Meyer’ is a “four-season” lemon tree variety that is resistant to the cold, with a year-round production and fragrant flowers. Easy to grow, the ‘Meyer’ lemon tree can be grown in the garden in a well-sheltered area, or in pots, to be overwintered in cooler regions.
Easy to grow, the ‘Meyer’ lemon tree can be planted beyond the areas usually dedicated to citrus fruits (the so-called orange tree zone), provided that temperatures do not fall below 17°F. However, in highly drained soil, sheltered from prevailing winds, it can withstand a very short period of frost at 14°F.
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Planting of the Meyer lemon tree
The planting of the lemon tree is an important step for its growth.
The lemon tree requires a well-drained and rich soil to grow.
Outdoor lemon tree
The planting of lemon trees in the open ground is only possible in regions with mild winters. It fears frost and needs a temperature not going below 41°F in winter.
Planting takes place preferably in spring after frost. The lemon tree needs a sheltered and sunny location.
- Dig a hole twice the size of the rootball.
- Place a drainage bed at the bottom of the hole with gravel or clay balls.
- Mix the garden soil with potting soil.
- Fill the hole and water.
Culture of the lemon tree Meyer
This lemon tree, like all citrus fruits, needs to be cultivated in the ground.
Plant the lemon tree in rich, cool, well-drained soil in a sunny spot protected from prevailing winds.
In porous soil, water it often.
In case of heavy and prolonged frost, surround the twig with several layers of winter fleece and place a thick mulch on the ground around the foot.
Pruning and wintering of the meyer lemon tree
As for the pruning of this lemon tree, remove the dead wood and clear the center of the tree to let in as much light and air as possible. This pruning is done at the end of winter.
In the open ground, if a cold spell is forecast, place a winter veil on its aerial parts and a thick mulch at its foot. In pot, the lemon tree must be winterized in a cool and bright room, the ideal temperature will then be between 46 and 54°F.
When to prune the meyer lemon tree
Pruning takes place in the spring, ideally in March, April or May.
They need sunlight to grow and fruit, as well as a cool temperature in winter, but they fear strong frosts.
It is therefore more easily cultivated in the open ground in regions with mild winters. Elsewhere, it is better to grow it in a pot, or in a sunny patio or a place well sheltered from frost, and if necessary protect it in winter with a wintering veil.
How to prune your meyer lemon tree well
Using a disinfected pruning shears, reduce each new shoot by half by taking care of
- Cut above an outward-facing eye (the eye is at the base of a sheet)
- This will also allow your tree to keep a compact shape.
- You may have to intervene several times during the year.
Remove dead wood as you go along and ventilate the inside of the tree if necessary to give it back light.
Harvest and conservation of the Meyer lemon tree
The lemons are harvested as and when needed, when they are yellow. It is better to pick them as and when needed to preserve their nutritional qualities. But it is also possible to store lemons in a cool place, in the refrigerator, in the crisper, where they will last between 15 days and a month depending on their maturity.
To keep them longer, they can also be immersed in a jar of water placed in the refrigerator. At room temperature, a lemon will keep for about 10 days. Then it withers or rots.
Diseases of the meyer lemon tree
The diseases of the lemon tree, as well as the pests, are the same as those affecting most citrus fruits.
Lemon rots, aphids or scale insects, the lemon tree is not spared from diseases and insects on the leaves.
Summary
Meyer’s lemon tree diseasesThe ‘Meyer’ lemons, yellow/orange when ripe, have a very fine smooth skin protecting a juicy and fragrant pulp without too much acidity. The glossy green evergreen foliage, the absence of thorns on its stems and the delicious fragrance of the flowers are all undeniable assets for this highly prized variety.
The lemon tree belongs to the category of citrus fruits, fruit shrubs which like the sun, the heat and the soft climates. However, the Meyer variety can spend the winter in the open ground in regions where temperatures drop to a maximum of 17 °F for short periods of time. It is the most hardy lemon tree.
