I would love to have my own potted lemon tree.  Beautiful European gardens always have rows of lemon or other citrus.  And it’s such a welcome sight to see the bright fruits in the middle of winter.  Although I’ve noticed some variety that bear fruit all year.

According to Sunset’s March 2010 issue, one of the most popular potted citrus tree of the moment is the “Eureka”.  Photo from Four Seasons Growers.

Four Seasons Grower recommend this type of plastic terra cotta color pot. As a black container would end up heating the root.

And here are more good advice from them for successful container growing of citrus:

1. Select the right size pot with adequate drainage holes.

2. Use a soil mix that is lightweight and drains well. If the mix is dense or contains peat moss, amend your soil mix with 1/4-1/3 volume of 1″ redwood shavings.

3. Develop a watering schedule so the tree stays on the dry side of moist.

4. Provide 8 or more hours of direct sunlight or grow light per day.

5. Plant the tree so the root collar is above the soil line and the top of the root crown is barely below the soil. Do not cover the trunk with soil at all.

When young, the fruit of the Eureka lemon is green but streaked with gold.  It then matures to pale yellow and has pink flesh.  This sounds like a cross between a pink grapefruit and lemons.

And here are other varieties worth looking into from Four Seasons Growers:

Yuzu, a popular fruit in Asia with the best fragrance. The fragrance is popular in lotion and soaps.

Meyer lemon, this has been my personal  favorite.  And may try growing this one in a pot.  The fruit has a sweet and tart flavor with bright yellow thin peels.  Our neighbor has a bush they’ve probably have for the last 2o years.  And it is always loaded with juicy lemons.

An interesting article on 100 things to do with Meyer lemons.

Gold Nugget mandarins are seedless and super-sweet. They get their name for its golden color and its pebbly skin. I haven’t tried this variety yet, but it could very well compete with the Satsuma or Clementines.

The Gold Nugget Mandarin is a seedless, sweet tangerine; the first new University of California Riverside (UCR) citrus variety to be released for commercial production since the mid-1980s. More than 30 years in the making, the new tangerine — also known as a mandarin — received its descriptive name from its bright orange, slightly bumpy rind. But Gold Nugget is particularly regarded for its rich, sweet flavor. Gold Nugget is a cross between two tangerines — Wilking and Kincy — non-commercial varieties also developed at UCR. - The Produce Hunter

A friend of my mom grew her own Honey Mandarin orange from the seeds of a store bought fruit. It’s been over 10 years and the fruit tree is still very healthy. It really doesn’t need much tending, except for some pruning. They ripen this time of year and are very juicy and easy to peel. The downside is that it’s not as sweet and never got as big as the true Honey Mandarin.

Growing from seeds is for those with patience. The next best thing is to purchase the 5 gallon variety. Lowe’s carry many exotic fruit trees from Four Seasons Growers, not just citrus.

Just in case you don’t have a green thumb, Lowe’s also has a 1 year guarantee on all their plants too. But of course it’s still a bit embarrassing to walk in the store with a dead plant!

All photos from Four Seasons Growers.