Fruit trees are perfect for decorating the garden while getting the benefit of their delicious fruits. Specifically, the lemon tree is, in our opinion, one of those that give more joy to gardens thanks to the bright colors that characterize it. Its lemons and precious orange blossoms transmit a fresh aroma to your garden and revitalize it.
To find out what care a lemon tree needs, pay attention to this practical guide to lemon tree carein which you will learn how to cover their basic needs and also how to make a lemon tree give lemons.
Characteristics of the lemon tree
The lemon tree, or Citrus x lemon, which is its scientific name, is an evergreen tree that reaches average heights of around 6 meters. They are fruit trees that live for about 60 or 70 years, so once they begin to bear fruit, your lemon tree will accompany you practically throughout your life.
There are a lot of varieties or types of lemon trees, although the most widely cultivated is the Eureka, which has a great growth throughout the season. The lemon tree care they are not particularly demanding, but it is necessary to take some things into account to ensure proper development.
Climate for the lemon tree
We begin to explain how to care for a lemon tree speaking about the weather, because it is probably one of the most important points. It is the citrus least tolerant to cold of all, so it needs a climate in which frosts are not common or prolonged. An exposure below -3 ºC in a non-specific way will cause serious damage to most trees. Its ideal temperature is between 17ºC and 28ºC.
In this sense, there are varieties that are somewhat more tolerant to cold, among which are the Ponderosa or the Yuzu, popular in Japan and Korea and whose fruits are halfway between the Chinese orange and the grapefruit.
In winter, before cold climates, one of the most important points of the maintenance of a lemon tree involves covering the tree with greenhouse plastic or some other breathable material that lets in sunlight, or even moving it to an indoor location.
Location and light for the lemon tree
These trees need a location protected from the cold and where at the same time they are exposed to the direct sunlightas they need large amounts of sun.
It is possible to grow a lemon tree in a pot, although logically it will grow less and will also bear fewer fruits. In this case, we must give it a large enough pot and place it next to a source of direct and abundant light.
Soil and fertilizer for the lemon tree
As it is a tree that requires a lot of humidity, it is very important that we plant the lemon tree in an area with a drainage as best as possible, so that frequent irrigations do not flood the soil. Ideally, both outdoors and in a pot, is to provide semi-light earthneutral pH and rich in organic matter.
It will also require a periodic supply of more organic matter in order to continue developing and bearing fruit, and it is highly advisable to provide it with earthworm humus or fertilizer for lemon tree throughout the year, especially in the warm months.
lemon tree irrigation
With respect to lemon tree wateringas we said must be frequentmaintaining a certain level of humidity in the soil since this tree does not tolerate drought. Thus, in the warm months it will be necessary to water at least every 48 hours, spacing the watering twice as long in the cold months.
In addition, you may find it interesting to consult this other post about When to water the plants.
Lemon tree pruning
Pruning is very important when it comes to knowing how to keep a lemon tree. Like all fruit trees, they must be carried out formation pruning during its first years to give it the desired structure and, in addition, maintenance pruning every season to clean the plant of branches that grow in unwanted directions or parts in poor condition. In this last pruning, it is also advisable to partially clear the crown so that the light reaches all its branches, although it is always preferable to carry out gentle and not very aggressive pruning.
Y when to prune a lemon tree? It is best to always do it between the end of winter and the beginning of spring, when the frosts have already passed and their growing season has not yet started. Here you can learn much more about when and how to prune a lemon tree.
How to make a lemon tree bear fruit
Unless it is affected by any of the lemon tree pests or diseases, your tree should bear fruit without problems if you meet all the points mentioned above about its care. If you want your lemon tree gives lemons It is especially important to make sure that it is not cold, receives sufficient irrigation and has an adequate supply of organic matter and fertilizer, with the contribution of magnesium and phosphorus being necessary.
Now that you know all this about the lemon tree carewe also encourage you to discover How to care for a lemon tree in a pot with this other guide in text and video.
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