Hortiforum

General Info – Lemon

An indispensable cooking ingredient and hardy to a range of climatic conditions, Lemons are one of the most popular backyard trees for good reason and are an essential addition to any backyard.
Fruit
Owing to its distinctive, sour taste Lemons are used in nearly all cuisines across the world with a range of uses in sweet and savoury dishes. Brightly sour, flavourful and rich in Vitamin C, Lemon Juice brings to life and forms an essential part of innumerable dishes. Whether making Lemonade, Lemon Cordial, Cocktails, Marinades and Salad Dressings, the bright tang of Lemons is a highly versatile ingredient. Lemons can also be used to make desserts such as Lemon Meringue Pie, Lemon Bars, Lemon Tarts or for pairing with Chicken, Fish and Lamb. The fragrant zest can be used as an ingredient in savoury sauces, marinades, and dressings, as well as in sweet baked goods like the French Madeleines or muffins. Lemons can be preserved through numerous methods from freezing juice, drying slices or peels, cooking into marmalades or preserving in salt. Prolific croppers, Lemon trees often bear ripe fruit throughout most of the year and can be nearly everbearing in subtropical climates, although the primary crop appears in winter. True Lemons are thought to be a cross between a bitter Orange and a Citron. Due to their long-term, widespread cultivation, a wide range of Lemon varieties are available, including the Lisbon and Eureka with their sharp acidic flavour, and the less acidic but very hardy Meyer (which is a hybrid of Lemon and Orange).
Cultivation
Lemon trees are well-suited to subtropical and warm temperate climates, making them suitable for all major cities across Australia and evidently so, as they are commonplace throughout them. Lemon trees are among the hardiest citrus, especially when grafted onto Trifoliata rootstocks, tolerating temperatures as low as -7 degrees Celsius and cold winters such as those received in Tasmania or tablelands and highlands throughout Australia. The critical requirement for Lemons, like most Citrus, is to be provided a full sun position, ideally receiving as much sunlight as possible. Full Sun, together with good airflow within the centre of plants will ensure plants remain healthy and productive. Clay soils and moderate drought are tolerated, although Lemon thrive in slightly acidic, loam soils with regular moderate watering throughout the year. Trees develop large feeder root systems which are sensitive to competition and can be protected through regularly applying organic mulches. Nitrogen is critical for health and production and Lemons will thrive in nitrogen rich soils. This strong demand for nitrogen is why people often talk about urinating around the base of Lemon trees, as urine is high in nitrogen (note that this should only be done on surrounding soil and not excessively or in very dry soils as it may burn roots).
Appearance
In addition to their near everbearing nature, Lemon trees provide year-round beauty with attractive foliage and beautiful flushes of flowers. On regular size rootstocks, Lemon trees will reach around 5m tall, while dwarf rootstocks will keep plants below 2m and make them highly suitable for cultivation in containers and pots. In ideal conditions and left to grow naturally, Lemons will develop a dense rounded form as either a small tree or large shrub and can be pruned to make a hedge. Lemons are excellently suited to espalier, which ensures gardeners have easy access to fruits while maintaining sun exposure and good airflow. Citrus foliage is evergreen and attractively glossy, with a dark green hue. Lemon trees can be variably thorny, depending on the variety. Lisbon and Fino varieties are thorny, while Verna, Eureka, and Meyer varieties are largely thornless. In the spring, white-petaled flowers emerge en masse, bringing a beautiful scent to the garden.
Lemon trees are a must for any garden, tolerant of harsh conditions, well-suited for container growing and indispensable in the kitchen.

Plant Profile/Properties