Where you tempted the last time you saw a Meyer lemon tree for sale? We won’t judge – there are good reasons for you to buy one (or more)! Apart from the fact that lemon lovers will be able to enjoy their favorite fruit almost year-round with a Meyer lemon tree, the dwarf varieties of this lovely tree can thrive indoors as well as outside!
Besides, you can’t generally find Meyer lemon trees in the grocery store as they aren’t grown commercially, so if you want to get a taste of these sweet-tart fruits that are the darlings of the culinary world for their sweet-tart skins, you really should think about getting your own tree!
What is a dwarf Meyer lemon tree?
Native to China, Meyer lemons are a cross between a citron and a mandarin orange. They’re rounder, sweeter, and less acidic than true lemons, with bright yellow color that takes on a slight orange tint when ripe. They get their name from Frank Meyer, a Department of Agriculture employee who collected a sample of the fruit while traveling and brought it to the United States in 1908.
The Meyer lemon dwarf tree is often grown as a potted ornamental tree in China due to its picturesque appearance. Their evergreen leaves are bright green and shiny, and the fragrant flowers are white with a purple base.
The first Meyer lemon trees introduced to the US turnout to be very susceptible to a fast-spreading virus. To protect the country’s remaining citrus trees, this early variety was destroyed, and later replaced with a Meyer improved dwarf lemon tree resistant to the early Meyer lemon tree diseases. Improved Meyer lemon tree care is surprisingly simple – a consideration to keep in mind when seeking improved Meyer lemon trees for sale.
I don’t have much room, and I don’t live in Florida or California.
This is not a problem – Meyer lemon trees fruit both outdoors and indoors!
Standard Meyer lemon trees grow to be 6-10 feet tall, while the dwarf variety grows to be 5-7 feet. A Meyer lemon dwarf tree in a garden pot will grow according to the size of the pot and be smaller.
While it’s true Meyer lemon trees do best in temperatures that range between 50-80ºF, keeping a potted tree offers more flexibility. You can keep a container dwarf Meyer lemon key lime tree indoors all the time, or bring it indoors when the drops below 50ºF and take it back outside when it warms up again.
How long does it take for a Meyer lemon tree to bear fruit?
The amount of time it takes your Meyer dwarf lemon tree to bear fruit depends on how the tree was grown. A grafted tree can bear fruit in as little as two years, while seed-grown Meyer lemon trees can take anywhere from three to seven years to produce fruit.
One major benefit of Meyer lemon trees is that they are self-pollinating. Unlike apple or pear trees you need just one Meyer lemon tree to get fruit!
Meyer lemon trees will fruit either indoors or outdoors once or twice a year, with especially abundant harvests in fall and winter.
What are some good tips on how to grow a Meyer lemon tree in a pot?
Dwarf Meyer lemon tree care includes watering the soil deeply but infrequently and misting its leaves, promoting good soil drainage, and ensuring your dwarf Meyer lemon gets hours of direct sunlight each day. If this proves difficult to provide for your indoor dwarf improved Meyer lemon tree, consider investing in grow lights.
Your Meyer lemon tree can benefit from monthly fertilizations from April through September. Select a slow-release, nitrogen-rich Meyer lemon tree fertilizer. Some are created specifically for citrus trees. You can also use organic emulsions or kelp.
My Meyer lemon lime tree appears to have longish “spikes”…do Meyer lemon trees have thorns?!
Yes, when they’re young. Thorns on a citrus tree are there for the same reason porcupines have spines – protection from predators (in this case, hungry animals that want to nibble away the tender leaves and fruit). Vegetation is most delicate when the tree is young, which is why many juvenile citrus trees have thorns. They tend to grow out of them, though, once the key lime and Meyer lemon tree have matured.
Have we convinced to go looking for a dwarf Meyer lemon tree for sale? If the answer is “yes,” great! We’re certain you’ll be happy you did. And if you’re short on space but would like more than one type of fruit, consider getting a dwarf Meyer lemon key lime cocktail tree. Like Meyer lemons, key limes are another hybrid fruit sweeter than true limes. A cocktail variety grows both fruits on the same tree, meaning you’ll have access to key ingredients in a multitude of gourmet recipes!