How to Grow Lemon
Citrus limon
Grow lemon trees in containers with specialist citrus compost and excellent drainage. Place outdoors in full sun from late May to September, then move to the brightest indoor position over winter at 7-12°C. Feed every two to four weeks with citrus fertiliser during the growing season and water with rainwater when the top 2 cm of compost is dry. Meyer Lemon is the most popular variety for UK growing.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Citrus fertiliser every 2–4 weeks during the growing season (April–September). Reduce in winter.
Watch For
- Scale insects
- Mealybug
- Red spider mite
- Leaf drop from cold or overwatering
Companions
Basil, Lavender, Marigolds
Track your Lemon care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Maximum light; outdoors in summer, brightest spot in winter
Maximum light is essential. Place outdoors in full sun from late May to September, then move to the brightest indoor position over winter. A south-facing conservatory is ideal.
💧 Watering
Water when top 2cm dry; rainwater preferred; reduce in winter
Water when the top 2cm of compost is dry. Use rainwater where possible as citrus dislike hard water. Reduce watering significantly in winter. Never let pots sit in water.
🌱 Fertilizing
Citrus fertiliser every 2–4 weeks April–September
Feed every two to four weeks with a specialist citrus fertiliser during the growing season (April to September). Reduce to monthly in winter. Citrus are hungry plants.
✂️ Pruning
Light spring prune; remove dead wood and shape canopy
Prune lightly in spring. Remove dead wood, crossing branches, and water sprouts. Shape to maintain an open canopy for light penetration. Pinch growing tips to encourage bushiness.
❄️ Overwintering
Bring indoors October–May; bright, cool room at 7–12°C
Not frost-hardy. Bring indoors to a bright, cool room (7–12°C) from October to May. Avoid warm, dry centrally heated rooms which cause leaf drop. Ventilate on mild days.
Growing Tips
Rainwater and good drainage
Use rainwater where possible — citrus dislike the lime in hard tap water. Water when the top 2 cm of compost feels dry, and never let pots sit in water.
Regular citrus feed
Feed every two to four weeks with a specialist citrus fertiliser from April to September. Yellowing leaves often signal a need for feeding.
Summer outdoors
Move outdoors to a sunny, sheltered patio from late May to September. The summer outdoors improves growth, flowering, and fruit set.
Cool bright winter quarters
Bring indoors before the first frost to a bright, cool room at 7-12°C. Avoid warm, dry centrally heated rooms which cause leaf drop.
Check for scale and mealybug
Watch for scale insects and mealybug, the most common pests on indoor citrus. Wipe off with soapy water or methylated spirit on a cotton bud.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Scale Insects
Identification: Small brown or white waxy bumps on stems and leaf undersides; sticky honeydew and sooty mould
- Wipe off with a damp cloth or cotton bud dipped in methylated spirit
- Spray with plant oil-based winter wash when dormant
- Apply systemic insecticide containing acetamiprid in spring
Pest Mealybug
Identification: White cottony masses in leaf axils and on stems; sticky honeydew and sooty mould
- Dab with methylated spirit on a cotton bud
- Introduce Cryptolaemus montrouzieri ladybird as a biological control
- Spray with fatty acid-based insecticide, ensuring good coverage of hidden areas
Pest Red Spider Mite
Identification: Fine webbing on leaf undersides; leaves develop pale stippling and may bronze and drop
- Mist foliage regularly to raise humidity
- Introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis predatory mites
- Spray with plant oil-based miticide, repeating every 7 days
Disease Citrus Canker Xanthomonas citri
Symptoms: Raised brown corky lesions on leaves, stems, and fruit surrounded by a yellow halo; premature leaf and fruit drop
Treatment: Prune out and destroy affected branches; sterilise tools between cuts
Prevention: Avoid overhead watering; quarantine new plants; maintain good air circulation
Disease Sooty Mould Capnodium spp.
Symptoms: Black powdery or crusty coating on leaves and stems, growing on honeydew excreted by sap-sucking insects
Treatment: Wipe leaves clean with a damp cloth; control the underlying pest (scale, mealybug, or whitefly)
Prevention: Monitor and treat sap-sucking pests promptly; improve ventilation around the plant
Disease Root Rot Phytophthora spp.
Symptoms: Yellowing leaves, wilting despite wet compost, dark mushy roots; tree declines and may die
Treatment: Repot into fresh, free-draining citrus compost; trim away rotten roots; reduce watering
Prevention: Use well-draining compost with added perlite; never let pots sit in water; water only when top 2cm is dry
Popular Varieties
Meyer
A cross between a lemon and a mandarin, producing fruit that is sweeter, rounder, and less acidic than standard lemons. Well-suited to container growing.
Eureka
Lisbon
A vigorous, thorny lemon tree producing high-quality fruit with true lemon acidity. More cold-tolerant than Eureka and well-suited to container growing in the UK.
Improved Dwarf
A compact selection of Meyer lemon ideal for small spaces and containers. Produces full-sized fruit on a naturally small tree, making it perfect for conservatories.
Variegata
An ornamental lemon with striking cream-and-green variegated foliage and pink-fleshed fruit when young. Also called Pink Lemonade. Slightly less productive but beautiful.
Quatre Saisons
A French four-seasons lemon that flowers and fruits almost continuously in warm conditions. Medium-sized fruit with good juice content. Also known as Garey's Eureka.
Femminello
The classic Italian lemon, accounting for most of Italy's commercial production. Heavy-cropping with highly aromatic fruit, well-adapted to container culture.
Verna
A Spanish variety that crops heavily in late spring without a winter rest. Large, slightly oval fruit with few seeds. Good for UK conservatory growing.
Genoa
A nearly thornless lemon producing medium-sized, very juicy fruit. Compact growth habit makes it excellent for container culture in limited spaces.
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 400 cm |
| Row spacing | 450 cm |
| Mature height | 300 cm |
| Mature spread | 250 cm |
Semi-dwarf varieties 3-4m apart. Dwarf/container 2-3m. Standard trees need 5-6m.
Log Lemon in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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