Growing A Meyer Lemon Tree

 There is nothing better for a "Tea Sipper" (like me) than to go out and pick a fresh lemon from my own lemon tree. Meyer lemons are the best and are easy to grow from a cutting. I'm sure if you look on eBay or just "google" Meyer Lemon tree" for sale, you can find a Meyer Lemon tree for yourself.

I got mine from a friend. She bought it at Lowe's at Christmas time and soon realized she had no room with enough light for it. I gladly took it! I winter mine over every year in my little greenhouse and move it outdoors as soon as I'm sure there will be no more frost. It would be fine near a sunny window or glass door if you if don't have a greenhouse.

I've even dried the fruit when I've had a bumper crop. It's easy and will also work on any type of lemon or oranges too. Make thin slices and put them in a single layer in a dehydrator. (If you don't have a dehydrator, you can do it in the summer outside using screen wire). leave in the dehydrator or wire until they are dry with just enough moisture that they will bend a little without breaking. You do not want them to be crisp. I store mine in fruit jars with a tight lid and usually put a couple of those little desiccant packets in the container. 

Often, around Christmastime, Meyer lemons are available in the grocery store. You can save the seeds and plant them inside. When the little plants are 3 or 4 inches tall, and the weather permits, move them outside or place them in a sunny window. They may need a little more water if inside. Water when the soil is dry about an inch deep. These plants can eventually grow to be two or three feet tall and wide so make sure you have space for the adult plant.  

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The Peggy Martin Rose Revisited

 

This year of outrageous weather...Hurricanes in places where they are not common and all the devastation, especially in the south, reminded me of the Peggy Martin Rose. My friend and fellow gardener sent me this article from Southern Living about this rose. BTW: I will have Peggy Martin Roses for sale this spring at Mimi's Greenhouse!  

Here is the link to the article she sent and also the blog post I wrote several years ago with a picture of my rose. 

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My Greenhouse In Winter

 

One of the best things about owning a greenhouse is the joy of sitting among the green plants in a cozy warm environment when there is snow on the ground outside. 

 I winter over all my tropicals as well as plants I want to be ready for sale earlier than they would be normally if I left them outside: Peggy Martin roses, Citronella, Parsley, and other herbs, as well as Wandering Jew, hanging basket ferns and more spend the winter happy and warm in the greenhouse.  As you can see, I do have space heaters inside but they rarely come on. 

My Greenhouse was a gift from my mother several years ago. In fact, that gift was the start of Mimi's Greenhouse.

In addition to wintering over plants, I have a mist system in there and sand beds for rooting cuttings. Most of the plants for sale at Mimi'sGreenhouse are rooted in my little backyard greenhouse. There is no better place to be than in a greenhouse on a cold winter day. 

My Greenhouse came from Morton's Horticultural Products in McMinnville, TN.  They will actually deliver it and set it up on your property as part of the price...at least they did when I bought mine. Of course, that was several years ago.

Even if you don't want a plant business, a greenhouse is a wonderful addition to your garden. Just think about how you can extend your growing season as well as get a jump on spring planting. 

My Meyer lemon tree has been growing in this pot for years. It was a gift from a friend and it is loaded with delicious Meyer Lemons every fall. I move it out in the yard (in its pot) in the summer and it blooms almost as soon as it gets warm. I hand pollinate it but bees love it too. Hand pollination assures an abundance of lemons in the fall. 

Inside the Greenhouse in Winter

 

Meyer Lemon Tree

Peppers and Parsley

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