lemon tree that won't bear

19 years ago

Sorry guys...I have no idea what type of lemon I have. I was given a cutting 8 years ago off an indoor lemon that stood 9'tall & a girth of about the same. It fruited year round & was beautiful. I have now babied this tree, moving it in & out for seasonal changes & I've never had a blossom. It stands about 5' with maybe 5 branches growing in somewhat of an espalier direction. Some leaves are similar in shape & size to a fig, some are large thicker versions of a poison ivy leaf. Very odd! I'll admit, I am not great with fertilizer. I'm wondering if the original lemon tree was a variety that was grafted & my friend gave me a piece of the graft. Any suggestions or should I just send it to the graveyard? I'll be happy to email photos if that helps. I hate to get rid of it without benefit of a pro's opinion.

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Comments (3)

jellyman
19 years ago
Mussari:

This lemon story is hard to explain, and maybe that's why no one has had a crack at it. First, we have to define what that "cutting" was. A cutting is usually a rooted piece from the upper or grafted portion of the tree. Are you sure that is what you have?

On the other hand, the "cutting" may have actually been a shoot from the rootstock of the tree, which could be a number of things, including a trifoliate, which might explain the odd leaf shape. A tree grown from a rootstock shoot will probably never have lemons as that word is usually defined.

Whatever the case, 8 years is long enough for an experiment, if you really want to try to grow lemons, and it may be time to cut losses and buy a real dwarf lemon like a Meyer. I planted a little Meyer last spring, and it began to bloom and set lemons in less than six months. Be advised that I am not a "pro", but hey, eight years!

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
19 years ago
If the leaves on your plant exhibit two or more leaflets, it is very likely a trifoliate species or hybrid rootstock -- usually 'Flying Dragon', 'Troyer', 'Swingle', or any number of different hybrids bred only for rootstock (lemon leaves are unifoliate and exhibit no hint of a wing on the petiole).

These rootstocks usually produce very inferior fruit, but may never bear for you as the rootstocks are usually juvenile seedlings/saplings and would need to grow VERY tall before bearing. You may not want to wait to find out what it is!

If you still want to get your friend's lemon, take a cutting further up the tree.
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mussari4
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you both for your responses. I agree with you! I used the incorrect terminology by calling it a graft. Rootstock is what I was thinking. What brought it to mind, I had a Contorted Willow that died over a harsh winter. That next Spring, it sprouted a beautiful sprig....that never contorted YET still had the same leaf & bark. Anyway. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I think I may give it last rites before the next trash day & then search for a producing tree that I can baby & get results.
Thanks again,
Tina