Even though you may think of citrus trees, such as lemon and lime, as being located in Mediterranean countries like Italy and Spain, in recent years they have become increasingly popular both in British gardens and even indoors.
In the last 12 months, searches for ‘citrus trees’ have gone up 80 per cent, according to Google Search Trend data, with 'lemon trees' and 'lime trees' rising by 60 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.
William Mitchell from the Sutton Manor Nursery in Kent has seen first-hand the increasing demand for citrus trees throughout the UK.
‘Citrus trees are a lovely way to add luscious greenery, a pop of colour and delicious scents to your garden. There is a wide variety of beautiful citrus trees including lime trees, mandarin, kumquat, limequat and lemon trees, and they all come in a range of sizes,’ he explains.
Where to buy a lemon tree
In the summer months you can grow a citrus tree in a pot outside in your garden, bringing it indoors in the colder, winter months – and with the adverse effects of climate change and the much warmer temperatures make growing a citrus tree more possible than ever before.
William elaborates: 'In Britain, citrus are not hardy, but they can be grown in pots outside in the summer and brought inside in the winter. The most common citrus plant grown by gardeners is lemons whereas other citrus plants, such as limes and grapefruits, require a warmer climate.
'With the adverse effects of climate change, the UK’s climate has experienced warmer temperatures, especially in winter, and due to this, the UK’s weather is much more suited to that needed to grow citrus trees.'
Where to buy a lime tree
So, as the demand for citrus trees increases, here are some top tips for looking after your own citrus tree.
Watering
You should water your citrus trees just like you would any other houseplant. During the winter months, it’s best not to overwater them. This means letting the soil dry between waterings.
However, in the summer, you will want to water your citrus plants much more regularly. Once or twice a week should be more than enough, and if you can, use rainwater.
Planting and growing
Citrus plants need a bright, sunny location. In a pot, most only reach about 3-5ft tall but they can grow larger in good conditions. In a cooler climate like the UK, growing them in pots so they can be moved indoors in the colder months is integral to helping them grow.
When potting, any good potting medium will work, but a soil-based compost is preferential. William recommends John Innes No 2 and adding up to 20 per cent sharp sand or grit as you pot. Alternatively, you can buy specially formulated citrus composts.
Planting in the spring will give them the best chance of growing before they need to be transferred indoors.
Feeding
Citrus trees require regular feeding. Using high nitrogen citrus summer feed from late March to October is key, whereas in the winter months, switching to winter citrus feed is necessary.
Training and pruning
Requiring only minimal pruning, in February you will want to reshape citrus plants by thinning out overcrowded branches, according to William.
'Leggy plants can be pruned back by up to two-thirds and the tallest branch can be cut back to encourage bushy growth. Throughout the summer, pinch back the tips of the most vigorous growth, using the thumb and forefinger.'
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