Lemon Lisbon: variety description, planting and care at home

Lemon, despite the fact that this plant is thermophilic, is grown by many in their households. But, of course, not in the garden in the open air, but in a room or in a greenhouse. Consider the description of the Lisbon lemon, the advantages and disadvantages of the variety, planting features, cultivation and subtleties of care. How to protect the plant from diseases, when to harvest the fruits and how to store them.

Origin

The variety is known as American, but it came to the USA from Portugal in the first quarter of the 19th century - in 1824. The Gallego variety is considered the ancestor of the Lisbon lemon, a description of the new variety was made in 1848 in Massachusetts.The name was given in honor of the city of Lisbon, from where lemons were brought to California.

Description and characteristics of Lisbon lemon

A tree of this variety grows, on average, up to 1.6 m, maximum - up to 2 m. It grows quickly. The crown is dense, the branches are strong, with thorns. The leaves are elongated, wide, with sharp tips, have a lemon smell. A young tree blooms for 3 years of life. After 2 seasons, you can collect fruits, of which up to several dozen are tied on a tree.

Average weight of fruits - 150 g. Ripe lemons are yellow, classical for a form. They have a thick peel, up to 7 mm thick, the surface is smooth, slightly ribbed. The taste of the fruit is sour, pleasant, there are almost no seeds.

Pros and cons of the variety

bears fruit several times a year;has excellent taste and external characteristics;resistant to heat, drought, cold;resistant to dry air, so it tolerates growing in an apartment;bears fruit regularlyfruits are well stored and transported.thick fruit skin.

Subtleties of planting at home

Grow Lisbon lemon in a large pot. It is propagated by seeds or cuttings. Bones should be taken from a ripe, fresh and large fruit. A tree grown from seed will be stronger and he althier than one grown from cuttings.

The substrate for planting seeds or cuttings must be loose, fertilized with organic matter and mineral elements. The best option is a special citrus mix, which you can buy at gardening stores. Until the lemon has grown, a regular medium-sized flower pot will do. A drainage layer should be laid at the bottom to remove excess moisture from the soil.

You can plant seeds in the ground immediately after extraction from the fruit. They do not sprout very well, so you need to plant a few in a pot, and after they germinate, choose the strongest plant. When the lemon grows to 10 cm, it needs to be transplanted into a new pot.

The stalk should be soaked in a growth stimulant solution, lowering its lower part for 1 day into the solution. Then transplant into a pot, sprinkle with a substrate and water. Cover the soil with foil. Remove it every day for 10-15 minutes. for ventilation. Rooting should occur in 1-1.5 months.

Rules for tree care

The pot of Lisbon lemon should be placed near the south window. The plant should be exposed to direct sunlight for 2-3 hours a day. The rest of the daylight hours, it should be in the light, but not too bright.

Lemon cannot be moved too far from a permanent place, it does not withstand rearrangement well. This is an important condition, even moving a plant from one room to another can lead to its death.

The optimum temperature for a lemon is 19-28 ˚С. In the heating season, the tree requires additional spraying. You can wipe the leaves with a damp cloth, this will not only moisten the leaves, but also remove dust from them. Lemon does not like drafts, so you need to put it in a room where there are none.

Fertilizing and watering plants

Watering is done, on average, 2 times a week. It is important that the soil is not constantly wet, otherwise the lemon may be lost from root rot. But it should not remain dry either, the tree can easily die if it grows in overdried soil, with a lack of moisture.

In order for a lemon tree to actively grow and develop, and then bear fruit, it must be fertilized according to the scheme. To apply nutrients, it is best to use ready-made complex fertilizers designed for citrus fruits.Application frequency - 2 times a month in spring and summer, autumn and winter - 1 time per month, taking half the norm.

Transfer

Transplant the Lisbon lemon into slightly larger pots than the previous one. Young plants are transplanted by transshipment once a year, adult fruit-bearing plants - once every 3-4 years. Old trees are not transplanted, but the topsoil is renewed. The soil should be neutral or slightly acidic.

Protection from diseases and pests

Indoor Lisbon lemon can be affected by fungal infections and pests: whitefly, thrips, aphids, mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects. If signs of disease or pest reproduction are found, the plant is treated with fungicides or insecticides. It is necessary to carry out as many treatments as necessary to completely destroy the problem.

Frequent inspection of the tree will help to detect the early stage of the disease and the spread of pests in time. Measures taken in time can save not only the crop, but the plant itself.

Date of harvesting and storage of crops

Lisbon lemon can bloom 2-3 times a year. The plant can self-pollinate. The fruits can be harvested at the stage of ripeness. Ripe lemons turn yellow. Store them in a cool and dark place with low humidity. In apartment conditions, it can be stored in the refrigerator, in a private house - in the cellar.

Lemon Lisbon is a productive variety, you can pick fruits from a tree almost all year round. It tolerates indoor growing conditions well, begins to bear fruit early. Lemons are distinguished by their beautiful appearance and pleasant sour taste. Perfectly stored, they are eaten fresh and allowed for processing.

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