What’s cooler than having your own lemon tree? Having a red one! Now that’s a talking point over cocktails in summer. While it needs very much the same care as Vivi or Leon, what makes Citrus x limon ‘Rosso’ different is its blushed reddy-orange rind which makes it extra-decorative. It also has a compact growth habit, and let’s not forget its purple buds and waxy white flowers that have the most divine heady scent. Beneath the thick colourful skin is a juicy flavoursome fruit.
There aren’t many citrus trees that will produce fruit in a typical British climate, but a lemon tree that’s well looked after will flower and fruit until early autumn. Not every fruit will reach full maturity, as the plant will put its energy into just a few at a time. When a lemon looks large, plump and ripe, cut it off, so you can enjoy it and your tree can get on with growing more. Give your tree the sunniest spot you can, as the fruit will need lots of light to ripen.
Care for your red lemon is pretty simple. Keep its soil lightly moist, feed it once per month in spring and summer, and prune it lightly each year to keep a bushy shape. Remember this is a Mediterranean plant that won’t enjoy being out in really cold wet winter temperatures (it's not keen on anything below about 10°C). Bring it inside for winter, until the weather gets nice and warm again, probably in about May or June.
Depending on the time of year, your tree may arrive without fruit, but if you give it enough warmth and sun it should flower and fruit from spring. Your plant will arrive in a nursery pot (the plastic pot it’s been growing in). There’s no need to remove it from this. Just place the whole thing inside a decorative pot. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. If you choose to plant your citrus tree out into a decorative pot, or when it comes time to repot it - every 2 to 3 years - be sure to use a loam based compost like John Innes No.3, which will have the perfect balance of drainage and moisture retentive goodies like sand and clay.
Did you know?
19.4 million tonnes of lemons are produced around the world each year.
Feeding
Bright light
Regular watering
