Erin, there shouldn't be any problem w/your variegated lemon fruiting. I find it one of the easier to flower/fruit in fact, much easier than limes..
If given proper care, sun, fertilizer, well-draining soil, you shouldn't h ave any problems. Sorry I can't help with the zones though..Toni

Erin,

Welcome. First on the Variegated pink lemon -- they are not generally as productive as some other lemon varieties, but they are highly ornamental and the fruit that you do get should be edible and of high quality. There just may not be quite as many of them as on some other varieties.

As for growing other citrus - its quite possible to do, but you'll need to grow them in a greenhouse or in containers. Our winters (I'm in Atlanta, GA) are just too harsh for all the mainstream citrus varieties. There are some types of citrus that are cold hardy enough to grow in the ground in this region but many of those are not particularly good tasting varieties.

I'd suggest to start you plant the varieties you want in pots, and bring them indoors for a few months in winter. Keep them in bright sunlight and high humidity even in the winter, and they should overwinter fairly well. I have 10 different varieties of citrus growing in containers, and others on here have many more than that!

You can search on gardenweb for more information on what type of potting mix and fertilizer to use. There are lots of posts detailing that.

For some more ideas about growing cold hardy citrus in the ground, check out Stan McKenzie's website: www.mckenzie-farms.com. He has some photos and information on several varieties of citrus that are quite cold tolerant.

Hope that helps,

Pelham

Here is a link that might be useful: Cold Hardy Citrus Info

Pelham,
Thanks for your advice. You too Toni. I have another follow up question. My home is tiny. I have only three areas that get enough daily light. First is outside on my back patio (good for all year, but winter). Then I have my front kitchen window (not much room... the dog loves this spot). Finally, I have the window in my study. It gets afternoon sun for a good while, and is out of the way (not accessable to the dog). Would the study window be the best spot for wintering my lemon?

Also, I was told a flourecent and incandecent light combo would work best for overwintering. How would I go about keeping humidity up?? Is it that important in the winter? I know fertilizer is not recommended from Nov-Feb.

Thanks for all of your help so far...
Erin

Erin,

I think you've answered for yourself about the location - the study sounds fine -- at least 4 - 6 hours of sunlight a day would be best. More is always better. As far as lights go, you can use flourescent lights to extend your daylight, but you'll need several of them, and they'll need to be pretty close to the plant (maybe 6 - 12" away)to get any significant light intensity. Since it should only be for about 3 months, you may not need to worry about it. It will just depend on how much natural light you get. I used to use a 400W Metal Halide grow light on my trees during winter - I just didn't think the flourescents were putting out enough light.

As for humidity, you can keep some trays with water and pebbles in the room, or even better, use a warm mist humidifier (about $40 - $60 at somewhere like Bed Bath and Beyond) to keep the humidity around 50%.

IF your trees continue growing, you can continue to fertilize through winter if you want. The main reason to avoid fertilizer during winter is for outdoor trees that are subjected to cold - the new growth that is encouraged by fertilizing is tender and will be damaged easily by cold. Indoors its warm, so its more a matter of if you are able to supply other ideal growing conditions like humidity and ample sunlight. I probably wouldn't fertilize much in winter.

All the best,
Pelham

Erin, are you saying your dogs use your plants as well, a fire hyrdant? Backyard? If so, keep your citrus far away from your furry friends.
Pet's can really get into trouble, I know..My dog, an English Mastiff, doesn't really bother my plants, but I've caught him outside, ripping ferns out of the soil.
I planted 4 banana trees in the back yard this spring, and 2 mysteriously disappeared. I don't know if he got at them, or our squirrel foes. I do not like squirrels. (S)

If you find your dogs wee-weeing in the soil, I suggest you leach them. Urine can burn roots.

Since I'm in Il, z5, winters turn arid, especially once the heat is turned on. Your best best is to buy a humidifer..standard size. Home Depot sells standard humidifers from 99-129.00..it's worth the investment. Misting foliage helps and so do pebbles as Pelham stated. Change filters on humidifer, otherwise it's just wasting electric.

Sun is important, or however much you get where you live..Last winter was the worse ever here in IL. I lost plants because of the dark. Old plants, over 10 yrs old. Last Sat we went to HomeDepot and bought a flourescent light fixture that'll hold two bulbs. I'm going to buy one warm white and one cool white. The area in which my window faces is south and east. I plan on running the lights via a timer which is another great investment.

Also, since I'm in Il, I stop feeding in Oct..Actually, last year I gave my citrus a dose of Osmocote fertilizer as a last feeding..Plus I used Fish Emuslsion on leaves as a foliar insect repellent. Worked like a charm...before that, I didn't feed anything after Oct. I find this especially important if winters are dark. Of all I read on the subject, feeding plants where winter light is lacking will only grow spindly growth. I find this to be true.
Pelham has a point about the cold,too..I keep most of my citrus in a small gh in winter, the rest come indoors..the gh can get quite cool during the coldest nights of winter, so that's another reason I stop feeding.
One more important issue is watering. You do not want soil to stay wet..It's important citrus get a hearty drink, enough until water seeps out of drainage holes, but soil should dry between waterings. Too much water and you have to worry about rot and insects, such as fungus gnats, (for one.)
That's all there is to it..Toni