Content
Meyer lemon belongs to the Rutaceae family of the Citrus genus. It is a hybrid obtained naturally from pomelo, citron and mandarin. It is found naturally in China, from there it was brought to the USA and other countries. In its homeland, the tree is classified as decorative, and in America and Russia the fruits are used in various recipes.
Description of the Meyer lemon variety
Meyer lemon is a low-growing tree, the height of which ranges from 1 to 2 m. With proper and timely pruning, a compact, low-growing tree can be formed.
Meyer lemon foliage is dense, dark green, and has a good shine. The tree blooms with white (with a small admixture of purple) flowers, collected 6-8 pieces in inflorescences. During flowering, Meyer trees emit a pleasant aroma.
The fruits of the Meyer lemon variety are rounder than those of the ordinary lemon (shown in the photo). The color of ripened fruits is bright yellow, after ripening an orange tint is visible, the peel is thin, soft, smooth to the touch. The pulp is dark yellow.Meyer lemons have a sweeter flavor than the regular lemon and contain about 10 seeds each. The weight of Meyer lemon fruits ranges from 70 to 150 g and depends on growing conditions.
The Meyer variety is a remontant variety, so fruiting occurs all year round. The first fruits appear no earlier than in the third year of the seedling’s life. The tree produces the most flowers in the spring. About 3 kg of lemons are harvested per season.
The yield of Meyer lemon depends on growing conditions and care. Trees of this variety are considered quite capricious, therefore, if not properly cared for, they can turn yellow or lose most of their foliage.
Fruit ripening is long; after flowering, it takes approximately 8–9 months to harvest.
Advantages and disadvantages
Any variety can have positive and negative qualities. Before planting a tree, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the pros and possible disadvantages of the variety, as well as find out what conditions are considered favorable for planting. The benefits of Meyer lemon include:
- decorativeness. Lemon is distinguished by its beautiful crown, lush flowering and fragrance, therefore it is often used as a decorative element;
- pleasant sour-sweet taste of the fruit with a slightly noticeable bitterness, imparting nobility;
- year-round fruiting, allowing the fruits to be used constantly in the family’s diet.
The tree can be grown in the southern and temperate climate zones, but most often this variety is used for planting in a greenhouse or apartment.
The disadvantages of the Meyer variety include the following:
- poor transportability and preservation of fruits;
- the tree's requirements for lighting, watering and soil quality.If not properly cared for, the tree sheds its leaves and reduces flowering, which leads to a decrease in fruiting;
- the likelihood of infection by diseases and insect pests is quite high, which also reduces yield.
Meyer lemon propagation
There are two ways to grow Meyer lemons: from a seed or from a cutting. A seedling obtained by the first method begins to bear fruit a year later than a tree grown by cuttings.
Another disadvantage of growing from seeds is the possibility of getting wild ones. When cuttings are taken, a lemon grows that completely inherits the varietal characteristics.
The method of growing from seeds is as follows:
- Remove the seeds from Meyer lemons. It is necessary to remove the seeds carefully so as not to damage them;
- the seeds are washed and dried at room temperature;
- a gauze cloth folded several times is placed in a plate, seeds are laid out on it, covered with a second piece of gauze, moistened with water and put in a cool place;
- check the moisture content of the fabric, periodically add water to avoid drying out;
- when sprouts appear, the seeds are transplanted into the soil, deepening them by 3-4 cm;
- watering the seedlings is carried out once every 48 hours;
- after the height of the seedling reaches 15 cm, it must be transplanted into another container of larger volume;
- when the trunk thickness reaches 8 mm, the lemon is grafted.
Cuttings are carried out as follows:
- A cutting with 5 leaves is cut from an adult tree;
- the cutting is placed in a container filled with a weak solution of manganese for 1 day;
- 3 top leaves are left on the cuttings, the rest are cut off;
- prepare a container for planting: place drainage at the bottom, then fill it with a special soil mixture for citrus fruits, purchased in a store, on top of a two-centimeter layer of sand, into which the cuttings are planted;
- Place a glass jar of the required volume (1–1.5 l) on top of the cutting;
- the pot with the cutting is placed in a room with diffused light; the container cannot be placed on the windowsill, as bright sunlight can burn the plant;
- regularly monitor soil moisture, water as needed, avoiding drying out;
- after 10–14 days, the jar under which the cutting is located is removed, first for a short period, then the time is gradually increased. This allows the seedling to acclimatize to indoor conditions.
Propagating Meyer lemon by cuttings is the most successful way:
- the tree completely inherits its maternal characteristics;
- Fruiting occurs 1 year earlier, i.e. at the age of 3 years.
Landing rules
A Meyer lemon seedling, whether grown from a cutting or purchased at a store, needs to be replanted. The best time for this is the last month of winter. In some cases, transplantation may be required at other times:
- Numerous roots are visible from the pot;
- the lemon looks dry, and a putrid smell is heard from the container;
- the tree does not grow, does not bloom or bear fruit.
To help the plant, planting can be done without waiting for the end of winter. If, upon inspection of the contents of the pot, it is revealed that the earthen lump is completely entangled in roots, transplant it into a larger container. If the roots are not visible, transfer the seedling to a pot with the same volume.
The frequency of transplants depends on the age of the seedling.The first transplant is carried out on a lemon that has reached two years of age. Three-year-old seedlings are replanted twice a year. A four-year-old tree is replanted once a year, then the number of replantations is reduced to once every 2 years. Trees that have crossed the ten-year mark are replanted once every 7–9 years.
Soil preparation consists of mixing several components:
- 2 parts of turf land;
- 1 part sand;
- 1 part humus;
- 1 part of land from deciduous forest.
You can purchase a special mixture for rooting citrus fruits in the store. It consists of peat, limestone, sand, mineral and organic additives, and a growth stimulant.
Landing algorithm:
- Drainage is poured into a container of suitable volume (the height of the seedling and its root system are assessed) with a layer of 3 cm.
- Pour nutritious soil mixture on top.
- The seedling is placed in the center of the pot and all the cracks between the roots and walls are filled.
- The soil is compacted well with your hands or a spatula.
- It is necessary to ensure that the root collar is flush with the ground; it is not recommended to deepen or raise it too much.
- The seedling is watered.
Caring for Meyer Lemon
Proper care is the key to good productivity of any tree. In order for a seedling to please with flowers and a green crown, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the issue of creating a cozy microclimate. In addition, correct trimming will help create a decorative crown. Watering and fertilizing affect the overall condition of the Meyer seedling and the level of fruiting.
Crown formation and sanitary pruning
Meyer lemon, used as an ornamental plant, needs to form a crown.Pruning is carried out as follows:
- the seedling is shortened to 20 cm, with a few buds remaining on top;
- shoots emerging from the buds are used as skeletal shoots. The four most beautiful ones are left, located symmetrically on the trunk, and the rest are removed;
- the length of the skeletal branches should be 25 cm, the extra centimeters are cut off;
- the resulting branches of the second order are shortened to 10 cm;
- the third row of shoots is cut to 5 cm.
After this, sanitary pruning is periodically carried out, aimed at removing broken and diseased branches and yellowed leaves.
Frequency of watering and fertilizing
Meyer lemon is watered using two methods: root and foliar. During the hot period, not only the soil is watered, but also the crown is sprayed daily, and in autumn and winter the number of waterings is reduced to 1-2 times a week. Too dry air in the room can lead to yellowing of the foliage, so in addition to spraying the crowns, air humidification is used. To do this, water containers are placed on heating radiators.
It is necessary to ensure that the soil in the pot does not dry out, otherwise the lemon tree may die.
The seedling needs feeding from March to November, i.e. during the period of active flowering and fruit ripening. In winter, fertilization is stopped.
For feeding, complex mineral compositions (nitrogen, potassium-phosphate) are used. They are paid twice a month.
Once a quarter, the ground is additionally watered with compounds containing boron, iron, zinc, manganese, and copper.
Environmental requirements
Meyer lemons need good lighting. The duration of daylight should be at least 12 hours, so if there is insufficient daylight, additional lamps are turned on. Lack of light adversely affects the condition of the foliage; in the shade, the lemon sheds its leaves and may die.
The Meyer lemon tree does not like drafts or sudden changes in temperature. It is not recommended to take the tree outside in winter; it should not be kept in an unheated room either.
Comfortable temperature for Meyer lemon in summer is +20 °C, in winter – ranging from +12 to +15 °C. If the plant is outdoors in summer, it is necessary to provide shading from the scorching rays of the sun.
Meyer Lemon Pests and Diseases
Improper care of Meyer seedlings leads to the tree getting sick:
- lightening, yellowing of leaves indicates a lack of nutrients or sunlight;
- shedding of leaves is associated with insufficient soil moisture, so urgently water the ground and spray the crown.
Spider mites can cause damage to indoor Meyer seedlings, so if spider webs are detected, the lemon is sent under the shower.
The appearance of spots on the leaves may be associated with scale insects; to combat them, use a mixture of kerosene and liquid soap (1:2).
To protect against pests, use an aqueous solution of karbofos and keltan. For 0.5 liters you will need 1 g of each substance.
Conclusion
Meyer lemon is a perennial tree with a compact crown that can be grown in open ground or in an apartment. Lemon fruits of this variety are suitable for consumption.
