LEMONS, LIMES & GRAPEFRUIT
LEMONS
IMPROVED MEYER
Sweeter than Eureka and less acidic, the Meyers lemon is a favorite choice of many home gardeners. It is a hybrid of a true lemon and a mandarin orange, which causes its fruit to be more round than other lemons and slightly yellow-orange when fully ripened. It is relatively small compared to other lemons, growing between 6 and 10 feet. It makes an excellent container tree. It grows well in warm climates and should be protected from cold north winds. Plant in well-drained soil.
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The tree will produce fruit throughout the year, most will be harvest ready near winter.
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Self fruitful
EUREKA
This is a more "traditional" lemon with a tart taste. The fruit is large and juicy with very few seeds. The tree is evergreen blossoming intermittently throughout the year weather permitting. It is a moderate grower, reaching heights of 20 ft. at full maturity with a round tree canopy. It is a full sun plant. During the first year, a regular watering cycle is recommended until the tree is established. It works well as a container tree or planted in the ground. It prefers well-drained, sandy soils. Best planted in an area protected from north winds.
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The tree will produce fruit throughout the year, most will be harvest ready near winter.
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Self fruitful
LISBON
The Lisbon Lemon is a classic, heirloom lemon variety that has stood the test of time. It is a vigorous, hardy tree that produces a heavy crop of beautiful lemons. The fruit is large, smooth-skinned, full of tangy juice, and with few seeds. The tree is evergreen, with beautiful, rich-green glossy leaves, and fragrant white flowers in spring, as well as in other seasons too. The main crop of fruit is during winter and spring, but some lemons will also be ripe at other seasons, as established trees can produce flowers at almost any time of year.
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The main crop of fruit is during winter and spring.
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Self fruitful.
LIMES
AUSTRALIAN FINGER LIME
An unusual variety of citrus and perhaps one of the most fascinating! Native to Australia, Citrus australasica (botanical name) is sometimes called Citrus Caviar, and once you open one up, it is easy to see why! Inside the oblong fruit, which does look like a chubby finger, are an abundance of juicy capsules that look at lot like caviar, except these are bursting with sweet, lemon-lime flavors! Many of the world's top chefs have rated this lime superior to other limes!
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Harvest from November to March.
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Self fruitful.
BEARSS SEEDLESS
The Bearss Lime is known by other names including the Tahitian Lime and Persian Lime. It produces white flowers with a unique spicy fragrance. The fruit of the tree is typically seedless, less acidic than key limes, and larger in size than other limes. The shrub is nearly thornless making the Bearss a more manageable choice than other thorny citrus trees. The Bearss Lime is cold hardy and can tolerate heat, though regular watering is recommended. They prefer well-drained, sandy soils.
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Harvest through the winter and early spring.
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Self fruitful.
The bartender's lime with the added bonus of having no thorns. Mature fruit is small, green to yellow green ripening in July to December. Best grown in areas with long summers and frost free winters.
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Harvest through the winter and early spring.
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Self fruitful.
MEXICAN THORNLESS
GRAPEFRUIT
ORO BLANCO
Oro Blanco grapefruit is the most popular white fleshed variety and is also known as the “Sweetie”. The fruit is large, seedless, oblong or round shape, with smooth yellow skin. The rind is very thick and a creamy white color. The flesh is juicy and sweet, lacking the bitterness found in many grapefruits. A very deliciously flavored fruit that tastes like the scent of its white color flowers. Very fragrant flowers and beautiful shiny green foliage
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Harvest from September to December.
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Self fruitful.
RIO RED
Rio Red Grapefruit is a moderate grower ranging in height from 10' to 20'. It produces large round fruit with a bright red pulp. The tree prefers well-drained, sandy or sandy-loam soil and has an extensive root spread. A newly planted tree needs to be watered every 3 days during the first 2 weeks of planting to ensure proper establishment. The fruit of the tree ripens between February and May. It prefers the heat of inland climates and will need to be covered during winter cold snaps to prevent damage to the tree.
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Harvest from September to December.
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Self fruitful.