Any one here grown or tried to grow lemon trees?
I would like to try as I also keep chickens I would like to make my own lemon curd with my own lemons and eggs.
Thing is a lot of places seem to price them at about £50 so I dont want to make an expensive misake and kill it! It will be in an unheated greenhouse over winter and moved outside for summer.
Try Aldi our branch had some last week with full size lemons for about £15. They are quite difficult to keep going though I have never been very lucky, lots of light, gentle watering and moderate heat. If you succeed, I love lemon curd!
Thanks I will take a look, for £15 I dont mind making a mistake!
Just had one survive the winter outside, but it has been fleeced and was in front of French windows so probably got a bit of leaked heat from the house. I think some newer varieties are much hardier than others, and I would check that out quite carefully before buying. I've also found that if they've been left outdoors until it gets quite cold, they don't like the sudden transition into a heated house so the GH is probably a better bet.
Finally, try to avoid using tap water if you are in a hard water area. They really don't like it.
if it don't work out, grow a gooseberry bush, Gooseberry curd, yummy!!! (gooseberry meringue pie) ;D ;D ;D
Inky don't you also need a cow for the butter?
Janet
Good luck, nothing like picking your own lemons ;) not made lemon curd yet, I'm very impatient! would be scrambled if I made it!
I've had a lemon tree in a pot for about 6 years - after 3 years of leaving it outside and nearly killing it every winter I decided to bring it into the 'lean-to' area I have at the back of the house. Instead of the leaves falling off and it nearly dying it has gone dormant and retained all it's leaves. They are therefore non-native and require a lot of care but they smell fab and fruit, so worth the hassle! Really better in warmer climates but can be done though!
Quote from: Barnowl on March 03, 2009, 14:42:22
Finally, try to avoid using tap water if you are in a hard water area. They really don't like it.
I didn't know that, thanks for tip. i've got one i grew from a pip about 8 years ago. Though do I now buy mineral water for it? or rain water?
I have tried growing lemons from pips but never succeeded - whats the answer? Does it bear fruit yet?
Quote from: pigeonseed on March 05, 2009, 15:15:46
Quote from: Barnowl on March 03, 2009, 14:42:22
Finally, try to avoid using tap water if you are in a hard water area. They really don't like it.
I didn't know that, thanks for tip. i've got one i grew from a pip about 8 years ago. Though do I now buy mineral water for it? or rain water?
I suspect that was tongue in cheek but, just in case it wasn't, rainwater is fine :)
Quote from: Psi on March 05, 2009, 15:45:34
I have tried growing lemons from pips but never succeeded - whats the answer? Does it bear fruit yet?
I don't know what i did right, I just stuck a pip in a pot of compost and it grew. It was slow to germinate I seem to remember.
And after that I haven't given it the care it needs really, so it's still very small and has been molested by scale insects, snails and changes in temperature.
I'm trying to look after it a bit better now.