The"Improved Meyers" Lemon

 

The Meyers Lemon is ideally suited to our milder climate here. They grow well in zones 8-11. Kyle is barley into zone 8.  We are more of a 8.5 zone and therefore we can occasionally get a little cold for the Meyers Lemon. 

Improved Meyer Lemon dwarf is something of a cross between an ordinary lemon and an orange. The thin-skinned fruit is sweet and grows readily in the right conditions. The tree reaches 6 to 10 feet in height. Pruning keeps it more manageable with a fuller appearance.

Meyer lemon tree care is basic. Finding the right location for your tree is key especially since we occasionally get frosty winter winds coming in from the North.  Ideally you want to plant in a sunny south/southeast location that has some protection from the north, especially if you want to grow this gem in the ground. 

Meyer lemon growing requires at least six hours of sunlight. In the hottest summer areas, morning sun and afternoon shade is best for growing Meyer lemons.

Start with a healthy tree, grafted onto a hardy rootstock. Seed grown trees are often unhealthy and may not reach the point of flowering or producing fruit.

Soil conditions when growing these lemons should be well-draining; however, the soil must hold enough water to remain moist. Allow soil to dry out only slightly between waterings.

Fertilize regularly when growing Meyer lemons. A high nitrogen fertilizer, such as one designed for citrus trees, is best fed monthly between April and September. Withhold fertilizer during autumn and winter months. Yellowing leaves indicate the need for either water or fertilizer. Be prepared to prptect your tree if the temperature dips into the twenties or below. Wrap it or place a heat light out to keep it warm.  Your Improved Meyers Tree will remain small, but it will give you a bountiful havest each year if cared for properly. 

 

 Previously featured Plants 

Pomegrante Tree "Wonderful"

Pomegranate Trees grow very well on the black prairie.  Pomegranate 'Wonderful'  blooms in spring with beautiful orange-red flowers, but unlike most spring-flowering trees, it also provides a striking autumn color show with its red, globe-shaped fruits.  10'-20' (3 - 6 M) in height at maturity, it's big enough to provide summer shade, but won't overwhelm a small space.  If you want to reach the fruit easily, keep it pruned to about 10'.  The foliage is dense enough for good screening from spring into fall;  here it drops its foliage in late fall with some leaf color (gold and copper). After the leaves drop in late autumn, any remaining fruit will make the tree appear as if it has been decorated for Christmas.  Rain rots the fruit, which cracks as it becomes over-ripe, so once the rainy season begins, it's time to strip the tree of any remainders.