Can You Grow Lemons in the UK? WMJ Guide to Home Lemon Trees

27/08/2023 Sav Taylor

Growing lemon trees at home in the UK is easier than most people think. Get all the tips & tricks for a healthy, happy lemon tree from WM James. Read on for more!

Many budding gardeners love to grow their own produce, but with the UK weather, there are only so many options to choose from.

Thankfully, there are still some exotic plants that will grow in the UK so that gardeners can get some more variation. 

If you’re wondering whether you can add lemons to your garden in the UK, then keep reading to find out more and see how WM James can help. 

Can You Grow Lemon Trees in the UK?

The short answer is yes: lemon trees are actually among the easiest of all the citrus trees that you can grow in the UK. 

They do need a little bit of help, but with the right approach and a lot of tender loving care, your sapling can grow into a beautiful, fruit-bearing tree that will be a stunning addition to your garden. 

Where Do Lemon Trees Originate?

Lemon trees have been grown around the world for centuries, and although their exact country of origin is unknown, they’re thought to have come from South-East Asia, specifically India. 

Over the years, lemon trees have spread around the world, and today they’re grown everywhere from Europe to Africa. 

Different Types of Lemon Trees

As lemon trees spread around the world, they diversified into different types, and today there are many varieties that produce different crops of the sour citrus fruit we know and love. 

Today, there are many types of lemon trees available, some of which are more suitable for the UK climate than others. 

These are some of the best lemon varieties to try growing at home in the UK: 

How to Grow Lemons at Home

There are several methods you can use when growing lemon trees at your home in the UK. Each one has its pros and cons, so it’s worth exploring the options you have to find the best one for you. 

They’ll need to be planted from around the middle of June to September.

Here are some of the best tactics to try when growing citrus fruit at home to get a beautiful plant that bears lots of yummy fruits. 

Growing Lemons from a Plant

One simple way to grow a lemon tree is to buy a plant that’s already potted and help it to get larger and become a fully-fledged tree. 

If you want to grow lemons from a plant, then here are some tips:

1. Find the right lemon plant
2. Put it in a pot that’s large enough for the plant when it grows to full size
3. Feed and water your lemon regularly, and prune it to keep it the right size for your pot
4. Enjoy your new lemon plant! 

Growing lemons from a plant is a simple way to enjoy this delicious citrus fruit without too much hard work. Make sure you find the right plant and put it in a large enough pot to ensure that it bears tasty fruit and stays healthy. 

Growing Lemons from Seed

Growing lemons from seeds can be harder but more worthwhile in the long run. You need to make sure that you get it right!

You’ll need a lot of patience to grow lemons from seeds, as it can take between 3 and 5 years for them to grow into a fruit-bearing plant. Still, it can be a fun activity, particularly if you’re doing it with kids. 

1. Select a ripe lemon, remove the seeds and wash them in cold water to remove the sugar and juice
2. Get a small pot and fill it with pasteurised soil, and then plant several lemon seeds around 1cm deep
3. Keep the soil moist and keep the pot in a warm, sunny, yet shaded place
4. Watch your seed grow into a beautiful tree! 

Growing anything from a seed requires patience and careful monitoring, and it’s never easy to get it right. However, with a little time, you could enjoy the fruits of your labour as your lemon tree blossoms.

Our Top Lemon Tree Care Tips

Once you’ve grown your lemon tree and got it to a reasonable size, you need to take care of it to keep it looking lustrous and stay strong throughout its life. 

These are some of our top tips on how to look after your new lemon tree so that it grows up to be big and strong. 

Watering Lemon Trees

Lemon trees need a lot less water than you might think, despite their love of heat. In the summer, you need to water them more often, around once or twice a week. 

When it comes to winter, you can water your lemon trees much less, perhaps as little as once a month, or even less if it’s raining heavily.  

Feeding Your Citrus Plants

As lemon trees are used to very specific conditions, you need to make sure that you feed them all year round and give them the nutrients they need. 

Citrus fertiliser needs to be high in nitrates, as these will help the tree to grow and flourish. You can usually buy specially made food products for citrus plants like lemon trees, so you can ensure they’re always healthy. 

Keep Your Tree in the Correct Location

During the summer months, lemon trees need a sunny spot that also offers them some shade to keep them safe from the wind. 

In the colder autumn months, you can keep your lemon tree outside still, but you need to make sure that it is in the sunniest position in your garden so it can get as much warmth as possible. 

Common Lemon Tree Diseases

Like any other fruit trees, lemon trees are susceptible to diseases that could cause them serious issues if left untreated. 

These are some of the most common lemon tree diseases and how the signs you need to keep an eye out for.  

Protecting Your Citrus Tree from Pests & Weathers

As they’re native to countries with warmer climates, lemon trees need protecting from the colder weather, even in what we would consider to be the UK’s summer. 

Also, the tasty fruits from the lemon tree are tempting to a wide range of pests like insects, as well as larger rodents like mice and rats. 

As such, you need to consider using the right fruit cages, netting or garden structures to protect your lemon tree, including: 

• Garden Canopies 
• Butterfly And Insect Netting
• Classic Steel Fruit Cages 

Here at WM James, we have a wealth of products that are ideal for ensuring your lemon tree growing season is a success.

When Your Lemons Are Ready to Pick

Lemons have a relatively long season, and in the UK, you can expect your tree to produce fruit ready for picking between April and July when the weather is warmer. 

When you’re looking at your lemons and wondering if they’re ready, you need to make sure that they’re around two or three inches in diameter. 

Check the skin and if it is yellow, with little or no greenish tinge, and the lemons are firm with a glossy skin. That means they’re ready to pick and enjoy! 

To Summarise...

Ultimately, dedicated gardeners can grow lemons in the UK, and with the help of these tips, it’ll be a fun and exciting adventure. 

If you’re eager to learn more about some of the more unusual plants you can grow in the UK, then check out our blog, where our experts share their tips and ideas. And don’t forget to grab all your essential WM James gardening supplies, so you can get your lemon tree off to the best start possible!

Happy growing!

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