If you have a more or less spacious garden, or a patio where you can have large pots, you may have considered planting a fruit tree, even one of the dwarfs, to enjoy its size and, incidentally, to have « free fruit ». The most common, due to their functionality, are orange and lemon trees (these can give you lemons all year round). But, When to plant orange and lemon trees?
If you are considering the idea of having a tree in your house but you don't really know when they should be bought, how to plant them And if it is better to buy them in nurseries or supermarkets (or even sow them with seeds or cuttings) here we talk about all this.
Where to buy orange and lemon trees to plant
Both orange and lemons are fruit trees, citrus, common in many stores. You got it available in nurseries, in some florists, and even as temporary offers in some supermarkets type Lidl, Carrefour, Alcampo, Hipercor ... Because they are common to have in gardens or even in pots, you can buy them.
But obviously the state of a super tree and that of a nursery may not be the same. Same as the price. Neither the height and the variety, because yes, there are different types and you must take it into account.
More or less acidic lemons, sweet or acidic oranges ... Even some varieties that are earlier than others producing the fruits.
The best choice to buy citrus will always be the nurseries, because that is where they are more cared for. Of course, always choose one that is close to your home because that way you will ensure that it is adapted to the climate that is in the area (and you avoid overstressing it).
The four stages that all citrus fruits follow
Before telling you when to plant orange and lemon trees, it is important that you know that Any citrus has four stages throughout the year.
- End of February to early May. It is the time when spring arrives and, with it, the first shoots of these citrus fruits. Of course, there are some trees that can be delayed or even remain active all year round (such as lemon trees). But in general, this is the time when new shoots and twigs begin to emerge (you will recognize them by a lighter green).
- July and August. It is the time where it sprouts again, and flourishes.
- September to November. A third sprouting occurs. In this case also the growth of the fruits will be active, surely making them fatten.
- Winter. Most citrus fruits go into a state of lethargy but, especially when they have become accustomed to the climate and are settled, they can stay active by sprouting again and bearing new fruit.
The best time to plant orange and lemon trees
That said, are you considering planting orange and lemon trees? So the best time to do it will depend on whether you want one or the other.
In the case of lemon trees, being trees that love the heat, your best time is going to be spring or fall. In spring you make sure that the tree is active and that it will develop. That, together with the high temperatures, gives it a greater probability of success. Autumn, meanwhile, is the time when many of these trees become dormant. Nothing happens as long as you protect it from frost or intense cold (at least for the first year until it adjusts to its new home).
With respect to orange trees, experts recommend planting it between April and June since its fruit season is from October to June. In addition, it is one of the trees that needs a specific orientation, that is towards the sun, and also that it is protected from the wind, something that it does not like at all.
To take into account if you plant orange and lemon trees in the ground
When planting both lemon and orange trees, you have to take into account the type of substrate you are going to add. In fact, focusing on planting in the soil, in your garden, it is advisable that they have a good hole and that you fill it with a layer of soil that has a pH between 5 and 7. Why? Well, because it is what citrus fruits need.
In addition, it is important that it is a land that is not too tight, because the only thing that you will achieve with this is that the roots cannot advance and, in the end, it will end up dying. This does not mean that the entire garden has to be well treated; It would be the ideal but we know that it is not like that. However, if the hole you give is large enough to grow, it will be easier for the roots and the tree itself to make a hole later. Therefore, when planting don't forget about good drainage either.
Finally, you have to consider that always be well nourished, either with compost, worm cast, fertilizer, or a mixture of all three. The first year is one of the most important and this will help you survive.
How to plant potted orange and lemon trees
When we plant orange and lemon trees in pots, the needs increase, especially in the case of the earth because the nutrients are depleted sooner. Therefore, although it requires the same thing that we have seen (acidic soil (between 5 and 7 pH), drainage and space) it is also important to be more on top of it with nutrients, at least the first year, as well as monitor their growth.
Just 2-3 years you will have to change the pot, usually when you see that the tree has stopped and / or the roots are sticking out of the drainage holes in the pot.
Irrigation is a fundamental part in pots. And it is that, although in the soil there is a greater possibility that the water can be diluted, in the pot it is more possible that there are accumulations of water. Because it is recommended to water more often but with less quantity so that there are no fungal problems or root diseases.
Now that you know when to plant orange and lemon trees, and how to do it, do you dare to plant one at home?