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Meyer Lemon Question

11 years ago

First off, I hi and thank you for all your helpful tips I've found by stalking these forums since we started growing last year. If this questions has already been asked, I apologize, I looked multiple times and can not find a definitive answer.

We planted a little Meyer lemon tree we picked up at Lowes in February. it had 5 small lemon to small lime sized fruits on it already. I had one flower open 3/18 and it is now growing and is about the size of a large chickpea. Last week we had major bloomage. It's still going, and the plant is pollinating some and dropping some pollinated flowers. I understand that it's young and couldn't support the 25 pollinated ones it put out, and that's fine, but I'm wondering, since I still have some flowers about to open, should I leave the established fruit that was on when I bought it/potted it?

I'm mostly curious- the fruit on it when I bought it- is that going to keep growing/ripening? We did have a super mild winter this year, even for central Florida. Are they going to be okay or should I take them off so I can maybe give the plant some more energy for the remaining flowers that will be opening in the next few days?

Thanks so much for any advice. This is my first citrus attempt, and I just don't know if the fruit that has been on it for who knows how long is still viable or if it holding the plant back?

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Comments (4)

johnmerr
11 years ago
It is quite common for Meyers to have larger fruits, smaller fruits, and blooms all at the same time. You don't say how big or how old is your tree, or if it is inground or in container. If you could post a picture, it would be a big help. I would assume, if you bought it at Lowes that it is on semi-dwarfing rootstock.
It takes about 7 months from flower to mature, which, for a Meyer is 8 to 8.5 Brix (% sugar); yours should turn yellow when they are ripe.
heather1216
Original Author
11 years ago
With any luck I've attached some pics underneath this. I have no idea of age or type, maybe the photos will give you an idea. It is in a 20 gallon container, primarily because we have no real grass or space aside from a huge pool deck with takes up 75% of the yard. However, if it is normal for all different stages, maybe my question is truly silly. I was only concerned if grow in a calender type cycle ending in winter, and I had such established fruit on it already, was the fruit bad because it never hit maturity.

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By the way, totally deceptive photo, the big ones are most certainly not yellow. It's just very sunny today and my phone camera seems to lend a serious yellow hue...

Thanks again!
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Sounds like mites or scale, but without photos, it's just a guess. Treat, accordingly (Neem oil works well.) Never ever water from a tray. Water from the top, allowing the water to drain out. Do not have your tree sit sit in a "puddle". No need really to prune citrus. Again, without photos, impossible to tell you specifically what would be best for your tree. Patty S.
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Hello all, I searched this forum and the web before asking these questions but can't seem to find solid answers so hoping you all could help. Two Meyer lemons, both containerized, 5-2-1 mix, water every 4-5 days, during summer fertilized with 1 tablespoon foilage pro per gallon at every watering (every 4-5 days). Pots flushed with water once a month. Outside, sunniest spot in my yard which is probably "1/2 sun" at best. Will spend the winter outdoors. Question 1) during winter how much foilage pro can I give them? At every watering like before? Should I drop down to the recommended 1/4 tsp per gallon? Question 2) A few of the branches 1/4-1/2" in diameter started off dark green in spring, went all summer and began turning a green/yellow, or possibly light green color in September. It hasn't gotten any "yellower", but still has me slightly concerned. Can it be slowly changing to a harder wood? thanks to all! Nick
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Thanks! Mine are bright yellow, no orange at all. I don't know much about Meyer lemons, I bought the tree on a whim because it was only $5 at sprouts. It was so tiny, though (and still is) I've never even eaten a Meyer lemon before, so I'm not sure I'd know if it was ripe or not! :) Do you have problems with chlorosis with your tree? Mine greens up pretty well in the winter but is very chlorotic the rest of the year in spite of fertilizing.
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John, I would do that but the neighbor has a huge live oak and it's canopy shades my whole backyard so there is not enough sun unless I was to put it in a container and sit it in my driveway haha. I'm fine with the neighbors taking some lemons as long as they leave me enough to make lemonade occasionally! Lol
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johnmerr
11 years ago
Healthy looking tree; on one that size I would not leave more than about 10 or 12 fruits; if you leave more the tree will "forget" to grow. Wait until the bloom finishes, then thin the tiny fruits to no more than 4 or 5 per group; then as they get larger down to no more than 2 per group.
I suspect the larger fruits you have should begin to yellow soon and should be ripe in May; that may be wrong, but it's a best guess. At any rate, if you want to harvest them now in favor of more small fruits, which will be ripe in November, the fruit you harvest now is already better than any other lemon. Try one and see; then you will know your options.
heather1216
Original Author
11 years ago
Hey John, just wanted to say thanks again for the info. I did pop a big one off, it smelled heavenly and tasted wonderful. We'll see if I have the restraint the leave the rest on. And I will definitely thin it out as you described, thanks for the detailed instructions.

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