Lemon tree cultivation methods and precautions

The lemon tree is one of the home potted fruit trees favored by many gardening enthusiasts. Its maintenance process is simple and has a high fruit-bearing rate. Lemon fruits have a wide range of uses. Not only can they be used to make lemon tea and lemon jam, they can also be dried and made into lemon slices, among other uses. Below is a guide on lemon tree cultivation methods and precautions.

1. Pot soil selection

Ceramic basins are preferred because they are more breathable. If you don't have a ceramic pot, a plastic gallon pot is also a good choice. Just put a layer of expanded clay or cinders at the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage and prevent root rot. When planting fruit trees, it is recommended to mix garden soil, nutrient soil and sandy soil in a ratio of 5:4:1.

2. Water and Fertilizer Management

Judge the soil moisture by observing its color or feel to avoid over-drying the soil. Each watering should be done thoroughly to ensure that the water can fully penetrate, and then the excess water should be drained to avoid water accumulation. A layer of decomposed organic fertilizer can be buried in the soil every spring. In daily maintenance, apply fertilizer once every half a month to a month. You can choose compound fertilizer or fermented rice water.

3. Light and temperature

The ideal temperature range for lemon trees to grow is 20 to 30 degrees. Protective measures need to be taken when the temperature exceeds 35 degrees, and watering needs to be reduced when the temperature is below zero in winter to prevent cold. Lemon trees can tolerate direct sunlight throughout the day, within the right temperature range. Lemon trees are not shade-tolerant, and lack of light can cause leaves to fall off, affecting flowering and fruiting.

4. Pruning and Pest Control

To facilitate potted plant maintenance, appropriate pruning of branches during the growing season each year is not only beautiful but also reduces unnecessary nutrient consumption. Check regularly for scale and spider mite infestations and deal with them promptly to prevent their spread.

5. Trimming details

The branches of lemon trees grow slowly in the summer because nutrients are mainly used for fruit growth. After the fruits are ripe and picked in autumn, the growth of branches will accelerate. These new branches will gradually age in winter and become the main part of flowering next year. Pruning is usually done twice: once after the fruit is picked, to prune away weak branches, dead branches and diseased branches; the other time is after a period of growth in the autumn, to prune particularly long "strong branches". Count 2-3 buds up from the last pruning position, and cut off the above part to promote the growth of new buds. After these new buds age in the autumn and winter, they will be able to bloom next year.

6. Nutrient Supplementation

In autumn, supplement nutrients to lemon trees according to the temperature. When the temperature is above 10 degrees, you can use balanced compound fertilizer and apply it once every half a month. Pay attention to applying thin fertilizers frequently. When the temperature drops below 10 degrees, stop applying compound fertilizer and use phosphorus and potassium fertilizer instead, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Dilute it 1200 times with water and spray it on the leaves and roots. Use it once every 10-15 days, and it is best to use it 2-3 times before winter.

The purpose of using phosphorus and potassium fertilizers at this time is to promote the aging of branches so that more flowers can bloom next spring. When the temperature drops below 5 degrees, stop using compound fertilizers and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. You can bury organic fertilizer shallowly on the surface of the potting soil to prepare for growth in the spring of next year. Reduce watering after winter. As long as the outdoor temperature is not lower than minus 3-5 degrees Celsius, the lemon potted plants can safely overwinter.

In short, if you take good care of your lemon trees, they will surely produce more flowers and fruits next year. Finally, lemon trees bloom in April and May, and if natural pollination is lacking, artificial pollination can be performed after flowering to ensure fruiting. From September to November, you can harvest golden lemons.