Lemon trees, with their brightly colored fruits and fragrant flowers, are a dream. Not only are they nice to look at but they’re very useful as well. Lemons have a wide range of uses – from cooking to cleaning, beauty to health.
However, growing a lemon tree is not easy, especially if you have limited space or if you live in a cold climate. But there’s a solution for it now – it’s called container gardening. Growing lemon trees inside a pot is possible. This way, you provide the plant with an appropriate environment in a small space.
Now that we know it’s possible, the next question is: how do we grow a lemon tree in a pot?
Choose the right variety
Before you start, remember this: container lemon trees won’t grow as big as those grown in the ground. When planting, choose dwarf varieties such as Lisbon, Improved Meyer Dwarf, Dwarf Eureka, and Ponderosa Dwarf. These varieties would have similar needs to the regular ones so it’s important that there’s good drainage. Constant watering is also needed or else, the leaves will fall off.
Choose the right pot
In order for the plant to thrive, choose a pot that’s 25 percent bigger than the root ball. Go for a clay pot instead of a plastic one. Clay pots are more porous and allow water to evaporate at the sides. This will prevent the plant from drowning. Also remember to use well-draining organic potting mix.
Choose the right location
Lemon trees love the sun so make sure they’re exposed to sunlight for 7-8 hours daily. If you live in a cold area and you wish to grow a lemon tree indoors, use grow lights so that your tree receives ample lighting. You would also have to consider humidity – 50 percent level is ideal.
Do not expose your lemon trees to freezing temperature. This will cause the plant to die. Also, avoid windy areas as lemon trees dislike strong winds.
Choose the best time to prune, pinch, and harvest
When a branch is approximately five inches long, you may pinch the growing tip to encourage bushier growth. When new growth starts, you can start pruning the lemon tree. Take extra care to prune only diseased or dead branches.
The variety of your lemon tree and the weather conditions will determine your harvesting time. As soon as the fruits are off the tree, they will stop ripening. Check the fruit: if it’s yellow, soft, and heavy, then it’s ripe.
Growing a lemon tree in a pot is easier than you think. Are you ready to start now?
