Lemon Citrus trees grow very well in Melbourne, especially Outer North Eastern Melbourne. Jims Mowing Franchise owners have been dealing with Lemon Citrus Trees for over 25 years and have gathered some great experience and knowledge. They’re used in a wide variety of cuisines and they remain one of the more popular flavours for beverages and desserts. Furthermore, Lemon Citrus Trees fruit are commonly used in a wide range of non-food items, from dishwashing liquids to perfumes and cosmetics.
Lemon Citrus Trees are said to have been introduced from Malaysia but there is also a school of thought that they originated from Portugal and Spain. Fortunately we have most of the good varieties available in Melbourne and at a very reasonable price.
Many backyards in Melbourne have a Lemon citrus tree and most grow with little care and go on providing fruit year after year. So we know they do very well in our climate and we also know they will do better with a little care and here is where we come in.
Plant Choice
From our experience the Eureka Lemon gets the “Tick”. It fruits with abundance and requires minimal care. The fruit has a great flavor, you can pick the fruit as you need it and the fruit will hang on the tree for quite some time and keep well. They grow to about 4 metres so a great size for a backyard. They retail for between $30- and $40- so not too expensive. The “Meyer” is another strong contender and has a mild flavor and is particularly good for drinking, making cordial etc. The “Lisbon” is another great lemon with a more acidic tart flavor but this tree requires great drainage and maybe a little harder to get started. If you live in the cooler parts of Melbourne, say towards the Dandenongs, the Meyer would be a better choice.
Planting
Dig a hole at least three times larger than your pot, obtain a good quality planting mix and water in well. Don’t let the tree fruit for a year or two and this will encourage plant structure and strong growth. Stake and tie well using at least two stakes with a bark shield on each tie. A reputable garden supplier will have the required stakes and ties.
Pruning
The Lemon Citrus tree is an evergreen tree and can be pruned to shape at any time. Try to encourage a vase shape with your pruning and keep the centre of the tree free from congestion removing horizontal branches and branches that are rubbing. Ideally keep your tree at a height so that you can reach the fruit without a ladder.
Fertilizing
Lemon Citrus trees love to be fed with a blend of citrus fertilizer, dried animal manure and twice a year a good covering of well-rotted compost around the bae out to the drip line. In Melbourne, we get best results from feeding around August in preparation for Spring and in February when the new fruit is just forming and we get that Autumn spurt of growth.
Growing In Pots
Lemon Citrus Trees grow well in large pots especially the Dwarf varieties, they will need more regular watering however the same principals as described above should work just as well. When planting use a good quality tub mix and water in well. The glossy leaves and scented flowers give that real wow factor outside your back door or on a patio and they are evergreen so you get that very reliable screen as well.
Aspect
Take note that, in general, citrus trees require excellent soil quality plus ample sunlight. They will not do so well in shade and will become straggly, wind is not so much of a problem but they do appreciate a sheltered sunny aspect if possible.
Double Grafted Citrus
The varieties we recommend are Washington Navel orange and Meyer Lemon, Washington Navel orange and Tahiti lime, and Meyer lemon and Tahiti lime. Keep an eye on the growth of each species and try to keep them pruned equally as occasionally one species may grow quicker than the other and take over.
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