How to Grow Lemon Trees , Calamondins and Kumquats in Dublin

Nothing gives you the Mediterranean feel in the garden better than olives trees, lavenders and Citrus trees. With their aromatic foliage, they transport you to sunny landscapes, clear and warm sea, to prolong the holiday feeling all year round. While the first two can be grown outdoors all year round in the mild parts of the country, Citrus plants are more tender and will need to be brought inside for the colder months

1. How to Grow a Citrus Tree in Dublin?

While a lemon tree won't survive a harsh Dublin winter outdoors unprotected, they thrive exceptionally well as container plants.

The secret to success is mobility. Keep your citrus tree indoors in a bright, south-facing window or conservatory during the colder months, and move it out to a sheltered, sunny patio or balcony from May through mid-September to encourage pollination and fruit ripening.

• Pot: Choosing the right pot is key. You will need good drainage but also something easy to more around. While terracotta is one of the most obvious options, as it is porous and suits very much the mediterranean style, a pot on wheels or a saucer on wheels will come in handy when you will have to move your mature plants. Pots with a self-watering system are not ideal as the plant hates waterlogged soils.
• Soil Tip: A loam-based compost is ideal. You may use the citrus mix, especially for young plants, or the John Innes no.2.
  
• Watering: Water thoroughly when the top two inches of soil feel dry but never let the roots sit in standing water.
• Feeding: Use a liquid citrus fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season.  
• Pruning: Minimal, to maintain the appearance and health of the plant. Heavy pruning will affect the following year’s crop.
  
• Troubleshooting:
• Overwatering: Yellow and dropping leaves are most commonly due to overwatering. If the soil feels wet to the touch rather than damp, allow the plant to dry before you water again. In the worst cases, you will need to repot the plant and check the roots for rot.
• Red spider mites can affect plants, especially indoors when the air is hot and dry. Make sure to raise the humidity levels around the plant. The leaves will look faded yellow.
• Nutrient deficiency: Yellow leaves with green veins are usually a sign of nutrients deficiency. Resume feeding with a specific fertilizer. 
• Scale insects and mealy bugs can affect plants, especially indoors when there is not enough air circulation. Try to remove the bugs with a cotton bud and alcohol. Use Neem oil to treat the plant thereafter. 

If you are ready to start your own indoor orchard, you can explore our range of prolific fruiters in our Fruit Trees Collection, or browse our Indoor Plants Collection for more potted varieties perfect for sunny Dublin homes.