Lemon - citrus limon | Fruit Trees

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Lemon - citrus limon

By goodadmin | November 20, 2007

The true place of origin of the lemon tree is unknown, though many have linked it to northwestern India. It has been cultivated in Iraq and Egypt by 700 A.D. It reached and China between 760 and 1297 A.D. and it was distributed widely in the Mediterranean region between 1000 and 1150 A.D. The true lemon tree reaches 3-6 m in height and has sharp thorns on the twigs. Leaves are long-ovate, 6-11 cm in length, finely toothed, reddish when young, changing later in to dark-green above and light-green below. Flowers are mildly fragrant, solitary with 4 or 5 petals, 2 cm long, white on the upper inside surface and purplish on the outside.

The lemon tree can tolerate poor and infertile soil but needs good drainage. Ph levels should be between 5.5 and 6.5. If acidity is high, it is necessary to apply lime to achieve the correct level. The fruit is oval 7 -12 cm long with 8 to 10 segments, juicy and acidic with a few seeds; some fruits are seedless. The peel is usually light-yellow, aromatic, 5-10 mm thick. Early picking of fruit is necessary at any time after the fruits reach 25-30% juice content.

Because of its more or less continuous state of growth, the Lemon trees are more sensitive to cold than the orange and less able to recover from cold injury. They grow best in coastal areas. A temperature drop to -6.67º C will severely damage the wood. Lemons are grown in both dry and humid areas, the latter being a disadvantage in storing. There are more than 40 known varieties of lemons. The two basic types are: acid and sweet. Acid types are more commercially available. Propagation is by seeds and by cuttings. For example the rough lemon is widely grown from seed while Meyer’ lemon is easily reproduced from large cuttings. The better known cultivars of the true lemon are ‘Eureka, Lisbon, Meyer’, Rough lemon, Verna and Armstrong.

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