Stocking up for winter


The insanity continues. As if there wasn’t enough excess happening downstairs in the root cellar, where about 200 bulbs are chilling in their pots and vases, I’ve also been adding to the plant room upstairs.

While shopping for evergreen branches the other day, I noticed that the nursery had added—probably just to torment me—a table of citrus trees to their selection of gift plants. Right in there with all the amaryllis, zygocactus, rosemary, lavender, and cute little ferns growing out of little rocks or whatever.


These were sizable trees, too, many with fruit and buds all over them. I have always wanted to keep some citrus growing through the winter, moving it outside in summer, so how could I resist? I could not resist. I am now the owner of a dwarf Lisbon lemon. It is meant to be grown outdoors, of course, as the instructions make clear. Nothing there about keeping it going inside, but I know it’s possible; many grow citrus indoors.

I have purchased small plants from Logee’s before, but they didn’t make it, which was disappointing because they were pricey for their size. This lemon is established; at the very least, it will take longer to kill. At the most, I’ll be making cocktails with my own lemons from now on.

Comments

Carol Michel said…
It looks like a nice lemon tree. I tried to grow one indoors once... I don't know what happened, but it died on me. Of course if I see a lemon tree for sale, I'm likely to try again. Hope springs eternal in the garden, both outside and inside.

(and that is a crazy number of bulbs... I don't have a root cellar, but if I did...)
Wow, uh...bulbs. I'm counting about, what, 20 Amaryllis bulbs in this picture? I bow to your insanity.

Good luck with the citrus.
I wish you luck with this lemon tree. The fragrance of the blooms will be worth the effort.
Ramble on Rose said…
Sounds like a fun experiment! I'm jealous of your sprouting bulbs...my potted hyacinths have not started to sprout yet.
Ah... larger plants take longer to die, so it's worth the investment. My kind of logic. I'll be curious as to how long your lesbian lemon lasts. The only indoor fruit I've had luck with is avocados, but I just killed all them by repotting. Fajitas this weekend for dinner, so I'll have more to start on Saturday. Takes even longer to kill a pit.
Darla said…
Catherine over at http://agardenerinprogress.blogspot.com grows her lemon tree inside..she even had lemons!
Bruce Fisher said…
Elizabeth -- we want to put our home at 420 Linwood Avenue on the Garden Walk. How to? Thanks. Bruce Fisher and Barb Corrigan. brucefisher53@gmail.com, bcorrigan70@gmail.com
la cartonaria said…
My lemon on it's 3rd winter outside. Elevation here is about 3,800', low temps maybe 5F. I put it under the eaves, twine it with twinkle lights & drape with rowcover. Mind you, had no lemons last year as power went @ crucial point. Luv yr blogs! Cheers!
Cindy, MCOK said…
I've just harvested my Meyer lemon crop for this year and am enjoying the juice in various cocktails. Good luck with your Lisbon!

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