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My lemon tree. pictures

Posted by mn_matt 3b (My Page) on
Fri, May 8, 09 at 1:16

Planted from seed about ten years ago now I havent had a single flower on it. After reading so many posts of people having the same problem. I think I'll wait another ten before I give up on it. Makes for good shade now anyway.
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This is the youngest I could of it. maybe a year or so? I used an HPS light for the winters early on but it grew fast and tall.
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The next were summers on the deck and winters in front of patio door. The door faced west and did not get enough sun. Each fall it would shed half or more of its leaves wintering over in the apartment. It would get sudden growth spurts of oversized leaves on longer thicker stems. The summer growth usualy had several sprouts instead of 1 or 2. Also the winter sprouts came from within the tree instead of the tips. You can see the difference here. once it gets hardened off for the summer ill cut them off. Back then i left the big leaves on just to have some green to it. Now it has a few odd looking branches because of this
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Quite a bit of growth here. summer 2005 on the deck. Alexis, my big garden helper.
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backyard at new place. much sunnier winter spot has done it well. didnt have the big leaf drop for the first time. This was after its latest (i hope last) pot. couple more summers since last pic mostly filling in the canopy. Can't let it get to big ya know. Lily on the slide JJ on the swing. Also big garden helpers.
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Along the way I figured since I needed to keep it smaller I could try some bonsai experimenting. Exposing the roots seems to be going well. Not sure how good it could be for the tree though. I'll take a pic of a "jin" i think it is if someone wants. branch bending not so good.
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My lemon tree


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

Thanks for sharing!!! It's a good looking tree. Where do you live? Also you could consider grafting another variety onto a portion of the tree for fruiting while you wait. Just a thought.


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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

Your post really got me thinking about how attached we get to these plants. I also found it touching how the plant seems almost like a family memeber, hanging out with the kids and growing along with your family. It also made me plants some seeds this week. The reward seems worth it!!! Keep me posted.

I hope others here can help you coax some fruit from her soon.


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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

Your tree looks wonderfully healthy and happy. Frankly, I'd not make too many changes to what you are already doing. I like the idea of continuing to experiment with your tree, though you need to know that every time you top prune a seedling-grown tree, you delay the fruiting process.

If I were you, I'd purchase a grafted, dwarf specimen for fruit and then continue to prune and train your seedling. Citrus, by the way, can make great bonsai specimens.


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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

minnesota 3b

Thanks for the idea....grafting... hmm. Been busy with the maters and peppers. we'll see if I get to much of the lemon tree. The more I leave it be the better I guess.


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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

It's a lovely tree, whether or not it blooms. I have an avacado I planted from a pit on March 20, 1975, the day we had a major, major ice storm here in Michigan, and I've been waiting 34 years for it to bloom, I've concluded it NEVER will under household conditions, but it makes a lovely foliage plant and is like an old friend. So, it makes the annual trek outdoors for the summer, and back indoors for the winter, gets repotted in fresh soil every few years, cut back to keep its size manageable ever four or five years, etc.

Just the way it goes.

Hey, if I were you, I'd go to a craft store and get a whole bunch of those realistic looking styrofoam based artificial lemons, and wire them all over it, and then tell people what a nice crop you've got. 99% of them would never know they're not real. Just stick a couple of real ones on there, too, and pluck one of those in front of their faces. If your tree has large thorns like many seedling citrus, you could just impale the lemons on the thorns with no trouble.

But then, that's just me! I'm "different" or so I've been told.


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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

Hey, if I were you, I'd go to a craft store and get a whole bunch of those realistic looking styrofoam based artificial lemons, and wire them all over it, and then tell people what a nice crop you've got. 99% of them would never know they're not real. Just stick a couple of real ones on there, too, and pluck one of those in front of their faces. If your tree has large thorns like many seedling citrus, you could just impale the lemons on the thorns with no trouble

HAHAHAHAHA that is so something I would/will try. Most everone knows about the lemon of a lemon tree I'm growing so It would work.

Last year when I brought it in for the winter I was surprised to find 2 green lemons. Surprised and excited to say the least and a bit disapointed as i missed the flowering part....I wanted pictures of course...After closer inspection I discovered they werent lemons at all but a stinky lil fakes that a squirrel had put there .
Not sure what they were but ive seen the squirrels carrying them around and they make your hand stink forever if you touch them.


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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

I brought my lemon in a week or so ago. I think there are 2 flower buds on it. D othey always flower this time of year? hope i get a lemon finaly


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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

You can get budwood and graft it onto a branch of your lemon tree - you can experiment with grafting other varieties like lime, mandarin and orange on to it too. Or, just buy a grafted citrus and cut a branch from it and graft it onto your tree. Some people on these forums know how to get budwood from the USDA program for free. Your tree is lovely - it would be great if it flowered and fruited. Crossing my fingers for you.


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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

Congrats on the flowering!!! Maybe winter grow lights are in order? I tell you one thing, next spring, make sure it gets ample sun and plenty of Citrus fertilizer. Have you been fertilizing it on regular basis? I wouldn't graft if it's flowering now. Do your best through water, ferts and sun to get it fruit on it's own. I bet it's ready!!!


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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

What beautiful pictures, and a great story..I love it..

Cute garden helpers too....Maybe they would like to plant some seeds too. By the time they reach our age, maybe they can look back and be glad they started theirs when they see blooms on theirs years from now..:-)

I love the thread you started..It livens it up here, and puts a smile on our faces..

P.s My sister has one just like that. It is soooo green and looks exactly like yours..She summers it outside and it comes in for the winter..They consider that plant like their only child, since they have none..

Thankyou!


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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

here they are the first flowers. long time waiting on them and the fruit hopefully soon to follow
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hope theres more than 2 flowers the next go around.


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RE: My lemon tree. pictures

I can't wait to get home and see them matt! I can't pull them up here at work..

Wasn't the waiting worth it..They smell so good ha..?

Mike..:-)


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