The lemon, an evergreen tree up to six meters high, comes from the subtropical climates of southwest Asia. Like almost all types of citrus, the lemon tree is self-pollinating.
Do I need to pollinate my lemon tree?
Lemon trees are self-fertile and do not require insect pollination or human assistance. They form hermaphrodite flowers that have both male and female characteristics and can therefore develop fruit independently. In some cases, gently shaking the tree can aid the process.
The flowers and fruits of the lemon tree
If conditions are right, lemons bloom almost all year round, usually producing flowers and fruits at the same time. The strongly fragrant flowers usually grow singly or up to three on short stems in the leaf axils. The buds are slightly reddish. The white, cup-shaped calyxes have five very short, triangular tips. They are about four millimeters long. The five fleshy, white petals are about two centimeters long. The fruits, which are approximately seven to 14 centimeters long, are actually berries. The period from flowering to fruit ripening is very long, on average six to nine months. The pale to strong yellow color - depending on the variety - only develops at cooler temperatures.
The fertilization of the lemon tree
Contrary to the opinion of some self-proclaimed citrus experts, which can be read in various garden forums, lemons are self-fruitful plants. For this reason, neither a second citrus plant nor human assistance with a brush is necessary for pollination. With a few exceptions, lemon flowers are hermaphroditic, meaning they are hermaphrodite. H. have male and female characteristics at the same time. However, in some flowers the female floral characteristics are stunted. Fertilization occurs either via insects, by the wind or within the hermaphrodite flower. Parthenocarpy also occurs very frequently, i.e. H. a fruit development without previous fertilization. If you want to be on the safe side, you can shake the tree a little - provided it is not outside - and stimulate the wind.
My lemon tree produces flowers but no fruit. Why is that?
Many owners of a lemon tree are surprised that their plant produces flowers but no fruit. This is often due to inadequate conditions, i.e. H. the lemon lacks water, nutrients and/or light. Pay attention to optimal location conditions, then fruiting should also work. However, there are some lemon varieties, especially hybrids, that are sterile. This means that these plants - mostly hybrids of different types of citrus - are not able to produce pollen and thus carry out fertilization and produce fruits.
Reasons for lack of fruit development
- Plant is sterile
- Plant receives too little water
- Plant suffers from waterlogging (e.g. due to lack of pot drainage)
- The roots are not intact, which is why sufficient nutrients cannot be passed on.
- Fertilization is not sufficient.
- Plant suffers from lack of light (especially in winter!)
- The pot is too small.
First of all, check the criteria mentioned and improve the site conditions and the care of the lemon tree accordingly. If fruiting does not occur even under optimal conditions, then it is a sterile tree.
Tips & Tricks
Since almost every flower leads to fruit, sometimes there are simply too many lemons that the tree cannot feed. Therefore excess fruit is usually discarded. However, if (almost) all of the fruit is dropped regularly, then the tree is usually lacking water.
