Tree Selection: Meyer Lemon

There are an endless number of amazing trees to choose from if you’re thinking of adding one to your garden, deck or front room. However, at the moment, I can’t think of a more rewarding tree than a Meyer lemon. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Funny, the common saying, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” sums it up. Space dedicated to growing a tree or any other plant might feel inadequate but with this one you get boundless bang for your buck. Honestly, if you consider a Meyer lemon you’ll end up with something sweeter than expected.

You can keep it small with thoughtful pruning, growing it in a container or plant it outdoors straight into the ground (depending on your climate of course). If you treat it remotely well, remembering it’s weekly watering and occasional dose of nitrogen, it will produce the most tangy, sweet lemons you’ve ever tasted — and then it will produce some more.

Like these. It’s amazing. No sooner do I harvest, the next time I look there are more flowers and budding lemons like the ones above.

These particular baby lemons were generated through hand-pollination. I refuse to miss a crop and the last round of flowering was spent indoors, so I decided to do the work of bees. It’s simple enough to move the pollen from the anthers of the stamen to the stigma of the pistil with a Q-tip. Repeat several times and you should be in business. It’s well worth it. Meyer lemons make all other lemons taste juvenile and boring in comparison — and why buy them when you can grow them?

Added bonus, living trees make amazing Christmas trees and a Meyer lemon makes an even better one. It’s fresh, full of life and holds the promise of spring. It certainly brightens the darkest days — in color and taste. Sort of like making lemonade out of lemons.