In all my experience growing lemons, no one has ever asked me about Node Count. I have no idea what is the importance, or what is the REAL question.

The size may have already been met. Could you post pictures. This might help. I doubt any one has ever counted. the quantity/quality of light, fertilizer, and water. will make a big difference. Once you post picture I still wont be able to tell but all my trees are seed grown and I like to look at other's seed grown trees

link to seed grown meiwa kumquat trees

Here is a link that might be useful: https://plus.google.com/photos/111099372377958308731/albums/profile?banner=pwa

Eric, I am not sure there is a set answer to your question about node count maturity (and thus the beginning of fruit set, John). I can tell you in general, that lime seedlings are the most precocious, then lemon seedling behind them. But, cultivars will each have their own node count to maturity, so not sure you can generalize, and pretty sure no one has actually counted.

Patty S.

Some years ago I planted 500 seedling Meyers next to 500 grafted Meyers on Carrizo root. The grafted Meyers produced harvested fruit in 18 months; the seedling trees did not produce even a flower for 4 years. I took them out and replaced them with grafted Meyers; but on Macrophylla root; because some of my lands are subject to flooding, which brings Phytophora and Carrizo is quite prone to damage from that. In the end I lost almost 200 of the 500 on Carrizo.... a costly learning experience.

Here are pictures of my lemon trees. Both are four years old. The big one is about two feet tall. It just had a huge flush of growth and grew three top branches last month. Since then, it has stopped growing. Should I feed it or prune it? The little one is growing many new leaves and is bouncing back after I pruned it. It's so fun to watch them grow and thrive.

Your trees are seriously in need of feeding. Get a good balanced citrus fertilizer and give the a healthy and regular dose.

Thanks Johnmerr! I have fed them with liquid houseplant formula in the winter. I will keep fertilizing them now.

you probably need to provide more light as well.
This is 1 years growth on a meiwa kumquat tree. Click link for slideshow display in photobucket

Here is a link that might be useful: http://s1094.photobucket.com/user/wreristhechimney/slideshow/Seed%20grown%20Meiwa%20kumquat%20tree

The lemon tree gets plenty of light. When I take it outside, I put it on a plant stand on the porch in full sun. Indoors, it is placed next to a large picture window in the basement. This year, it is going to be moved to the office as an accent plant.