Lemon, Improved Meyer

The IMPROVED MEYER Lemon tree is moderately vigorous and cold hardy, shrubby, and relatively small at maturity. Meyer Lemon flowers intermittently throughout the year, but mostly during the spring. It makes an attractive garden tree. Meyer lemons are medium-sized, short-elliptical, and have a smooth, thin, yellow-orange rind. The flesh is light orange yellow, moderately seedy, juicy, and acidic. The aroma and flavor of Meyer Lemon is distinctive, and many find it especially desirable. It's best to grow Meyer lemons in a frost-free climate, but you can grow them in pots in slightly cooler climates. If sub-freezing temperatures are predicted, move a potted Meyer lemon indoors or harvest all the fruit from an in-ground tree and water it thoroughly to moisten the soil around the roots. Picking the fruit before a freeze will protect both the fruit and the tree from freeze damage. If you pick too many lemons from the tree to use right away, squeeze the juice and freeze it. The color of a lemon is not the only indicator the fruit is ready. Because Meyer lemons taste sweeter than standard lemons, is important to know when to harvest the fruit. Color change is a sign your Meyer lemons may be ready, but you should taste a fruit or two for a sweet-tart flavor. When the taste best is when you need to pick them. The lemons will not become any sweeter after you remove them from the tree.