the lemon does not like low temperatures, so much so that around -4 ° C it tends to drop the leaves and with even lower temperatures, which last over time, it risks having permanent damage.
Therefore it can be grown outdoors only in areas with a mild climate, characterized by not too harsh winters. It is no coincidence that in Italy 80% of lemon production takes place in Sicily. Throughout the South and the islands, the lemon gives its best and produces abundant fruit. If you live in the North, do not despair: even the microclimates of the lakes favor the development of citrus groves. In the northernmost areas it is possible to grow a plant of lemon, as long as it is covered with repairing cloths and possibly moved to the occasion (in the North we recommend the cultivation of the lemon plant in pots).

As for the soil, on the other hand, the "preferred" one by lemon has a slightly acidic pH and is rich in organic matter. Strongly clayey soils, as well as those that are too calcareous or saline, should be avoided. If the plant is placed in a lemon grove, it should be spaced at least 4 meters from the other citrus fruits.

How to plant lemon in pots

Growing lemons in large pots is a very common practice; The important thing to make the plant grow healthy and strong is the capacity of the container, which must be deep and wide so that the roots can develop deep in the soil: minimum 32 cm for a 70 cm tall plant, perfect those 80 xh 80 cm for plants 1.80 m high. The soil to be used in pots can be both the specific one for citrus fruits and composed of one and a half parts of clay; moreover, it is necessary to add pelleted manure or a fertilizer several times a year. organic based on ground lupins.

Lemon is an extremely productive plant and even in pots it is possible to have excellent results. However, it is a delicate species and moving it according to climate change allows us to protect it and make it grow. The cultivation of the lemon plant in pot is well suited for domestic environments.
When you decide to plant a lemon, watering must be frequent, especially in the hottest period of spring-summer, to avoid the attack of aphids, spider mites, scale insects and fumaggine.
For lemon plants placed in the ground, on the other hand, irrigation follows the seasons: in autumn and winter it will be watered to a limited extent, to then increase in the milder months. The soil must always be moist, especially if the plant has been little possessed. Be careful not to overdo it!
If you notice some yellowing on the leaves it means that the tree needs more water.

See also: It's Yellow Mania! Here are the tips for a perfect lemon yellow home

Cultivating the lemon tree: the transplant period

When is it appropriate to start the cultivation of the lemon plant, especially in pots? The beginning of spring is usually recommended because the temperatures are mild and the frosts are a distant memory. To make a successful transplant it will be necessary to move the plant from a smaller pot to a larger one; to give an example if we start from a soil of 20cm, the next pot must be able to contain the foliage of the lemon or in any case it must not be less than 1/3 of this parameter. In this case, a container of about 30-40cm and the same depth is fine. indicated are those in terracotta because the typical garden pot ensures a better temperature of the roots and prevents them from overheating, as well as draining excess water better.

A little trick to get a good transfer is to cover the lemon tree with earth, up to the attachment of the trunk (no further); in this way annoying polloniferous formations are avoided. This repotting technique must be done periodically to ensure that the lemon tree grows well. Usually the first of the repottings is done after two years and for each transplant the pot will have to be bigger and bigger.
When the lemon tree is an adult, repotting can be delayed and carried out every 3-4 years and the last transplant will be done using an 80 cm diameter pot.

How to prune the lemon tree

The lemon does not require frequent pruning; usually when you decide to prune a lemon plant it is done either for particular reasons (due to diseases) or to thin out particularly dense foliage.
The best time to prune is the end of winter, in order to give the plant time to regenerate with the arrival of spring.
If you opt for a do-it-yourself operation, know that both suckers and suckers must be eliminated from the plant, in order to give more energy to the new branches that will generate future fruits.
Obviously there are other parts of the plant to clean up and these are the dry or frost-damaged branches, which once eliminated, will help the plant to reinvigorate itself.

Harvesting lemons in the home

As already said, the lemon is remontant, and according to the flowering period different types of fruit are harvested.
The main flowering periods are spring, where the winter lemons are produced, and September, from which the so-called verdelli lemons are generated, destined to ripen in the following summer.
Homemade harvesting does not require particular indications; it will be sufficient to collect the fruits of the tree when they are ripe and distinguished by a yellow skin.

If you wonder why you find green lemons in the supermarket, it is because in intensive cultivation there is a tendency to take them even when they are not completely ready. In fact, the lemon, unlike other citrus fruits, ripens even when it has been detached from the plant.
But in this way you will have to do other chemical treatments to the fruit and this leads to an inedible peel. With the cultivation of the homemade lemon tree the problem does not arise, because we treat it with natural methods and when our lemon is ready you can exploit both the inside and the outside.

Diseases of lemon

There are some diseases that mainly affect lemon. The most effective solutions at home are the practical ones and the preventive ones, such as dedicating adequate nutrition to the plant and pruning it if it is too thick.
The dry sore
This is one of the most dangerous fungal diseases for a lemon tree in the open ground. It affects the internal conducting vessels and leads to the desiccation of the plant or even just a part. The only real solution to combat it is to choose resistant or tolerant varieties.

Bacteriosis
The bacterial attack can be recognized because it creates brown-red spots on the branches. How can it be prevented? With normal precautions, such as pruning the branches and nourishing the plant well; in case of strong attack it can be treated with copper green.

Insects that attack the lemon tree

Unfortunately, lemon plants are quite prone to pest attacks.
The most dangerous is certainly the cochineal which causes the smoke and the progressive drying of the leaves, ruins the flowers and therefore prevents the fruits from growing. Against this insect, pure Marseille soap can be used, rubbing it on the leaves with a brush. If the attack is very extensive, neem oil can be added.

Other pests that can attack the lemon tree are aphids and serpentine miners. The former point directly to the yellow fruit, leaving sticky honeydew and crumpled and smoky leaves. These must be eradicated with Marseille soap diluted in water, if the mint extracts applied previously did not work.
The latter, on the other hand, tend to spoil the leaves, digging very thin tunnels. Use spinosad or pyrethrum to effectively treat the lemon tree.