My favorite lemon is the lisbon. And I think lemon on fish is a good thing.

For me, A sour lemon choice would be the cold hardy Harvey. If my heaters fail It will survive to 10F. However I don't use lemons so I would not grow one.

I am growing the best one that I know of, New Zealand lemonade. Mild acid mild sugars. Better than a satsuma. My opinion

Good fish should be broiled stark naked. Personal opinion. I don't use spices or any flavor altering additives.

Just look at a Meyer lemon tree wrong it will drops it's leaves and die back to just above the graft line and take 3 years to recoup.

I would never tell anyone not to grow one but I would like to inform them accurately on the difficulties in growing one. Some people do quite well with them

Steve

Steve, lemon subjects are not an easy one, there are a lot of people going nuts over lemons, especially the Italian ones. My wife makes Lemon squares with Meyers that plenty good for me, I am a “ Mocha Guy”, mocha ice cream, yah yah for sure! Key lime pie after a good dinner, no,no,no.!

Mocha ice cream, hard to find, finest mocha ice cream? You got to make it yourself.

Anybody that are growing citrus for awhile should know how to deal with growing a Meyer tree. I don’t have any problems with Meyer, have plenty to use.

The stronger/oily a fish is the more lemon it needs. The fish I catch are inland lake fish, mild, no oil, only light lemon taste.

I see all these cutsie nurseries promoting the Meyer lemom tree as the "Tree To Have" as easy to grow and trouble free to own. They are very hard to grow. Many friends of mine fell for this and lost $50 on a soon to die tree.

I consider myself lucky because I grew from seed as a trial to see if citrus was possible despite all the promising adds.

Ann Gave me 2 Meyer lemon trees grafted to Cuban shaddock. The scion lost leaves and the shaddock only sent up suckers. I broke the suckers off until the rootstock starved to death. The green scion died when the roots die having never putting on a leaf. The other I grew as a very healthy inedible

Cuban Shaddock from cuttings · More Info

in a 30 gallon container. It produced 34 inedible shaddocks then died as cold weather frost/freezes came to town. It did not come in my house. I had decided to quit citrus growing then Cory sent me 2 seed grown Fukushu kumquat trees and a grafted Meiwa kumquat. I am back in the citrus path. A year later Pip finished grafting scion wood from his four winds NZL and gave me that tree. I sent Tom 6 US897 seedling root stocks and Tom sent one back to me grafted with a healthy Valentine pomelo.

I now have an in ground NZL with 30 fruits as well as seed grown Meiwa kumquats with 35 fruits. It was 2 Meyer lemons that nearly brought my citrus endeavors to an end and it is this same Meyer lemon that has ended many would be citrus'ers leaving them with a very bad taste.

Steve

Sorry, somebody has to make money. They don’t get nothing from me, except $5.00 for a Walmart reject, 5 years old now, with lots of fruits still. They are nice and big. Got to try S/T soon. Tried one sometimes ago, not impressed, just an other lemon. Will try an older one soon.

If a tree is precocious it need more attention, no rocket science..

The number one Write up/Posting on any Citrus forum is a Meyer Lemon problem. No Bob, the statement anyone who grows Citrus should be able to grow a Meyer isn't accurate. If anything does go wrong with them, you also waste too much time, I've experienced all sorts of problems and that fruit just isn't worth the hassle. They root readily (I made one - and I just killed it on purpose ) bloom early and easy, nurseries love to sell them, they give you a quick bloom and fruit and then can go into decline for any reason and bloom themselves to death, wasting an inordinate amount of time. I now own a Logees Lemonquat which I pulled all fruit off of - too young, and will at some point get another Real lemon, which one? Anyone - maybe a plain Eureka, but not a Meyer. Given the same treatment as I gave that Meyer, the other Citrus is happy. I've had 3, one I did in by over-watering but made a cutting of it which really didn't do much and never ever had nice leaf color no matter what I did. I also had a large grafted one (great deal along with a satsuma - both initially bore fruit) until I more closely looked at both the roots stocks of a meyer and satsuma - didn't initially do a full bare root) that I had to do severe root surgery (choking itself)to since it was in the nursery (Frantz - Costco sale special) too long, just don't have the patience to wait, I'm willing to wait on the Satsuma that I'm also air layering. As a practice I fully bare root now and

I just ordered a 4 winds Limequat, to go with my Logees Sunquat (Lemonquat). Smaller fruits and trees (hopefully less fussy) with a taste of lemons and limes. I only use on average 2 full size lemons a week, I don't need much, I do like lemon water. A shout out to Calamondin (a Spring Home depot buy on impulse), very nice tree, grew well, I thinned fruit on it and used the little green guys in water, just like mini limes, was good in water - had to use 2 xtra small thinnings. Hopefully the remaining ones get bigger. When pruning i made a cutting (on top of my boiler now - free heat mat)

Many forums, now this one are making the case on eliminating the Meyer lemon, poor thing, somebody came up with a new variety The Meyer Lemon, now watch it demise.

what is your base, just ramblings from others.

For me, the Meyer lemon lacks flavour.... Kinda like a bland lemon. Also, growing the tree is not easy for beginners... or experienced people.... so I'm always confused when I read a new article recommending Meyers to newbs.... Almost a guaranteed life sentence for the Meyer lol.

I find the Ponderosa lemon to be much less finicky than most citrus. Going into my third Winter and it's holding all kinds of fruits of different sizes and healthy leaves. I'll admit, the taste/juice of Ponderosa are not the best but overall a keeper.

First, Meyer is not a lemon, it is a hybrid. But if we must put it into the lemon category, then in my opinion it is the worst lemon. Eureka, Lisbon, and Saint Teresa, all quality as good lemons.

The Meyer lemon will not demise. It has a good place in the market. It should not be grown north of zone 9 unless it is in ground outside and glassed in for the cold season.

Steve

I see no reason to get rid of my two Meyer tree’s, they have given me decent service, besides I do not need the finest in lemon but what I like about citrus is the mandarin. I have now the finest in mandarins, much to my liking. I am pushing my mandarins as much as I can. I have a total of 4 lemon trees, 2 Meyers and 2 S/T, The S/T are in production already.

I have shown my Meyer tree’s on this forum more than once, all nice with big fruits good enough for me. My mandarin list is a whole lot longer than lemons.

November/December will be interesting for me, it’s already starting, doing community work now, outside growing season has ended, inside is picking up. The grand finally.

Friends out of our small community have pick up what they want, our doctor has gotten his usual package yesterday, have a lot more to share.

My two Meyer lemon trees Are close to being picked, a total of 30 some fruits, what can I say.

Even the birds getting fed this time of the year.

Mass marketed cheap to produce Meyers aren't going anywhere. Nobody said to eliminate them either. I don't like their habits as a tree, I don't have the time. They are unfortunately the first tree purchased by new hobbyists often ruining the experience. Some grow them successfully long term, more power to you. Myself, eventually I take note that I have a problem child that needs more care than the rest, its a tree, ditch it.

Forums are full of easy grow people, the come and go kinds. I will never ditch a tree, I,ll convert it to a new kind, if I have to. So far I am sitting good, could’t be better.

Citrus in general is the easiest group of fruit tree’s to grow. I have grown them all, apples, stone fruits, you name it. That said, citrus is also the final stage of any future hobby.

"That said, citrus is also the final stage of any future hobby. "

Final stage, except for mangoes for me! I currently have Haden, Mallika and Pickering. If my Maha Chanook graft ever starts to push, then I'll have one more! Guess I like the challenge. But also, anyone from South Florida will tell you there's NOTHING like a tree-grown and ripened mango. Store-bought ones are just picked too early. Then stored forever. And the mangoes that 'store' the best are not worth eating. So that's my Holy Grail for now.

Dave, it’s obvious you are much younger, you go guy! Should have stop a few years ago.

How about Lemon Zest and a few others of the newer varieties, awesome! Envy!

I don't have issues with the Meyer's, yes, they are a hybrid (lemon x orange), like lots of citrus, they hybridize easily. And being in NJ (north of Zone 9), I still like them and don't really understand their temperamental reputation..., not at all. I do grow "true lemons"..., 'Lisbon' and 'Eureka'. Of those, I prefer Lisbon. But my favorite Citrus are still limes, and kumquats (second fav.). I find them these to be the most robust and most prolific, and this in the NORTH!

Bob, I am in the 4th quarter of the game of life but don't think you ever tire of growing all plants but especially citrus. They can be so exasperating but also so rewarding. Congrats to all the growers that post here! I really enjoy what you and the other posters share here.

I'm convinced that citrus quality is directly related to the microclimate. My home grown Meyers are far better than what I can get in the store. The Meyers make my vodka sing and are my favorite lemon. That may change if my neighbors give me some of the limoncello they have been making with my Santa Teresa's.

Not all citrus grows great in my area but the Meyers are great and nearly everbearing.

Have you ever tried a Aviation Martini?

Did someone say mangoes? Sorry for diverting the topic a bit.

Dave in Nova: "Final stage, except for mangoes for me! I currently have Haden, Mallika and Pickering"

I am thinking of grafting to my seed grown mango tree. Which one you like best and which ones stay small and compact? My mango tree is 20+ years old and never produced except once it attempted to flower. So I am thinking I should graft to it since it is definitely a very robust tree. No idea what the original variety was - some store bought mango from Mexico perhaps. My grandfather had an orchard in India. I will be visiting home in a couple of weeks. And I know I will be again drooling over all the tropical fruit trees around my home. There is a 40ft tree a few houses down the street.

I say this as a person with a Meyers lemon tree which I am happy with, in fact there is a Meyers Lemon cream pie chilling in the refrigerator right now. I feel Meyers lemon is a good choice for home in ground growers in the citrus growing belt, and perhaps even good for zone pushing with proper freeze protection.

One of their big benefits is the prolonged harvest season, which may not be year round, but can be close in the appropriate climate. With it fresh picked good quality lemons that can be picked from the tree when needed for months on end, which to me beats a great tasting lemon that must be harvested over only a few weeks, that will then only last in the refrigerator for another month or so.

Having said that I do feel they are over hyped by the powers that be, perhaps because they are easy to propagate compared to other lemons. Meyers even when grown in ground require more attention than other citrus, I currently have 10-11 other in ground citrus trees, mostly Satsumas and my single Meyers lemon seems to require more attention than all of the others combined, if drops all its leaves whenever a dash of cold weather appears, and during the growing season is constantly needing supplemental nitrogen.

tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA) : 'Pickering' is recommended as one of the most compact mangoes. Still, they will eventually need root-pruning and trimming back. Also, consider Carrie, Cogshall, and Mallika. I made a list of the more compact ones, but can't post it here.

Not sure you will have access to this link since it's on a Facebook page:

Compact Mangoes for Containers

Mango Growers -- Facebook

Bob, no i have not tried an Aviation martini. I looked at the ingredients and will try soon. Generally i like non sweetened cocktails. The most popular one around the house is called a Sour Puss. Its juice of 1/2 lemon and vodka to taste... COLD and up or over ice.

My second ever citrus was a Meyer and I still love that tree. I have two of them and love the fruit and the tree shape. They are very juicy and I like the flavor. I have not had many issues with mine over winters. I have found that keeping the Meyers in my cold sunroom over winter is what they like best. Let’s cross fingers that they also behave this winter. Dave, I tried growing a mango tree without success. It was just too cold. I agree that store bought mangoes are not worth buying. I grew up eating fresh mangoes in Florida and know the difference. Years ago, I planted a Glenn mango in my parent’s yard, which they sold years ago. Whenever I travel to Florida I try to pass by it and see how big and beautiful that tree is. Glenn are also excellent mangoes. Let us know how they grow for you please.

Thanks, Dave. I do not have facebook acct but I can ask one of my friends.

Anyone who likes lemonade should try "mangonade". Actually in India it is called Aam-Pana (Aam = mango, Pana=drink). You need green mangoes. Fire roast the whole mangoes evenly all around. The pulp will become soft. Then mix the pulp with some water to thick juice like consistency. Add sugar, salt and spices (usually roasted cumin powdered, but I add black pepper or red chili pepper too) to taste. Chill it and you have an excellent drink. If you are into cocktails feel free to experiment with your favorite alcohol.

Happy Hour? Not yet! Sh.....

Laura LaRosa, when you say 'just too cold', do you mean too cold to get flowers and fruit, or too cold to keep the plant healthy and alive? I have no issues growing mangoes from seed. I have to bring them inside when temps get into low 40s though. There are some varieties that do better and are more vigorous -- like Tommy Atkins -- which makes a good root stock.

We'll see how mine do. I don't have a greenhouse, so that will be my biggest challenge when they start to get big.

tropicofcancer (6b SW-PA), India has some of the best mangoes, from what I hear! And growing conditions, soil, humidity, temp, etc are really to their liking.

To keep on the topic, my Meyer is full of blooms right now. Several small fruits setting on. Not too much leaf drop (yet). I may move it into my cooler garage if I can find room.

Dave, I remember that summer being fairly cooler than usual. It was many years ago. Also, when inside, the indoor night temperatures in my house and sunroom are a lot cooler than what they are used to in Florida. I don't know exactly, I just remember that it did not grow well at all. I was also not as knowledgeable as I am now about container growing. Perhaps my experience would be different now. I hope it works out better for you. Keep us updated - even though it is not citrus related ;)

I agree with Molewacker and a couple of others. Meyers are a great tree but it sounds like people trying to grow them in pots are on the outs. I really like the meyer taste as its not overly strong. You wouldn't grow a large full size bannana in a pot and expect good quality bannanas right? It have seen the advertising of them saying they make greated potted citrus and it chaps me as well, especially at the +50$ price point. Heck I think 25$ is a jip off here. I personally think meyer need a 3" caliper base to have enough weight to produce and make best in the winter months so I don't think they are great for up north unless you have a full size greenhouse and or a southfacing wall windbreak that reflects both light and heat. Just my .2c

I truly don't understand all the sudden hate for the Meyer. I have two of them in containers, and I couldn't be happier. They give me an incredible amount of fruit, and they are really forgiving for pruning. They stay in from November to April/May, then spend the rest of the year on the deck.

Of course, there's a learning curve - nothing good ever comes without a learning curve. But this board is full of people that will help you if you're willing to learn.

The only thing you have to worry about is rot due to over watering. But if you take the jump and repot with 5-1-1, it's almost impossible to over water.

And it's not true they're high maintenance. As a matter of fact, I'll argue that in my personal experience, the less you bug them, the better your trees do.

Sure, you have to watch for critters, like spider mites (mainly inside), and maybe scales (mainly outside), but that's true with any lemon tree. Neem a couple of times a year for prevention or if you see the beginning of an infestation. Have some GardenSafe soap, Folliage Pro, and Neem Oil on hand, and you'll be ready for anything.

As long as you keep an eye on your tree and inspect it once a week or so, you'll be fine.

Meyers will do something no other Citrus I have will do, I call it a bloom lock phenomenom. They will literally bloom themselves to death and not grow.

My New Zealand lemonade tried 2 times to bloom themselves to death. It is about to bloom to that degree again.

Steve

I used to have trouble with my Meyer Lemon--I too have witnessed bloom lock a few years ago (mainly in the winter). Ever since I've taken the approach of consistent, low-dose fertilizing, it hasn't had that problem since. I've had it now for 7 years.