Citrus Lover
Crave an indoor lemon tree? Throughout my California childhood, I’d pick oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, guavas, figs, kumquats, loquats, and persimmons from the fruit trees in my neighborhood. Later, New York City living acclimated me to a scarcity of nature’s gifts. In that context, a semi-decent peach felt like a minor miracle.
Now in Asheville, my love of the plant world is reawakened. The Blue Ridge Mountains harbor a delicate, ancient beauty, subtle and more seasonal than the dramatic Northern California coast I grew up with (and a vast universe apart from the special wilderness of urban living.)
Fruit-wise, I love it here. Everything seems to thrive in Asheville from sugary strawberries and tight, tart blueberries, and adorable sour cherries to mysterious paw paws, bright persimmons and succulent clusters of concord grapes. Even a few varietals of fig can handle this changeable mountain winter.
The only thing I truly miss is citrus!
Lemons in the House – A Meyer Lemon Tree Indoors
When I read last year (in an encouraging garden article) that it is possible to raise a lemon tree indoors, I jumped at the opportunity! I brought home a one year old Meyer lemon from Reems Creek Nursery.
Meyer lemons are smaller in size, more round, and sweeter than regular lemons. They are less acidic with a lovely floral flavor to them. My new Meyer lemon spent its first summer outdoors on our porch, soaking up sun, and grew lemons like gangbusters!
I moved it indoors to a sunny window as soon as the temperature dropped in early November. My little Meyer lemon tree has produced 11 lemons in its first year, and seems perfectly happy indoors as well.
More Types of Citrus To Grow Indoors!
I’m so thrilled with this first attempt at growing citrus in my home that I’ve been researching other possible additions to my private orangerie.
According to UK Houseplants, the four best orange trees to cultivate indoors are Calamondins, Satsumas, Tahitians, and Kumquats. For the first-time buyer, the Calamondin is the most forgiving of the four, with its ability to tolerate neglect, under-watering and a lack of humidity.
- Calamondins are by far the most popular tree across the Orange family; its fruits are sour and around the size of a golf ball. This variety has sharp thorns that can puncture the skin.
- Satsumas are known for flowers that give off a powerful fragrance. This variety tends to produce the most prominent fruits, but are relatively sparse in horticultural shops.
- Tahitians are a hybrid between a lemon and tangerine. This variety has an absence of thorns and is better for households with pets or children. Oranges are sweetly-scented with a sugary taste.
- Kumquats are the smallest and most rare of the four. Kumquats are mostly found outside, as their ability to grow in colder temperatures make them an ideal candidate for cooler environments.
But if you are more of a lime lover, there are many options to choose from for indoor cultivation from the Australian Finger Lime to the Kaffir Thai Lime to the Bearss Seedless Semi-Dwarf. Have a look at NY Magazine’s top picks here!
Now I can’t wait to bring home a Tahitian orange tree and see how we fare over the winter. The idea of spending those cozy, indoor months surrounded by citrus in the home fills me with delight.
Happy Gardening and may you too be blessed with citrus in the house!