[mamalovesmambo]

Hi,
I'm considering getting a Lemon tree and also a Lime tree.
Has anyone had success growing them in the north west ?

Can anyone give advice on varieties to consider which can be grown in the UK and crop well?
Any idea how many lemons I might get after the tree has grown up a bit?
Would it be best to grow the tree in a pot, and bring it undercover into a polytunnel during the winter?
Or to grow the tree in the soil in the polytunnel?
Do Lemon and/or Lime trees need to be sited near their own kind, like other fruit trees, for fertilization?
What height and spread for a lemon tree?

Many Thanks for any advice

[WG.]

north west ?

[Ice]

Strangely, I was going to post an answer advising you to state your exact location and whether you were organic or not just in case an old pedant like WG answered.   :roll:    

[gobs]

height and spread depends on what you are buying, most commonly recommended successful variety for UK conditions is Mayers.

what crop you get on any of them is a useless guesswork, really.  Not 'cos i'm nasty, it's just can be anything from nowt to 20, right, depending what happens to them, what their variety, their age and the weather that year.

I agree, you do definitely keep them indoors for winter time. The varieties sold here are commonly grafted to facilitate just that, they'll be small.

No clue about lime, mind.

[gobs]

Strangely, I was going to post an answer advising you to state your exact location and whether you were organic or not just in case an old pedant like WG answered.   :roll:    

It's no problem for me, lemon and lime does not grow natural anywhere in UK, I think, so it makes no difference, really.

[WG.]

Strangely, I was going to post an answer advising you to state your exact location and whether you were organic or not just in case an old pedant like WG answered.   :roll:    

So nice to have you back Ice  

You'd need to keep it in the polytunnel all the time.  I think you'd get some growth with it there.  Might be best asking a specialist nursery for their recommendations on a dwarf root stock (I assume you can get such a thing).

[gobs]

I think a polytunnel might be too cold for them in most parts in the winter, but Cynara will know, might have lime as well...

[Aunt Sally]

The BIG houses in the 17th - 19th centuries kept their citrus fruit trees nice and warm in pots in an "Orangery"  :roll: I think they moved them outside in the height of the summer.

[Cynara]

Yep. Meyers lemon and limes do well outside in summer in a pot on the patio but need heat in winter. I keep mine at a minimum of 7 celcius in the greenhouse. Got a couple of good size yellow lemons and a load of other green ones at various stages at the moment. I wouldn't bother heating space just for the lemons though. Use them as a house plant. the flowers smell gorgeous and are produced all the year round

[Cynara]

Pic taken today.

[gobs]

Nice couple of lemons there, Cynara, I'm green with envy!  Not really, not that sort.

[Sally A]

Is there an emoticon for show off - nah, I'm envious really :mrgreen:

Well done - they look promising.

[Contadino]

You can always put a fleece cage around them in the winter months if they're too big for pots.  I cover ours with something called rete antigelo - 4 poles to support the corners.  Make sure that if you use fleece, it doesn't touch the leaves too much (i.e. don't wrap it.)

[gobs]

C has got them in the heated green house, love.

[mkhenry]

Pic taken today.

I can see by the piccy that your lemons need a mist sprayed over the fruiting buds.
All lemons need a lot of water and a good feed. Spraying will help set the fruit and will help it to produce more.
In summer they may need watering every other day.
One of the major companys do a special feed,"Chempak" I think it is.
One for winter one for summer. This will help to make your tree look like one grown in the Med.