Meyer lemon trees flourish in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11, which are regions on the southern coastal margins and deep southern half of the US.
What is so special about Meyer lemons?
A cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, the Meyer lemon has smooth golden skin the color of a fresh egg yolk. It also has a thin edible rind, a high volume of juice and none of the tartness of a regular lemon — yet its potential in the kitchen went unnoticed.
Do Meyer lemon trees need two?
You don’t need two Meyer Lemons to produce fruit – since they are self-fertile, a single tree will produce lemons. However, having multiple trees can increase pollination and lead to larger harvests.
Can I grow a Meyer lemon tree in my house?
While most citrus trees need to grow outdoors in warm, humid climates, the Meyer lemon tree will happily grow in a pot in your home. We’ve been growing our own lemons indoors for years and are happy to share our best tips so you can do the same.
Where in the US can you grow lemon trees?
With its cool evenings and warm days, the desert can be an ideal home for citrus. In fact, Arizona is one of four states in the United States that can commercially grow citrus, along with California, Florida, and Texas.
How long does it take for a Meyer lemon tree to bear fruit?
How long does it take for a Meyer lemon tree to bear fruit? The amount of time it takes depends on how the tree was grown. A grafted tree can bear fruit in as little as two years, while seed-grown Meyer lemon trees can take anywhere from three to seven years to produce fruit.
Why are Meyer lemons so expensive?
Meyer lemon season usually begins in late November or early December and ends by March. Their limited window of availability, coupled with their more fragile nature (which makes shipping them more difficult), naturally makes them more expensive than hardier, year-round regular lemons too.
How often does a Meyer lemon tree bloom?
Meyer Lemon Trees are the easiest citrus plants to grow indoors and they offer sweet scented blooms and fruit up to 4 times per year. Meyer lemon plants require no chill hours to fruit so they can be grown indoors all year-round.
Is Meyer lemon a tree or bush?
The Meyer Lemon Bush is a unique small citrus bush with golden-yellow fruit that is full of lemon juice a little sweeter than from normal lemons. It grows into a small bush around 6 feet tall, and it is the best lemon for growing in a pot, where it will thrive for years.
How big does a Meyer lemon tree get?
6-10 feet tall
These plants can grow to reach 6-10 feet tall. The dwarf variety grows to be about 5-7 feet, ideal for a smaller garden or accent in a room with limited space. Meyer lemon trees bloom in the fall or early spring with fragrant white blossoms.
Can Meyer lemon trees grow in pots?
Lemon trees are happy in containers, provided they have enough root room and good drainage. We recommend ‘Improved Meyer’ (USDA Zones 9–11) as one of the best varieties to grow in a pot, because it is naturally dwarfed. It will mature to just 3 to 5 feet.
What is the difference between a Meyer lemon and a regular lemon?
Meyer lemons have deep yellow skin and dark yellow pulp. Their skin is smoother than that of a regular lemon. And they’re smaller in size and more round than regular lemons. When it comes to taste, it’s easy to tell a Meyer lemon from a regular lemon.
Is it hard to grow a Meyer lemon tree?
Meyer lemon tree care is an easy matter in warm climates like Florida or California, where they’re popular as low-maintenance container-grown plants both outdoors and inside. They are slightly more cold-tolerant than Eureka and Lisbon lemon trees but still need a sheltered and sunny position to thrive.
Why are citrus plants illegal in Texas?
Many people do not realize that it is illegal to bring citrus trees into Texas from any state or country outside Texas. It is even illegal to bring fresh citrus fruit into Texas from Florida. The purpose of this law is to prevent the spread of diseases.
What state is known for lemons?
The United States is one of the top five producers of lemons. California, Florida and Arizona are the top producing states in the U.S., combining to produce nearly 800,000 tons of lemons each year.
Can lemon trees survive winter?
The winter season has been tough on citrus plants. It is important to understand how cold temperatures affect citrus trees. Among the citrus types most easily killed or damaged by freezing weather are citrons, lemons and limes. Temperatures in the high 20s will kill or severely damage these plants.
How big is a 3 year old lemon tree?
2-3 Year Old (Approx. 2-3 Ft) Meyer Lemon Tree. Meyer Lemon Trees are prolific producers and is favored for its everbearing trait.
Do you need 2 lemon trees to produce fruit?
Pollinating and Pruning Your Indoor Lemon Tree
Unlike some fruit trees, lemons are self-pollinating. That means they don’t need pollen from another lemon tree in order to bear fruit. But in nature, lemon trees rely on insects to pollinate their blossoms.
Are coffee grounds good for citrus trees?
Used coffee grounds can be added to your compost pile, after you’ve enjoyed your tasty coffee, of course, then left for a few months to break down. This makes them safer for your citrus trees or other plants around the garden. Before you add your compost, double-check the pH in your soil.
Can you eat a Meyer lemon raw?
These are lemons that you can even eat raw, without a sweetener added, though the downside is that the rind won’t give you the zap that zest from other lemons will. The thin skin is, however, edible raw. The thin skin makes Meyer lemons tough to ship, store and handle on a commercial scale, like other lemons.
Can you eat Meyer lemons like an orange?
A cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, the Meyer lemon has thin, smooth skin, ranging in color from yellow to orange. Meyer lemons may be eaten entirely, peel included, because they don’t have the thick layer of bitter white pith found in regular lemons.