GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through links in this post. There is no additional cost to you. As shapely, evergreen plants with great fragrance and attractive fruits, lemon trees can make spectacular container plants. Gardeners are more likely to be successful if they select the variety with some care and monitor the special challenges […]

Why are the leaves on your lemon trees turning yellow? Two common causes are chlorosis, or iron deficiency, and nitrogen deficiency. Here is how to tell the difference. Chlorosis. Chlorosis is an iron deficiency that appears as lightening or yellowing between veins on older leaves and/or pale green or yellow new leaves. Affected leaves will […]

The combination of navel and Valencia-type oranges is a sometimes-overlooked but critically important one for year-round urban food production in Southern California and other mild-winter areas of California. Oranges produce abundantly in Southern California during winter and early-spring months when few other crop trees are productive. Planting multiple varieties of orange that mature at different […]

How do you know when your oranges are ripe? Are they ripe when they turn orange? Or is the answer more complicated? In Southern California, the majority of oranges varieties mature from winter through spring. Navel oranges are generally harvested from January to late spring, with blood oranges in the same approximate seasonal range to […]

Suffering from too many lemons from your home garden? What a shame.  Take one of your extra lemon fruits and turn it into a project for a young, budding scientist or undercover agent. Harvest those lemons. Twist the base or cut the stem using hand pruners. For fruits too high to reach, use appropriate, stable […]

Much of coastal and inland California is ideal for growing lemon trees. Gardeners choosing lemon trees should be aware that some are more sensitive to cold than others and that lemons in general are more sensitive to cold temperatures than most other types of citrus. Unlike their sweet citrus counterparts which generally require heat to develop […]

California’s Mediterranean climates are suitable for growing some but not all limes, as the needs of lime trees vary depending on the variety. In general, lime trees do best in areas where frosts are not common. It may be possible for lime trees to perform well in mild Mediterranean climates along the coast that are […]

Citrus trees can be planted using a method known as “intensive planting” or “intensive backyard orcharding” in which up to four citrus trees on compatible root-stocks are planted in a single hole and spaced 12 to 24 inches apart. Root stocks from the same species and/or genus will grow together underground in a natural process called […]

Though Mandarin trees are a much less common sight in  California than the common sweet orange tree, they are enjoyed and planted by many for their unique fruit. As a group, mandarin orange trees are one of the most diverse types of citrus. Many types of Mandarins have a loose, easy to peel skin, with […]