Can I grow lemons in my greenhouse?
If you want fresh lemons for your summer drinks maybe it’s time to grow a lemon tree in your greenhouse?
Growing things to eat is one of the greatest pleasures of gardening and indeed owning a glasshouse. Growing high value ingredients is possibly the number one rule. Add to that the option of food metres (instead of food miles) and of course growing organically without the use of artificial chemicals and your produce is green beyond your wildest dreams. Or yellow when it’s ripened. Like lemons.
Lemon dream
Lemons are a greenhouse dream. One of things that most glasshouse growers aspire to. There’s something very decadent about picking a fresh lemon from your lemon tree and then slicing it up for an iced gin and tonic! Not to mention the flavour. But is it realistic and can you grow lemon trees in the UK??
Yes, you can, but they do need some TLC to be sure to get them through the winter. And you need pollinators to ensure you get fruit, so it’s a good idea to put your lemon tree outside in the sunshine once all risk of frost has passed, so that bumblebees and other pollinators can feast on lemon nectar and lemon pollen. That way you can ensure the fruit will set, and it gives your lemon tree some space, fresh air and sunshine outside.
Greenhouse care
Most lemon varieties are not fully hardy so they demand a frost-free winter somewhere sheltered. That could be a glasshouse, or you may need to bring your lemons indoors to a cool sheltered room. In days gone-by posh houses had a very special place to grow their citrus plants, a heated orangery! But with milder winters and global warming or climate change, overwintering tender plants may become easier. I’m not saying it’s a good thing, it’s not, but it might just allow you to grow some of the slightly less hardy plants that you hanker after, including the lovely lemon.
But don’t be fooled into thinking you can grow a fruiting lemon tree from a lemon pip, it’s possible, but if you want success, it’s better to buy a named variety from a reputable nursery that specialises in citrus fruit to be absolutely sure you are going to get fruit.
Focal point
Once you’ve invested in your lemon tree, treat it like royalty and don’t scrimp on the pot or the compost. Make it a focal point in your glasshouse and on your summer patio by choosing a fabulous planter. A large terracotta pot is a great choice as it holds onto any heat. But don’t plant it into a huge planter until it has grown on. Better to pot it on every year or so until it reaches the right proportions for your regal container.
When it comes to compost, it needs to be well-drained and good quality, remember that your plant is totally dependent on the compost in the container and on you for watering it.
Raise the pot up onto pot feed to ensure good drainage. Lemons are grown commercially in the Mediterranean, but thought to originate from the middle east; they like it hot. They are not used to floods, excessive rain or cold, so remember that when you are nurturing your lemon queen.
Consult a UK citrus expert when considering buying a lemon plant so that you get the right advice for your experience. For example, many people choose to buy a Meyers Lemon, and this is not always a good choice for your first lemon plant as it can be tricky to overwinter. A good choice is the Lunario lemon, sometimes called the Four Season’s lemon because it can have flowers, mini fruit, medium fruit and ripe lemons on the tree at the same time.
One of the great things about a lemon tree is that the ripe and ready to use fruit can remain on the plant until you are ready to pick and use it, so that you get the very, very freshest fruit for your favourite drinks.
Using lemons
And should you ever get a glut of lemons there are so many great ways to use them. Lemon drizzle cake is a personal favourite. Or if life gives you lemons, as the saying goes, you make lemonade, or lemon curd, or Limoncello! The zest and the juice can be used in so many recipes too.
Use up half lemons by slicing them up and freezing the slices, so that When making a summer drink you can add frozen lemon instead of ice and lemon and not a bit goes to waste. Remember that the lemon peel can be used as a cleaner, wipe around the sink for that lemon fresh smell. That’s why many cleaners are lemon ‘flavour’.
And don’t be fooled by the weird nomenclature that labels a duff car as a lemon. A lemon is a precious fruit and one to be revered. My grandmother used to start her day with a generous slice of lemon in hot water. She swore by it. For the very best results and more lemon for your £££, grow organic; you won’t regret it.
Greenhouse lemons are one of the dreams that owning a greenhouse can make come true. Every greenhouse needs a lemon tree (or two).