What I Wish I Knew Before Growing MEYER LEMONS

[@ss9749]

My parents had a Meyer lemon they found growing in their backyard when they moved in to their 1st house in 1967. The house was built in the 1950's and the lemon was probably there since It was new. That tree has survived extreme cold ( well down to 28 degrees, but cold for California in winter, zone 9A), droughts, heat, smoke, pool construction, and was still going strong as of 2021 when they sold their house and moved to Texas to be near the grand kids. That tree, more of a bush really, must have produced 500 lemons a year. So many in fact that my sister and I would have lemon fights as kids throwing the older ones at each other. I have one in a pot here in Texas, 8B. I thought the freeze a couple of years ago killed it since it died back to the top of the pot when I didn't bring it in. But when the spring came and I watered the pot with some new flowers in it, a lemon came up and has been growing well ever since. Got 25 lemons on my lemon stick this year. Someday it may actually look like a tree or at least a bush.

[@MikeDawson1]

"did I learn my lesson? no, not yet." I can relate to that so much...

[@TheFruitGrove]

Right?? I probably never will.

[@cindyyeager8627]

There is nothing like lemon curd made from Meyer's lemons. They are so fragrant. My grandmother made a lemon marmalade as well. Delicious.

[@sharoncontini3284]

Sounds delicious

[@user-px7nh7vs4b]

Hello neighbor. Fellow east Texan here. Dragging my citrus trees in and out of my house (in pots) on those super cold nights is a pain but worth it.

[@bart9409]

I’ve had a Meyer’s in pot for over 30 years! You are spot on!

[@icls9129]

I had a Meyer lemon tree in the ground in Southern Arizona. It did fabulously well and we had lemons for the whole neighborhood. The tree was about 10 ft high and wide. On cold nights I just put a 3 mil plastic tarp over it, weighed down to near the ground, with a halogen work light turned on underneath. Don't know if you can still buy those, because they run hot and LED lights are now the norm. But it worked great at keeping the tree happy. All the local songbirds were roosting in there on those nights.

[@DonnaleaSpencer]

we planted our first Meyer lemon back in 1959, & kept it pruned down as a bush. That rascal produced several times a year. I made sure to plant a Meyer at each house I lived in from 1995 onward (when I finally moved from that 1959 house).

[@OWK000]

I love my Meyer lemon. I am in zone 10 (b) so my climate is good, my tree gets good sun, but our soil is a bit heavy and I have to worry about soil fungus. Meyer lemons like lots of nitrogen, so I have used a good bit of urine (11-1-2), but they also need minerals to fight the soil diseases and just a little phospherous and potassium if less than nitrogen, so it good to use a little organic commercial blend fertilizer once in a while, but I also use azomite and pressure cook and blender up bones (NPK 3-15-0) for fertilizer. I drink lemon water with bitters often. I have just discovered while trying to make candied peel for Christmas baking, that the sugar water from cooking candied Meyer lemon peel watered down with rum tastes like fine orange liquor. Yummy by itself, or good for margaritas.

[@wheeltwavel]

Most people don't realize how great piss as fertalizer. Used it in my garden for first time last year had the best veggies, yet. They think it's gross but think nothing of the pesticides, fungicides artificial fertilizers etc

[@peggymatela7188]

I love my Meyer lemon tree. I have had it for 18 years in a pot . It gets covered in the cold weather.

[@nancyb3217]

I love that I can eat them out-of-hand peel and all. Thanks for a great video; your trees are beautiful.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks! The peels and pith are crazy thin.

[@jaytoney3007]

I was gifted a Meyers lemon tree seedling sprouted from seed last February. I transplanted it into an 18 gallon pot, fertilize every other month, or as needed. It gets watered every two to three days in the spring, summer, and early fall. Less often in the winter. The tree has grown to three feet tall, and is healthy. It gets cold where I live, zone 7A, so I bring it inside on evenings when the temperature is forecasted to be below 25F.

[@559806]

Sprouted from seed?

[@jaytoney3007]

@@559806 Yes, they can be grown from seed, but take longer to set fruit as they are not a grafted tree. I have plenty of other fruit trees, so waiting for it to fruit is not an issue for me.

[@awendawsc5308]

Mine is 3 years old: no fruit; how long does it take to get lemons?

[@559806]

​@@jaytoney3007thank you. I lost my many-years-old planted Meyer to the cold two years ago. Still considering options.

[@jaytoney3007]

@@awendawsc5308 It depends on whether the tree was grafted or grown from seed. A grafted tree can take between 3-5 years, but generally flower and fruit in the fourth year. A seed grown tree takes a little longer, between 4-7 years to set fruit.

[@terrancestevens8551]

One Christmas tree light adds a lot of protection from freeze plus it looks beautiful

[@lisad4054]

I live in Arizona. 5,000 ft. I planted my Myers lemon in a container. It is doing well. In winter it can get down to 25. I use a frost blanket with Christmas lights (the big clear lights that produce heat) on it to keep it warn. Its winter now and i have a ton of flowers and the bees love it right now. It smells so good.

[@cadre500]

I ordered my first Meyer Lemon tree as a Christmas gift. It arrives in a week. Thank you for sharing your experiences with this tree. I am looking forward to enjoying this tree for the rest of my life, God willing!

[@Oran-35]

You got greening in Texas, growing citrus in a pot is a good idea, not just weather. Florida groves (what's left) are netted, and backyard citrus-which was everywhere-is gone.

[@ES-7766]

I’m not sure why this came up on my feed, but I’m grateful it did. My meyer lemon tree has been struggling for two months now. I’m also in zone 8b. It’s in a terra cotta pot, lost most of its leaves at one point and now it’s dying. I’m going to reamend the soil and relocate it. It has been on my deck in a sunny location, but with the change in weather, it needs more sun. I know that some plants do better in terra cotta, while others do better in plastic. Thanks for your valuable information. 🍋

[@jeansroses7249]

thank you! I grow a meyer lemon in northern calif-the north coast, where's it's zone 9 but by no means hot, or even warm! So mine is in a 30-=gallon garbage can in the greenhouse. It does well there-lots of big, juicy lemons, and it's a bit surprising that even though the sunlight coming in is diffused by the greenhouse plastic, it still seems to get enough of what it needs. I also found that by soaking eggshells a long time and pouring the water into the tree, it made it explode with lemons--I guess they love the calcium, as does other fruit trees

[@valerieneal2747]

I❤Meyer lemons....they are wonderful❤❤❤❤

[@faithsfarmlife1424]

One makes a lot of lemonade

[@Steele_Wings]

In the same zone and I keep mine in large containers. Buy winter enclosure from northern tools and put ac small heater in it. Cut tree back to fit . I keep mine on my patio all year.

[@TheFruitGrove]

I love the idea of using a winter enclosure! I haven't tried that, but I'm going to have to do something as my potted tree collection increases.

[@krwada]

I love our Meyer lemon tree. It is very resilient. It just grows. We live in the SF Bay Area.

[@OldesouthFarm]

I am in 8b zone and my neighbor has a 30 ft ponderosa lemon (we think) and has gone through 14 degree weather. It is on the west side of her yard, no protection and they do nothing to it. Drought doesn’t seem to phase the super tree. It is loaded with lemons every winter. I have seen it with some frost damage on the leaves, but recovers and is very happy…

[@soniaTX4387]

I have had my Meyer Lemon for at least 10 yrs in a pot in Texas Hill Country, allegedly zone 8b. For the first few years, I moved her into an uninsulated garage in front of a window for winter, until nighttime temps. did not go below 50*. I found as she grew that our hot sunny, cloudless, summers were too much for her so she lives under a shade cloth. After she became too big for me to move to the garage, I kept her in a series of plastic greenhouses. She just kept growing and needing a bigger house. “LemonTree” told me years ago she was unhappy below 50*. I insulate the greenhouse with that bubble wrap type insulation as needed, keeping a grow light over her during the daytime. I also put in an electric heater as needed to keep the temp. 45-50* I agree the biggest thing is soil that does not hold moisture. In summer, I water thoroughly every day. In winter, I may water every other day or less depending on whether I have had to run the heater. I fertilize weekly with a light fertilizer that is diluted in the water. I don’t know why production varies year to year but I get between 60-200 lemons each year. One year the lemons were gigantic, 5”, but just that once. LemonTree is my child. I check her leaves and branches daily and sing to her. She likes that. Our water is heavy on lime so I occasionally give her coffee grounds. I point out that fertilizer types/frequency must take into consideration the water quality.

[@Skavatar789]

i'm in zone 9 Houston, i've kept my Meyer lemon in a large pot for the past 15 yrs, and glad i did b/c the week long freeze in 2021 killed all my in ground citrus trees even wrapped with frost blankets. i have added a clementine and satsuma to my collection and kept them in large pots also. the Meyer lemon is heavy bearing, it will drop some of the tiny fruits early on, but I also thin them out some more.

[@denniscleveland669]

We had a bunch of flowers this year, but now we’re down to one lonely lemon. It’s almost ripe. I’ve been struggling with learning the signs, so thanks for clarifying them. Hopefully it’ll be better this next season. I may need to move it to a larger pot as the horse water tub may be a little small, so I have a larger mineral tub ready.

[@janetpurdie9464]

This was very clear and helpful - thank you! I have a Meyer lemon growing in the ground against a south-facing wall in the UK, approximately zone 9B. It's flowering and fruiting now (December) but our fruits are not nearly as big as yours. I had no idea these were particularly hungry plants, so I'm going to feed more generously and pray that next year will be warmer and sunnier than the months of gloom we have suffered recently.

[@peggyfreitas3218]

You are lovely!! Thanks for such a nice video

[@earlschannel5809]

I’ve had a lemon tree in a pot for 35 years. Some years I don’t get any lemons one year I got at least 50. But I have to keep in the house for the winter. It doesn’t get a lot of sun, so it loses most of its leaves. And it has to spend the spring in the summer, trying to get them all back.

[@gardeninglifeinusa625]

That's a beautiful video, thanks for sharing!

[@bunnylou4993]

Thanks for being very thorough and clear. Really enjoyed the info🍋

[@CaliKim29]

Wow! This is very helpful !! Thank you!! CaliKim

[@comment1-f7l]

I have a Meyer lemon tree and live in zone 5B. It's possible but you need to be vigilant. I take my tree inside when it gets cold and put it in my laundry room under grow lights. So far it seems to be working. I have a bunch of large lemons that should be ripe in a couple months and a bunch of smaller ones that will hopefully ripen by next summer.

[@trishdavi7049]

I had bad luck in recent years taking my Meyer lemon and other citrus indoors. All the leaves dropped off 😢. So now they are existing with a small heater under light in greenhouse outside

[@Fauntazee]

Didn't know it took so long for them to ripen! Mine took about 9 months (mine is in a pot).

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's great to hear that you can grow them in 5b. I'll be curious to hear how the fruit ripen after a winter under grow lights!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Yeah, they can get shocked by the sudden change in temperature. It helps if you bring them in gradually (first to an unheated garage, then later indoors), or if you bring them in before the temperature outside gets too chilly (so there's less of a big change when you bring them in).

[@TheFruitGrove]

Yes they do take a while! But worth the wait.

[@nicholasnarcowich9163]

I love lemons, & years ago, I tried to grow some from seed but nothing germinated. :-( My wife seeing my disappointment, said that we should just get one from Home Depot. So, we did & it is in the back yard... still small, but giving fruit now. Somewhere along the time from failure to planting the lemon tree, I found on You tube that lemon seeds need to be kept moist. So, when I had bought some lemons & they were really good. I saved the seeds, wet. Well, I have over a dozen trees now. Some planted, & some still in pots. I have even given some away. Thank you for your informative & fun videos :-)

[@jamessteffens8337]

I live in las Vegas and have a Meyer lemon for 20 years. It is great an everyone love them. Jim80

[@TheFruitGrove]

Yes they do!

[@denihuffman4632]

Jim is your Meyer in a pot or in the ground, I’m in same area

[@jamessteffens8337]

In the ground I keep it pruned and open inside, I fertilize it twice a year .

[@MTVessel61446]

Meyer Lemons make the most subtly flavorful Limoncello. You must scrape off all the pith before beginning extraction in vodka. Time consuming but worth it.

[@Rudy32225]

Thanks for great information. Super yield on that tree.

[@KW-wt3yq]

Hello fellow Texan!!! Thank You for the awesome information!!!

[@GrowsGoneWild]

That is a beautiful tree!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks! Broken branch and all.

[@GrowsGoneWild]

@ that just adds character 🤣

[@elizabethmelendez2836]

Great tips that I will try as I have a Meyers tree

[@irmafacundo7107]

Wonderful information thxs for sharing

[@martinsmith7833]

Great video. I’m in Middle Georgia zone 8B and appreciate the insight.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BLNebergall]

I have 2 in containers. I'm thankful for this video! I had a great crop the first year, but not the 2nd because I obviously was not fertilizing well enough. We bought a hoop / tunnel 10 by 20 feet that we keep our citrus potted trees in during winter 8b zone. We are just careful to keep it shut tight during night freezes. If you need a little additional sunlight, you can throw down a few mylar blankets during the day to reflect sunlight which builds more heat during the day. (in winter only)

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's a great setup - I'll have to give that a try! I've been wanting some sort of hoop house or something to help with overwintering pots (not much more room in the garage). Great to hear that it works for you.

[@Mrbfgray]

I've had one in the ground for several yrs, zone 9a. Sort of out of the way it gets extra neglected, over produces but the tree continues modest growth even with too much fruit load. One of my neighbors doesn't consider them real lemons which I understand but I use them interchangeably. *Best attribute is how easy they are to squeeze,* to juice, compared to other lemons and citrus in general. Pots are too high maintenance for me, established in the ground citrus can get by for weeks without water in 100 to 110F summer days, wood chip mulch helps. Thanks for info!

[@TheFruitGrove]

I guess you could say they're not "real" lemons, but I use them interchangeably and it always works. I LOVE how juicy they are. I wish I could get away with planting them in the ground!

[@Mrbfgray]

@@TheFruitGrove I'd prefer the juice of 'real lemons' but not that particular and ease of squeeze overrides that. Meyer fruit load is crazy. I'll probably add a more traditional lemon tree too if only to extend harvest season. One of the best attributes of citrus is storing them on the tree for months, picking as needed. Kumquats I have near yr around, one season overlaps the next, but they have limited utility. I was surprised by your occasional pest problems, over some 20 yrs I've never experienced any of that. (pardon caring on)

[@sc6677]

Would you share what you use to fertilize your tree and how often?

[@TheFruitGrove]

I mostly use a fish fertilizer and a slow-release citrus fertilizer. I fertilize about once a month in the spring, summer, and early fall, or a little more often in the summer when I'm watering the pot daily.

[@margaretmarshall3645]

Great video! Subscribed. I have a dwarf Meyer lemon, which is doing great now that I planted it in ground here in SoCal high desert zone 9A. This winter will be a test, but it’s low to the ground, I’ve got buckets of water part way around it, and I can throw a frost blanket over it when it looks like a hard frost.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks! Good luck!

[@madisoncitrusnursery]

Great video and what a beautiful tree! Love your tenacity, if at first you don't succeed... try try again.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's the only way, right? Thanks!

[@irishphilly]

You were doing SO GREAT, INFORMATIVE, STELLAR--til (9:12)--the first corner of that Lemon Bar, the sugar plum fairies danced in the scene, waved around a little, disappeared, waved some more, you seemed so nice, too---that is just some kind of Diabolical right there--smiling and waving a lemon bar til (10:14)!? So dirty + wrong. Have my coffee right here, too. I need a hybrid lemon bar + lemon meringue pie tree to tend--no, I mean grown baked and ready to plate bars n pie. BTW, I work w a caterer crew + the owner cautions clients ordering their event's menu: Lemon bars are great indoors, but not being left in direct sun outside. They 'go off' a little, bitter or mealy, according to clients' feedback later. (Don't know cuz who neglects cut lemon desserts too long??) Great tips, esp soil mix, 2" little drying/ full water/draining. Thanks!

[@kimmy_mac]

Great info thanks for sharing 🌱👍🍋

[@TheFruitGrove]

Your welcome!

[@wduong7951]

At around 9:45 in your video there are 2 trees behind you, one looks like it is in a white pot. 1) what are those trees? The left has some fruit on it (apple or pear?) and the right kind of looks like some citrus tree based on the leaf shape. 2) what is the white pot (size - height and diameter, material, and can you show it in a future video along with those 2 trees). Thanks

[@TheFruitGrove]

The one on the left is a pink variegated lemon tree that still has a few green and yellow striped lemons on it. The one on the right is a key lime tree (I've already picked all the limes). I had just brought the trees into my sunroom for a little frost protection. The white pot I got from Lowes. It's about 19 inches wide and 16 inches tall. www.lowes.com/pd/Style-Selections-18-94-in-W-x-16-26-in-H-New-Foil-White-Resin-Planter/5001941597

[@michaelcaragio8521]

One more thing you could do if you have ants farming, use this product Tree Tanglefoot. Just tie up a piece of cardboard or anything that you have laying around then apply the tanglefoot onto that. One more thing you might wanna do is to prevent sunburn on the trunks and branches is use a white tree paint to protect the bark

[@Thingys-Jill]

I really appreciated your video. I have a Meyer lemon sitting at the sliding glass door of my kitchen. It's about 6'-8' from where it was outside on the patio. I did lose maybe 8-12 leaves and presumed it was from shock. There's one green lemon on it, but now it is blooming. That surprised me. I'm watering every couple of days. I did have to treat for fungus gnats (ugh). Still, I love my Meyer lemon. I have an All-in-One Almond and a pomegranate in pots, but they're staying outside. Of course, my little orchard planted in the ground is outside in the cold. It got down to 21 deg F. Thanks again for the video and Merry Christmas!

[@TheFruitGrove]

They can bloom throughout the year unlike some other lemon varieties. If you only lost 8-12 leaves from shock that's pretty good. Merry Christmas!

[@margaretmarshall3645]

@@Thingys-Jill For fungus gnats, this year I have about 1/2” of either perlite or pumice (heavier so better for plants that go in and out) on top of the potting soil in every indoor plant. Supposedly that keeps the fungus gnats from reaching the soil to lay eggs and destroy roots. So far, so good-it’s looking like my most successful year yet of rooting fig and mulberry cuttings. 🤞🤞

[@geoffryallan7261]

Have you tried to arctic frost satsuma - apparently they’re cold hardy to 15 degrees and you can order them in the state of Texas - maybe that’s the solution to growing in ground in zone 8b or the nagami kumquat or for avocados there is the fantastic avocado tree that is cold hardy to 15 I believe (of course for short periods) I live in las cruces NM 8b as well and if it gets cold it’s only for a few hours -

[@lovly2cu725]

I lost mine in Phoenix AZ in the winter where it gets down to 30 degrees

[@peggymatela7188]

Great video, thank you!

[@JoseGarcia-uo5qz]

I live in las vegas I have a gold nugget mandarine and a lime tree I never cover or protect them at all. And I live in USDA zone 9a. And I also have a pink guava grown from seed, this summer it flowered and fruited for me for the first time, they were delicious, and I also never protect them from the cols.😊😅😊😅😅

[@L.A.6482]

Kept mine in zone 9 in a pot until the trunk was much bigger and it was several years old. then decided to plant in ground. It is surrounded by a four foot wood fence which I hope will protect it from cold winds in winter which seems to be the thing they hate most and keep deer from eating it. It’s in fullest of sun as well.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That sounds like a great setup.

[@PorchGardeningWithPassion]

Excellent video! I want to grow one of these, but it gets too cold here to grow one and I have no where to stash it when it gets too cold in the winter (It got down to 4 degrees here last winter).

[@lobandit2k123]

I'm in zone 6a. Massachusetts I took my 1st year lemon and lime trees indoors. They are doing great.

[@gordonsmith5589]

@@lobandit2k123I am pretty sure they said they have no where to stash it when it gets too cold.

[@PorchGardeningWithPassion]

@@lobandit2k123 That is cool! I am limited to just a porch garden with no space to bring one inside. Hopefully that will change in the next year or two.

[@lobandit2k123]

@gordonsmith5589 I get it smarty pants. Have you considered I may have missed that part.

[@surewhatever8843]

Could you make a mini-greenhouse to pop up during cold spells? Plastic sheets with broom handles? Heated rocks thrown in could raise the temps inside.

[@leeannekaden2600]

Thanks. Need to get another tree. I am paying $7 per pound for meyer lemons. Zone 9.

[@B30pt87]

Hi! How old is that tree? Also, how old/big was it when you bought it? Thanks for making this video. Looking forward to watching more.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Thanks! It's about 3 - 4 years old. It was about 3 or 4 feet tall when I got it. I've kept it pruned to control the size, but it hasn't grown too aggressively.

[@stephaniegee227]

Technically now in zone 7B, but our temps can go way colder than what our 'new' zone says. We did put our lemon tree into a container, but while it's still alive - not a lemon in sight.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's frustrating. I've found that lots of sunlight and regular fertilizing make the biggest difference in fruiting. Good luck!

[@PatrickDenehy-f4k]

Those winters are just the beginning of colder winters.

[@danb340]

Do you pick the first crop of lemons while small ,the first time it blooms to help bloom better next year?

[@TheFruitGrove]

I don't, but I do thin the fruit pretty aggressively when they're tiny (although apparently not quite enough as you saw in the video!). I haven't had a problem with them not blooming well after harvesting.

[@maralfniqle5092]

Our poting soul is tubbish in Australia, blood and bone and a boit of epsom salt and manure work wonders mixed with homemade compost. The stink bugs though are awful

[@gryphaeon]

What are your thoughts on fish emulsion or compost tea for fertilizing in pots?

[@TheFruitGrove]

I love using fish emulsion in my pots. I figure the microbiome in the potting soil is pretty minimal, so anything I can do to make them happy is good. Compost tea is another great option.

[@gryphaeon]

​@@TheFruitGrove thank you for the reply!

[@raykinney9907]

@@TheFruitGrove I used OG chicken bed straw to make compost tea, but probably need to water with that more often. Unfortunately, I used forest soil with some peat moss and pearlite in it to plant cuttings in, but I minimize watering to compensate a bit more for overly dense soil in the pots. When I up-pot, I'll do so with lighter soil. The larger trees are still fruiting well, but I worry the roots remain too wet too long.

[@zaria5785]

I’m in zone 9b and we get dry in late summer/fall when the winds pick up. It may be 4 months before we get any rain during those long hot days. I planted my Meyer lemon in a 30gallon grow bag and then placed that inside of a wooden half barrel with the bottom practically falling apart. I have it 1 foot off the ground sitting on cinder blocks for air circulation. I have filled it with 50% home made compost, 10% worm compost, 10% coarse sand, 10% clay soil, 10% broken down small redwood chips (not bark. not landscape shredded chips. I guess it’s used for top dressing of orchids and other acid loving plants you see sold at grocery stores .) 10% big chunky bark on the top layer to prevent roots from drying out. Compost tea is all it gets when I water it. It can easily take in 4 gallons of water if I water it slowly, otherwise it drains right on out if I’m rushing. It was honestly the gift I didn’t know I needed in my life and after a month of looking after it, it bloomed its head off and now I have green lemons waiting to turn yellow. Despite my own research on how to care for it, this video has been a great reminder to continue looking for pests and all I’ve used on it has been neem so far. I’m glad she mentioned that. If you’ve never made Moroccan lemon preserve, you must!

[@pambain9415]

@@zaria5785oh, I want to find a recipe for Moroccan lemon preserve. I sounds so good.

[@Totoro597]

What fertilizer do you use?

[@ache7262]

For aphids or white flies, just hose the branches with water or spray with diluted soppy water.

[@wildwanderer6025]

I live barely in zone 7b and had my meyer lemon in a pot, unfortunately that isn't a guarantee for success either. It died during a pretty harsh frost in my unheated attic. They are supposedly the most frost tolerant lemons, but that doesn't really mean much.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Yeah, mine do well in the garage for most of the winter, but if we have nights that dip into the low 20s or below I have to bring them into an insulated space. Tolerant to frost but definitely not freezing!

[@adamyoung480]

Aloha. Lemon bars!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Yes indeed!

[@valerieneal2747]

​​@@TheFruitGroveAnd...lemon cheesecake and lemon meringue pie.....❤❤❤❤🎉🎉❤

[@9realitycheck9]

To thwart the Leaf Miner pests, keep the tree in full sun and limit Nitrogen. Use an Organic Citrus fertilizer..

[@sunshinedayz2172]

What is then best cure for leaf minor?

[@L.A.6482]

I place a lure trap early in warm season and hang yellow sticky traps they work better than sprays even.

[@kyodante]

Remove the inflicted leaves and spray insectidal soap, neem oil and js sulfur mix as a replleant.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's exactly what I do - when I first see signs of leaf miners I remove all the affected leaves I see (usually younger ones). Then I spray with insecticidal soap and/or neem oil to keep them away. Worked well this year.

[@DianaCaughell-QuantumHealing]

Hi, Merry Christmas and Healthy, Happy and Successful 2025. I loved your video. According to the Zone Maps, I live in Zone 8B/9A, Houston, however, I do not trust these Charts at all. Because one week of below 50F will kill the health of the lemon tree. I have them in pots and protect them with either cloth or, if the below 50F takes a week or longer, I will bring them into the house. What I am still wrestling with is the amount of fertilizer to give the plants. 1. Presently, one of my citrus blossoms but at the same time has a lot of yellow leaves. Do you recommend fertilizing it despite the fact that it is blossoming? 2. Full Sun, in m IV Organic White Wash,y garden does NOT work, it burns the leaves. This year I kept it under a bigger tree and, admittedly that was not enough sun. Next summer I will be experimenting with some IV Organic White Wash, sun/leave protecting spray. Any experience with leave burn? Your answer will be appreciated.

[@tasianorman7885]

How did you prune the tree??

[@shdwbnndbyyt]

Do you clip the thorns?

[@soniaTX4387]

My Meyer Lemon tree does not have thorns. As this is my one and first, I assumed they didn’t have thorns

[@jhoigaar]

Sometimes my monarch butterfly caterpillars go over to m Meyer lemon tree and eat a little bit.

[@ramesh65family]

Can someone help on my meyers potted plant- first year I got plenty of fruits 🍋; niw in 4 years My issue is I live in north east - in Dec jan I have it indoors/ lot if flowers now but but the fall n die / what do do ? My leaves are also falling.. help me

[@11ingenuity11]

I was recently shocked to find the fruit on my dwarf lemon had been raided over night by some kind of animal. It took about half of the lemons and nibbled the stems down to the branches. What animal would do this?

[@jjsc3334]

I saw different type of Meyers, it is half size, deep egg yolk color, smooth skin, very fragrant, what is it

[@CuylerSalyer]

I'm having trouble with my 6 ft. Meyer Lemon Tree. 4 months after potting it in a big 25 gallon pot, have only got 3 more blossoms, with one fruit remaining and the other from when I brought it home from the Nursery. I've have only got (1), 3/8" sprig new leaf growth from it in all that time. I got desperate last week and topped the top 15" off of it. I'm in Zone 10B, the Tropics of Nayarit, Mexico 30 miles from the coast in the mountains. Questions: 1.) How long should I wait to see if the topping is going to force new leaf growth? 2.) If I don't get it, should I pull it out of the pot, and re-pot it? Right now it has a lot like very fibrous, almost peat moss type potting soil. It keeps moist, after I water it the pot will leak out the bottom for 5 full days over night. I heard you do not want to over fertilize these trees, so I only fertilize them 1.) though a 1.5 " PVC tube with holes, so all the roots do get watered just fine, 2.) maybe a gallon on top so the short top roots get food too. I fertilize with Vitagro balanced fertilizer one time then 2 weeks later 2.) I fertilize with a Fish Soup, I make from getting fish guts, spine, tails, heads at the local Main Market from the fish vendors. Pretty slick, put about 15% fish parts and 85% water in a 5 gallon bucket in the sun and let it make the tea. Cheap = FREE! Then 2 weeks later back to the chemical fertilizer.

[@TheFruitGrove]

How big was the pot before? If it's in too big a pot, the tree may grow lots of roots and shoots but not so many flowers and fruit. You may need to replace the potting soil to something that drains better but still holds some moisture. Have you checked the roots to see if they're too soggy? I've had no problem fertilizing about every 3-4 weeks. I mainly use fish fertilizer (although I've never made my own!) along with a slow-release citrus fertilizer. I also spread some fresh compost a couple times a year.

[@realMysta]

Did you do lights + cover in ground? I was getting like 20 degrees over ambient that way(does take a LOT of lights though)

[@TheFruitGrove]

I didn't try the lights, although I'm going to try that on some other "borderline" plants (apparently I haven't learned my lesson...)

[@almakelly2133]

I have had to add iron to the water also.

[@MikeB_2112]

Very informative and great advice! I’ve got 2 two year old Meyer lemons in pots and I’m growing in 9a in south Texas. I was considering planting them both in ground but we do occasionally have frosts that last for several days. I may just keep them both in pots and up-pot as needed. Thanks again!

[@TheFruitGrove]

Yeah if you're concerned, it would be easier to keep them in a pot. They could probably withstand some light frosts, but you never know.

[@susanweiler4948]

I live in 9 A zone and my lemon tree is planted in ground. But sadly has not bloomed or fruited for many years now.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's tough, maybe it needs a little more fertilizer? Does it get enough sun?

[@susanweiler4948]

How often should I fertilize the lemon tree? My tree gets full sun .

[@ninathai9792]

My branches lost all leaves 🍃 like something has been eating them because no leaves falling on the ground

[@TheFruitGrove]

That stinks. Yeah, the leaves can be tasty to a lot of pests. Neem oil has helped me fend them off.

[@lisafahrner9917]

How big of a pot are you using?

[@cathywaldron2747]

I guess I have not learned my lesson. My Meyer lemon tree is in a 20 gallon cloth bag. I brought it inside before the first frost and all the leaves dropped. The branches are still supple but no leaves. I have to figure this out. Last year half the leaves fell off. Any ideas?

[@slimjim3229]

Mine dropped leaves the 1st winter. I think it was the heater running. It sprung back in the spring and put out 6 lemons. We now put it in the garage under a grow light instead of bringing it the house in the winter. Usually around Thanksgiving. It still drops leaves but not as many. The lemons stay green up to almost christmas. We're near the Memphis area so winters aren't too crazy. Mainly Mid December through mid March. Maybe 1 snow event sometimes 2.

[@TheFruitGrove]

I've had that happen in the past when I brought a citrus tree straight inside for the winter. If the temperature change is too drastic it will drop its leaves in shock. Hopefully it will regrow - keep it near a sunny window. I usually bring mine into my unheated garage. It's still cold, but protected from freezing.

[@emilyglasser1072]

You forgot to mention that the leaves are edible unlike other citrus 🍋

[@TheFruitGrove]

I didn't know that! What do you do with them?

[@cathleenst2443]

@@TheFruitGroveI have used mine like bay leaves in flavoring fish and seafood recipes, especially when poaching, making soups, stocks or stews. They are slightly more subtle than zest. I don’t use them as a salad green or an actual vegetable, but as an herb. I have had success using them as a substitute for makrut lime leaves in Thai dishes. Chiffonade some and steep them in white wine or champagne vinegar for a subtle but tasty citrus addition to salad dressing, soups and sauces when the lemons aren’t in season or you want to give a fancy homemade hostess gift. They’re pretty versatile actually!

[@BBBarbarian-u5q]

Thank you!

[@leopardwoman38]

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing! 😀👍🌸🌱

[@Rudy32225]

@@cathleenst2443 Thanks for the tip. I grew a lemon tree (not Myer) from seed and had an 8 foot tree in 4 years that did not bear fruit, but had wicked thorns, a three inch trunk and the most fragrant leaves. I moved so I don't know if it ever blossomed.

[@almakelly2133]

I moved mine inside. Had to put a humidifier in the room.

[@markmorgan6741]

Most of them I know grow out below the graft and ignorant home owners have a sour orange tree years later.

[@TheFruitGrove]

Yeah, it happens.

[@kevin-gf5uz]

Where did you purchase the tree from? I live in zone 8b. Thanks.

[@TheFruitGrove]

I got it at my local nursery in my town. But I've seen them for sale a lot of places online (Stark Bro's for example). If you live in TX (maybe a few other states too), you'll have to buy it in state. Online nurseries won't ship citrus to TX because of potential for disease spread since it's a citrus producing state.

[@kevin-gf5uz]

@@TheFruitGrove Thank you.

[@ritalr15]

Wrap your tree with old Christmas lights and then make a hoop and cover

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's a great idea...haven't tried that yet.

[@MistressOP]

once the tree isn't a baby anymore would it have survived?

[@Chris-op7yt]

growing lime tree in a pot with only 7-20mm pumice media.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's interesting - I haven’t tried a pumice mix for citrus trees. My mix has more organic material. I’m curious to see how it works for you!

[@Chris-op7yt]

@ : it's doing well so far, about 3 months. i water regularly and dont have anoxic problems, or problems with media going hydrophobic, as cant happen really with this media. it is expensive initially but never need to re-visit media. still waiting for first fruit, and cutting away blasted gall wasp infected areas. tree didnt do very well in organic media, always a bit off color.

[@kimherbert9158]

Question: How do I treat leaf drop?

[@johnorr8094]

In 2013, I found, what I thought was, a lemon seed at a bistro table at a Starbucks. I took it home and planted it. Now I have delicious oranges. I later learned that the Myer Lemon is a cross between a lemon that was cultivated in China and a Mandarin Orange.

[@TheFruitGrove]

That's a cool story! You're lucky the tree grown from seed actually fruited well.

[@johnorr8094]

@@TheFruitGrove I was shocked to see oranges on my lemon tree.

[@andrewblack7852]

As a lemon grower, I find them the least lemony. Not the best but the least.

[@hecker0402]

I wish I knew they had huge spikes.

[@DianaCaughell-QuantumHealing]

someone asked about what fertilizer to use for Citrus Trees. The Company MicroLife offers the most organic wholistic fertilizers that exist for me as an organic environmentally friendly gardener> It's the Houston Zoo one-and-only fertilizer. MOST COMPLETE NUTRITIONAL FERTILIZER DESIGNED FOR ALL CITRUS & FRUIT TREES: contains over 100 + minerals, vitamins, natural plant hormones and stimulators, essential sugars/amino acids/carbon and protein plus billions of beneficial microorganisms including Endo & Ecto Mycorrhizal"

[@wiggleroom3039]

And gophers can't get into a container. I use my own organic urine diluted with 10 parts of water, and do this every second watering. Of course, it you take medication, or don't eat organic food, then your urine might not be great for developing fruit that other people will want to eat. If you don't believe me, or feel uncomfortable about using your own urine for fertilizer, you can try this process with potted plants that you don't eat. You will be amazed at the results.

[@BlancaHolland-xx9ny]

I put it in the ground it did and sad that a disease hit the tree as a fungus and it died

[@TheFruitGrove]

Ah I'm sorry that stinks

[@scottteven3196]

Leaf miners devoured mine 😢

[@TheFruitGrove]

yeah, I've had some issues this year too.

[@richard9827]

Check out Millenial Gardener podcast. He is in 8B and uses techniques that I know I hope will work. I planted in the ground and I’m following his advice.