Lemon (true lemon)
Citrus × limon
The sharp, classic lemon of the Amalfi coast and Sicily; tenderer to frost than a Meyer.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 15 ft tall, 12 ft wide
Harvest: January to December
From: South and East Asia, grown around the Mediterranean for centuries
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
Lemons came west from Asia with traders and reached the Mediterranean by Roman times; Arab farmers spread them through Sicily and Spain in the Middle Ages. On the Amalfi coast and in Sorrento they grow on steep terraces under pergolas of chestnut poles.
Planting
Full sun, shelter from cold wind, and rich, free-draining soil; plant in spring. In zones colder than 9, grow it in a big pot and bring it in for winter.
Growing
Feed with compost or citrus fertiliser in spring and summer, water deeply in dry spells and mulch. Prune lightly after the main harvest to open the centre.
Harvest and use
True lemons flower and fruit almost all year, with the main crop in winter and spring. Use the zest and juice in everything; the peel steeps into limoncello.
What to watch for
Frost below about 28°F, scale insects and citrus leaf miner. Yellow leaves usually mean hunger or cold, wet roots.
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home