Another ripe lemon

[pickledtink]

I'd vaguely noticed the three lemons on the tree were getting paler but hadn't really expected any joy at this time of year. As I was yacking on the phone I was absent mindedly removing dead leaves when I knocked one of the lemons and it fell off. It's yellow and by gummy it smells just like a lemon.
Sorry folks. It never ceases to astonish me that I'm growing lemons to fruition in UK at all let alone in late November.

[Snadger]

I'd vaguely noticed the three lemons on the tree were getting paler but hadn't really expected any joy at this time of year. As I was yacking on the phone I was absent mindedly removing dead leaves when I knocked one of the lemons and it fell off. It's yellow and by gummy it smells just like a lemon.
Sorry folks. It never ceases to astonish me that I'm growing lemons to fruition in UK at all let alone in late November.

You get a quid for three lemons don't you?!

[beefy]

You get a quid for three lemons don't you?!

£2.40 on the ones I play Snadger

[pickledtink]

You'll all be laughing the other side of your face when the dread Christmas Lemon shortage hits. G&T lovers the length and breadth of the land will be bidding fortunes for my lemons.
I feel a Nell Gwyn moment coming on...

[beefy]

Good job I drink whiskey with a dash of water then
more to the point WELL DONE PT .Take it you will use them for G+T's then ?

[Alice]

Congrats Pickledtink, and you enjoy your lemons your way. You do know you can freeze your lemon slices and add them straight to your drinks, don't you. That way they should see you right over the festive season.

[Nicos]

Fantastic!!!
So tell me what the secret is to avoid scale insect then!!??
Enjoy your G&T /fish Tuscan meat/ fish / sorbet then!!!! ( such a choice..... )

[SueA]

Hi Pickledtink, do you keep your lemon tree indoors all the time or have you brought it in for the winter? I've got a patio lemon in a pot which I bought for about £2.99 from Wilkinsons about a year ago, I had it outside all summer & brought it in a couple of weeks ago but it has grown but not produced any flowers or fruit so far. What's your secret, or is it just that you bought a decent tree not a cheapo like me?

[pickledtink]

Congrats Pickledtink, and you enjoy your lemons your way. You do know you can freeze your lemon slices and add them straight to your drinks, don't you. That way they should see you right over the festive season.

Brilliant idea! Never thought of that....Doh!

[pickledtink]

Fantastic!!!
So tell me what the secret is to avoid scale insect then!!??
Enjoy your G&T /fish Tuscan meat/ fish / sorbet then!!!! ( such a choice..... )

Scale insect? Obviously sheer luck as I didn't know it was a problem.
I can do 3 different things with one lemon ( shaddap Nick )
A slice in the G n T. A squidge over seafood and the rest grated zest and juice with capers over chicken escalopes.

[pickledtink]

Hi Pickledtink, do you keep your lemon tree indoors all the time or have you brought it in for the winter? I've got a patio lemon in a pot which I bought for about £2.99 from Wilkinsons about a year ago, I had it outside all summer & brought it in a couple of weeks ago but it has grown but not produced any flowers or fruit so far. What's your secret, or is it just that you bought a decent tree not a cheapo like me?

I keep it outdoors but bring it in for the winter. I slaved over lemon trees for years but never got anywhere. After reading massive amounts about citrus growing I've finally had success.
This tree is quite tiny. About 2ft 6ins
The secret is to keep the roots contained in a pretty tight pot otherwise they just leaf and don't flower. Keep pruned to 5 branches. Only water with rainwater where possible and drench it then let dry right out before you water again.
Spray the leaves sometimes with rainwater.
I bought some special food but didn't actually give it any all summer as it seemed pretty happy as it was.
The other two lemons are definitely ripening up too on the windowsill but the two tidgy embryo lemons have fallen off. Lots of them do though. It's just produced another flower.