QUESTION TIME

GOT A FRUIT OR VEG PROBLEM? ASK KG FOR HELP

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HOW LONG FOR LEMONS?

My new lemon tree is starting to flower. How long will it take to produce lemons?

Melissa Wright, Ballymena

STEVE SAYS: Your new lemon tree looks very healthy indeed and I can see it has lots of flower buds giving you lots of potential for fruit. The flowers of the lemon tree are self-fertile, but if you stand your plant outside during the summer in a sheltered sunny spot (from about mid-June in most areas) the wind and pollinating insects may well help to improve fruit set. Plants are not hardy, however, and should be brought in before the first frost, if not before.

If you keep your plant inside all year round then increase humidity by standing the pot over (not in) a saucer of water or damp pebbles and/or spray over the leaves regularly with a mist sprayer of water (preferably rainwater or pure water) and this can help improve fruit set. Most lemons need a minimum winter temperature of 5C (42F).

The fruit is slow growing, taking up to a year to reach maturity depending on the variety, and you may well get more flowers next year in late winter even before this season's crop is ready, giving the plants a wonderful mix of both fruit and fragrant flowers at the same time.

Through the summer maintain watering, preferably using rainwater, allowing the top of the compost to dry out before watering thoroughly and allowing the pot to drain. Never allow it to sit in water for any length of time. Feeding is important too, and you will find both balanced winter (November to February) and high nitrogen summer (March-October) citrus feeds in the shops. It is important to use these regularly for the best crops.