Lemon Lunario: variety description and home care with photo

The Lunario lemon variety is popular mainly with people who grow citrus fruits at home. This plant produces throughout the year (every season) and has little maintenance requirement. The fruits are characterized by a conspicuous, elongated shape with a sharp "tip". The plant on the basis of which the Lunario variety was derived grows in Sicily.

Characteristics and description of the variety

Lunario is distinguished by the fact that fruits and flowers often coexist on the plant. This, as well as increased disease resistance and unpretentiousness, ensured the popularity of the culture among gardeners.

Crown

Krone has a tree shape. The bark of the trunk is brown, and the young shoots are green. The oval leaves are up to 15 cm long, while the lemon grows up to 5 meters outdoors.

The plant grown in a pot is distinguished by the presence of elongated and long branches, which are additionally strengthened by trellises.

Lunario lemon is characterized by rapid growth. Spines of various sizes are located along the stem of the plant.

Flowers

Lemon flowers have an inconspicuous purple hue and are arranged singly or in groups. Buds reach 6 centimeters in diameter, with an average size of 4-5 centimeters. The flowers emit a pleasant scent that intensifies upon contact.

Fruits

The fruits of the Lunario variety are distinguished by the following characteristics:

• average weight - 120-170 grams;
• long form;
• smooth and thin skin;
• weak taste and acidity of the pulp;
• not enough juice.

On one tree, up to 15 fruits ripen within a year, located close to each other.

Advantages and disadvantages of Lunario lemon

Among the advantages of the variety, gardeners distinguish the following:

• increased hardiness and resistance to diseases and pests;
• early fruiting (second year);
• year-round flowering;
• maximum height - up to 6 meters.

The disadvantages include active growth, which requires gardeners to regularly shape the crown.

Growing lemon at home

Growing a Lunario lemon is not difficult. With proper care, the plant will bear fruit throughout the year.

Preparing the seedling

The lemon of this variety is grown from a stone or seedling. The second option is preferable, as it allows you to get a crop in the second or third year. Lemon seedlings do not require serious preparation. The main thing is that the roots of the plant remain intact.

Selecting and preparing a landing site

A pot of lemon is recommended to be placed in the eastern or southern part of the room. The plant requires a lot of light, but in summer, during the day, it is recommended to shade the leaves to avoid burns. In winter, the tree will need additional lighting. Lunario lemon is forbidden to grow in the kitchen. This is explained by the fact that the tree gradually accumulates gases, which worsens the taste of the fruit.

In addition, this arrangement contributes to the rapid drying of the plant.

During the warm season, lemon is recommended to be placed in rooms with a temperature of 17-22 degrees and a humidity of 65-75%. A pot with a tree in the summer should be regularly taken out to the balcony, providing fresh air. At the same time, the plant does not “like” drafts. In the cold season, the fruit tree should be placed in a room with a temperature of 7-14 degrees.

Planting into the soil

The plant should be planted in pots with soil, which is a mixture of garden soil and sand. The top of the soil should be covered with polyethylene, after which the lemon should be left in this form for 2-3 weeks. During the specified period, the soil is recommended to be periodically sprayed with water. The soil should be loose, so that the roots will receive enough oxygen.

Plant care

In addition to providing the above conditions, tree care includes regular watering, fertilizing and removing yellowed leaves.

Fertilizer and watering

In the warm season, the plant should be watered twice a week, preventing the soil from drying out. In winter, water should be added no more than once. You also need to spray the foliage twice a week. And every 10 days you need to water the tree with warm water.

A mixture of cow dung is used as a fertilizer for citrus fruits (manure is mixed with water in equal proportions, then infused for a week, filtered and mixed again with water already in a ratio of 1:5). In spring and summer, top dressing is applied once a week, in winter - monthly.

Lemon transplant

In the first three years, the tree is recommended to be transplanted every spring into new pots. Later, this interval is increased to 2-3 years.For transplanting, you should take a larger pot, laying a drainage layer on the bottom. During the procedure, you need to leave the ground on the roots. Before planting the crop, the substrate for citrus fruits (available at flower shops) is recommended to be calcined in the oven.

Crown formation

Krona is formed every spring. This frequency is due to the rapid growth of the plant. To form the correct crown, you will need to remove dried branches and cut the shoots to the fifth leaf. With this approach, the tree will begin to bear fruit in the second or third year after planting.

Diseases and pests

Lunario is susceptible to the following diseases:

• tristeza;
• root rot;
• gammosis;
• leaf mosaic.

Treatment of diseases is carried out by transplanting a tree, treating the soil with a solution of copper sulfate and (if necessary) trimming the affected roots.

From the pests on the citrus of this variety, you can find white mosquitoes, aphids, spider mites or scale insects. Treatment with appropriate chemicals helps to cope with insects.

Harvesting and storage of crops

Harvesting is carried out as the fruits ripen. It is recommended to store lemon in a cool room or refrigerator.

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