Growing a lemon tree in a pot on your balcony, like an orange tree in the garden, requires that you find out about the subject beforehand: these citrus fruits do indeed have their own little requirements. Planting, maintenance, pruning and wintering will soon hold no more secrets for you.
Tips for planting a lemon or orange tree, in the ground or in a pot
After you have sprouted your citrus seeds, once they are large enough, it is time to transplant them.
In the open ground
Choose a sunny location for them, but not necessarily all day long, and preferably sheltered from the wind, especially if you are in a region where there is a lot of it. Situations close to a wall are ideal. as the heat of the day will be returned to them at night.
Wait until spring and when you have the certainty that the last frosts have passeddig a hole twice the size of the root system.
Water thoroughly when planting and make a good mulch to prevent the soil from hardening too quickly, which would make it more difficult for the roots to take hold. You can also possibly add compost to the surface.
can
As in open ground, you cannot imagine having a lemon or orange tree in a pot that flourishes fully and for a long time without find a sunny place for it, sheltered from the wind. As is often the case with balconies, the lemon tree and theorange tree in pot are regularly invited there.
Take a pot, preferably as big as possible, and line the bottom with clay or gravel balls 10 millimeters in diameter. Add a layer of good quality horticultural compost and place your lemon tree or citrus tree to be planted on top before backfilling with compost to fill the pot completely.
Pack down well after planting and water abundantly without leaving water in the cup.
How to care for your lemon or orange tree
Watering
The maintenance of a lemon or orange tree is the same in a pot as in the ground and consists first and foremost of: water it properly and throughout the year. So make sure that there is always moisture at the foot without it drowning in water.
And mulchingin a pot or in open ground, can also allow you to keep this humidity more easily and therefore promote the growth of your plant.
Fertilizer
In both cases, the lemon tree and the orange tree are also very greedy in fertilizers and require you to bring them some approximately every two weeks during peak season.
Repotting
It must be anticipated roughly every 3 years by taking a pot with a volume at least a third larger. Repot in FEBRUARY shaking the root ball well.
The size
Wait until the end of the winter break to roughly expel the branches that bother you. lemon tree size or orange tree is done at this time of year, because it allows young wood to branch out and make your lemon or orange tree more compact.
Preparing your lemon or orange tree for winter
In the open ground
If you are in a very cold region in the mountains or in the north of Franceyou took a risk by planting a citrus fruit in the ground, because they are sensitive to it.
However, you can protect it as much as possible by covering it, for example, with straw up to the height of the leaves then surrounding it with a wintering veil that you can find in stores.
If the winter is dry, also make sure that he always has something to drink, but without exaggerating to the extent that, in the event of frost, It is precisely this water that risks “burning” its rootss.
in can
Potted plants are subjected to much harsher tests than plants in the open ground once the bad weather arrives. You will therefore be obliged, for your lemon tree or your orange tree, to find it a place indoors in a cool and bright place.
Also respect its cycle of vegetative rest or winter rest by watering it only a little, often once a month. This will be your last helping hand to your citrus fruit during the season thatpush your index finger into the ground and to water only when the soil is dry throughout its entire depth.
Grow your citrus fruits in the ground or in pots.
Today, it is possible to grow citrus fruits everywhere in France by choosing the right varieties. What if you invited them into your garden? The authors give you all the keys to: identify your climate zone and the citrus fruits that can grow there, plant, maintain, and multiply citrus fruits easily.
Banner illustration: And with a little luck and work… the fruits! © liquid studios
consoGlobe also recommends…
Source: www.consoglobe.com
