lemon trees

[Chrischris]

I bought a lemon tree in a pot and when we got it there were already 4 or 5 lemons ready for picking. Since then we have plenty of new foliage but not a lemon in sight. It's been outside, has flowers and we've seen bees etc etc...anyone got any ideas?

[rustylady]

Have patience, and be grateful it is growing new foliage at least.

[Chrischris]

You can't put new foliage in Gin and Tonic ...! thanks, I'll be patient

[starloc]

Most flowers will fall, its normal, but you can increase the amount of fruit set on the tree with spraying with certain solutions

Spraying the leaves every few days when its flowering ( preferably start just as the buds start to form) with a mix of 1 teaspoon of potassium nitrate per litre of water.

You can also use GA3 ( gibberelic acid ) a VERY weak solution of gibberelic acid mixed to 150ppm solution ( comes in measured capsules ) it works to pollinate ( for seedless fruit ) and greatly increases fruit levels held on the tree

Both do roughly the same job, but potassium nitrate ( used for preserving also sold as as salt peter, i get it from ebay ) is easier to get , use and you cant go wrong with gibberelic acid it can make fruit drop if too strong as its a plant hormone, the pottassium nitrate is more natural and no real side efffects to using it too strong ( unless its realy strong )

Also , try spraying once a month with epsom salt solution can help the fruit set , mixed again 1 teaspoon to a litre of water.

[starloc]

You can't put new foliage in Gin and Tonic ...! thanks, I'll be patient

You can.......

As long as you wash them the leaves can be used in food/drink for the citrus taste , cut them in half and in the drink, the citrus oil comes out of them and adds citrus taste, not the same though , its a wierd taste but the leaves are used for this by some people