Lemon Tree

So dance now in this bountiful garden of the lemon tree.
For all we have left in the end are our memories.
MPCooper, Cherish the Lemon Tree

If you are still looking for a unique holiday gift, consider a lemon tree. Back in the days when I sold citrus trees, I transcribed many messages of love and a few of repentance to accompany gifts of lemon trees. The hardest messages to write were those to accompany memorial trees.

Whether it is because of their bright colors in the dead of winter, their bitter-sweet flavor, or maybe the symbolism of the tree itself, lemon trees have a place in our homes and in our hearts.

I grow Dwarf Meyer Lemon, Improved because I like the sweeter flavor of this lemon variety. It is perfect for making preserved lemons. (If you haven't tried preserved lemons, email me for the recipe. They add a delicious salty/tangy flavor to chicken and fish dishes.)

Lemon trees are easy to grow and reward you consistently with fruit in late fall and early winter. Dwarf varieties grow well in containers and can be grown indoors. This makes it possible to grow lemon trees anywhere.

A few sources for lemon trees are included at the end of this blog. If your state does not permit importation of trees from these growers, ask your local nurseries for reputable tree sources.

Growing Lemon Trees:
Here's a series of articles I wrote for ehow on growing lemon trees. A more general article on growing citrus can be found on my website, The Gourmet Gardener

Growing Lemon Trees Organically
Pruning Lemon Trees
Planting Lemon Trees

Lemon Tree Sources:

Tampa, Florida
Harris Citrus
I've been to this farm and highly recommend them for Florida buyers.

Winters, California
Four Winds Growers

Mission, Texas
RGV Nursery