Posted by Graham K. on March 9, 2011, 12:00 pm
I have just been given a small lemon tree. It is bearing small green
fruit which presumably developed last year. Do I remove these or will
they develop into ripe fruit this year?
Posted by Bob Hobden on March 9, 2011, 12:19 pm
"Graham K." wrote ...
I have just been given a small lemon tree. It is bearing small green
fruit which presumably developed last year. Do I remove these or will
they develop into ripe fruit this year?
..................................
Citrus can take almost a year for fruit to grow to useful size, so no, do
not remove them as they should be big enough to use later in the year,
probably nearer Christmas. The only exception is if your small tree has too
many fruit growing and whilst they usually abort excess fruit, sometimes
they don't and it can weaken the tree. We had this with a Tahiti Lime which
then took two years to recover.
Do you know how to grow it? Ericaceous compost with added drainage material,
no water tray underneath as the roots in water will surely kill it. Lots of
feed too as gross feeders.
--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK
Posted by Graham K. on March 9, 2011, 12:35 pm
On 09/03/2011 17:19, Bob Hobden wrote:
> "Graham K." wrote ...
> I have just been given a small lemon tree. It is bearing small green
> fruit which presumably developed last year. Do I remove these or will
> they develop into ripe fruit this year?
> ..................................
> Citrus can take almost a year for fruit to grow to useful size, so no,
> do not remove them as they should be big enough to use later in the
> year, probably nearer Christmas. The only exception is if your small
> tree has too many fruit growing and whilst they usually abort excess
> fruit, sometimes they don't and it can weaken the tree. We had this with
> a Tahiti Lime which then took two years to recover.
> Do you know how to grow it? Ericaceous compost with added drainage
> material, no water tray underneath as the roots in water will surely
> kill it. Lots of feed too as gross feeders.
Thanks for that.
Posted by Graham K. on March 9, 2011, 12:47 pm
On 09/03/2011 17:35, Graham K. wrote:
> On 09/03/2011 17:19, Bob Hobden wrote:
>>
>>
>> "Graham K." wrote ...
>>
>> I have just been given a small lemon tree. It is bearing small green
>> fruit which presumably developed last year. Do I remove these or will
>> they develop into ripe fruit this year?
>> ..................................
>>
>> Citrus can take almost a year for fruit to grow to useful size, so no,
>> do not remove them as they should be big enough to use later in the
>> year, probably nearer Christmas. The only exception is if your small
>> tree has too many fruit growing and whilst they usually abort excess
>> fruit, sometimes they don't and it can weaken the tree. We had this with
>> a Tahiti Lime which then took two years to recover.
>>
>> Do you know how to grow it? Ericaceous compost with added drainage
>> material, no water tray underneath as the roots in water will surely
>> kill it. Lots of feed too as gross feeders.
>>
> Thanks for that.
Another question.
It is in a 12" pot. The label says 24" pot which is too big to bring
into the house in winter. Is it OK to leave in the smaller pot?
Thanks in anticipation.
Posted by Bob Hobden on March 9, 2011, 12:54 pm
"Graham K." wrote
Another question.
It is in a 12" pot. The label says 24" pot which is too big to bring
into the house in winter. Is it OK to leave in the smaller pot?
Thanks in anticipation.
....................................
Eventually it will need a large pot but if it's only small and doesn't look
under-potted then it should be OK for a couple of years. We have ours
outside normally by the end of this month against a S. facing wall but watch
the forecasts and take them back inside if frost is due. It's amazing how
quickly they start growing away once outside with a good dose of sequestered
iron and feed.
BTW an older tree will usually have flowers and fruit at all stages of
growth all at the same time.
--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK
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> I have just been given a small lemon tree. It is bearing small green
> fruit which presumably developed last year. Do I remove these or will
> they develop into ripe fruit this year?
> ..................................
> Citrus can take almost a year for fruit to grow to useful size, so no,
> do not remove them as they should be big enough to use later in the
> year, probably nearer Christmas. The only exception is if your small
> tree has too many fruit growing and whilst they usually abort excess
> fruit, sometimes they don't and it can weaken the tree. We had this with
> a Tahiti Lime which then took two years to recover.
> Do you know how to grow it? Ericaceous compost with added drainage
> material, no water tray underneath as the roots in water will surely
> kill it. Lots of feed too as gross feeders.