Carbeth’s Guide to: The Lemon Tree

As a start to this long adventure of learning and helping you to learn more about our products, and gardening in general in the UK, we are going to start by talking about our favourite fruit trees. In this article we will be looking at one of the most colourful trees, namely the lemon tree, these are a great choice for decorating all types of well-lit interiors or frost-protected areas. These trees can provide you with the joy that their fruits give you.

Citrus Lemon

Of Asian origin, the lemon tree (Citrus Limon) is a perennial fruit tree of the Rutaceae family. Its large, oval, bright green leaves are, like its flowers, very aromatic, with a characteristic thorn at the base.

There are many varieties of the lemon tree and the different species differ in the shape and colour of their fruit, the lemons, and in the shape, acidity and ripening periods of the fruit. This fruit tree prefers a well-drained, fertile and humus-rich soil, in a sun-facing area and protected from the wind.

The lemon tree is a medium-sized tree of the citrus genus, belonging to the Rutaceae family, which can live up to 70 years.

It has a woody, yellowish, highly branched trunk and its large, oval, bright green leaves are very aromatic and have a characteristic thorn at the base. Its flowers, the orange blossom, also give off a great aroma.

Its fruit, the lemon, is yellow or green in colour and has a thick rind that hides a white, spongy and tasteless layer, under which the pulp is found. The lemons sprout on one-year-old branches and on those with terminal buds. As for the harvesting, it must be done in a staggered way, when they are ripe, something that happens during almost the whole year.

There are many varieties of lemon tree. Their different species are differentiated by the shape and colour of their fruits, the lemons, and by their shape, acidity and ripening periods.

Basic care of the lemon tree

Lemon trees require well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil, which should be oriented towards the sun and protected from the wind.

Watering and flowering

They should be watered abundantly, especially when the fruits start to come out and during the flowering period. In the hot season it is important to water it daily, while in winter it can be watered for about 3 days.

Whenever possible, water and fertiliser should be used. It would also be a good idea not to have other vegetation under the canopy, as it could consume nutrients from the roots.

Fertiliser

Fertiliser should be rich in macro-nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, and in micro-nutrients such as iodine, iron and vitamin A. It should be applied in spring and summer.

It should be applied in spring and summer and, in order to do so, the height of the tree and the production of lemons should be taken into account, as the higher the production and the larger the size, the greater the nutrient supply should be.

Pruning

Pruning should be done annually during the period of vegetative inactivity, but especially in the first years of the lemon tree we should not overdo it. Above all, excess and dry branches should be removed to clear the way for the light to reach the tree.

During this period, dead branches and other weaker branches should be removed, so that the rest of the tree has more strength.

The tree is multiplied by grafting.

Uses of the lemon tree

As well as being present in many recipes of the Mediterranean gastronomy, the lemon also has other uses, for example:

• Food: it is commonly found in drinks, sauces or we can even see it enhancing the flavour of all kinds of recipes.
• Ornamental tree: there is no doubt, the lemon bush is ideal as decoration as long as the climate is not too cold.
• Medicinal plant: there are some studies that attribute certain medicinal properties to the lemon, including stress relief.
• Perfumery: its essential oils are commonly used in the elaboration of perfumes.
• Wood: this type of wood is hard and has a smooth bark, which is why it is highly appreciated in all types of woodwork.

Frequently asked questions about the lemon tree

We end this article with a series of frequently asked questions about this citrus tree:

How long does it take to grow a lemon plant?
The lemon tree will take between 3 and 6 years to bear fruit, so it is certainly a challenge of patience. If you want to accelerate the growth, you can buy a small tree to shorten the time

When do lemons flower?
It depends largely on the climate and the variety of lemon tree, but it is usual for them to flower twice a year: 1) The first time between March and July. 2) The second time between August and September

How long does a lemon tree live?
The maximum is usually around 70 years, but much depends on the conditions in which it grows.

What is the lemon blossom called?
The flower of the lemon tree is the orange blossom, they are white and their name comes from Arabic. It is the common name for the flowers of the orange and lemon tree. It is a common ingredient in herbal teas.