Lemon Tree fruit still green

BlueBuzz

Hello a novice gardener seeking advice please. I have an established lemon tree grown in a pot and this is the first year I have successfully had lemons. I live in Essex, the pot is in a South facing position currently with 4 large fruit, but they are all still green. Now that the overnight temperatures are dropping I need to place it in shelter. My question is will the fruit still ripen?

Joyce Goldenlily

Yes. Eventually, the tree will carry flowers and fruit at the same time, any time of the year. The fruit on it at the moment will take longer to ripen with the lower temperatures.

BlueBuzz

Thank you @Joyce Goldenlily that is reassuring. 

Obelixx

I have a Meyer lemon which is bit hardier than other varieties.  It lives outside against a south facing wall as soon as night time temps get to 10C and more.  As temperatures drop it goes into the polytunnel along with a Yuzu and a Limquat.

They all have green fruit at the mo but they ripen over the autumn and winter months.  The yuzu is fruiting for the first time but the other two have lots of fruits as well as some new flowers.   

You need to make sure it is sheltered from the cold but gets plenty of sun and make sure the air is not bone dry - misting regularly helps.   There is a special citrus feed which has a higher ratio of potassium and phosphorous than nitrogen in order to help with fruiting and flowering.  

Joyce Goldenlily

Both of my lemon trees are Meyers which is supposed to be the best for fruiting in our climate. I leave both of mine outside all winter. Sometimes the y are deleafed by cold weather but most of the time seem to be happier outside. I was thinking of moving them into the unheated greenhouse this winter. Had plenty of flowers but no fruit so far.

tui34

Hi - the fruit on my lemon tree is green also - they will ripen over the winter months.  It is in the ground next to a wall and south facing.  I feed it when I think about it, with special citrus food and it gets a daily watering in the summer.  It gets fleeced in the winter as we can get frosts here.  I have to search under the fleece for any rip lemons!! I am on the south coast of France.

Obelixx

We're just 20kms inland from the Atlantic coast and can get strong winds over winter so I prefer to shelter my Meyer lemon and the other two citrus plants need more protection against cold anyway.    The half hardy fuchsias go in there too so it gets quite busy but there's plenty of light and ventilation so everyone is happy, including the chooks who shelter there when the weather is bad and enjoy lovely dust baths in the beds.

BlueBuzz

Thank you @Obelixx & @tui34 I am pleased to hear that the fruits are developing as they should. I used a Citrus feed during the winter months and a Tomato feed once the fruits started to develop. Watering with rainwater only. I will check on the feed ratios to make sure it has what it needs. 
@Joyce Goldenlily I had trouble too previously with the plant losing its leaves. I now have a cold frame style enclosure as it has to stay outdoors, it has helped to protect it. 
Thank you all very much for responding. 

Redwing

Smallgreenspace said:

Hello a novice gardener seeking advice please. I have an established lemon tree grown in a pot and this is the first year I have successfully had lemons. I live in Essex, the pot is in a South facing position currently with 4 large fruit, but they are all still green. Now that the overnight temperatures are dropping I need to place it in shelter. My question is will the fruit still ripen?

They will be fine overwintered in a cold greenhouse but don't bring them into a centrally heated house; too warm for them.

BlueBuzz

Thank you @Redwing it will remain outdoors.