Many flower growers are engaged in growing citrus fruits at home. And of the variety of such crops, the Lunario lemon variety is especially popular. This variety takes root well in an apartment, does not require much attention, and at the same time produces a good harvest of fruits every year.
Description
Lemon Lunario is a fruit tree reaching a height of 4.5–6 meters. But at home, the size of the culture is much more modest. With proper care, the variety grows up to one and a half meters. The plant has gray-brown bark and spreading crown. The pointed oval leaves, located on short petioles, reach 12–14 cm in length.
On the branches of this variety of lemon there are sharp thorns. Their size depends on the age of the tree, but they reach a maximum of 1.3 cm in length. During flowering, red-blue buds are formed at the bases of the leaves, up to 5 cm in diameter. They are single or collected in inflorescences. Peduncles exude a pleasant, unobtrusive aroma.
Fruit characteristics
After flowering, fruits are formed on the tree - lemons. Moreover, in apartment conditions, the plant begins to bear fruit already in the second year after planting. In the open field, the fruits are tied on trees, 3-4 years old. On average, their weight reaches 150 grams. They have an elongated shape, visually reminiscent of a cucumber, and a thin, smooth skin, colored bright yellow.
At home, the tree produces up to 10-15 fruits per season. But fruits do not ripen at the same time. The rich golden color of the peel speaks of the ripeness of the lemon. At this point, you need to remove the lemons from the tree, as they do not fall on their own and continue to develop. But at the same time, the taste and smell of fruits deteriorates greatly - the skin becomes thinner, the pulp dries out and the sourness disappears.
Cultivation
For homemade Lunario lemon, choose places on the east side of the room. If this is not possible, then place the pot near the south window. But at the same time, do not forget to shade the plant in the midday hours, as the hot sun causes burns on the foliage. In order for the crown to develop evenly, be sure to turn the culture on different sides towards the light.
Many gardeners make the mistake of growing lemons in the kitchen. It is absolutely impossible to do this, since the fruit tree absorbs and accumulates gases emitted by the stove. This can cause it to suddenly dry out, even if you otherwise provide it with ideal conditions.
With the advent of summer, you can take the plant to the balcony, where it will receive maximum fresh air. Butkeep in mind that it is worth gradually accustoming a lemon to such conditions. To begin, take the tree out for a 10-minute session. The next day, let the culture spend 20 minutes outside, and so on. Don't forget to cover the foliage from the sun.
Temperature
Lunario lemon, the photo of which is posted in the article, belongs to heat-loving plants. But, nevertheless, he can not stand the heat. And for the normal growth and development of the tree, maintain a temperature of 17-20 ° C in summer. During fruit ripening, raise it to +22 °C.
In winter, when the plant "sleeps", it is advisable to move the pot to a room where the temperature is 7-14 °C. If this is not possible, then install the lemon in a cool place where the temperature does not exceed +18 ° C. At the same time, be sure to highlight the fruit tree with photo lamps so that the daylight hours last 12 hours.
Irrigation
Lunario lemon is a moisture-loving plant, and in spring and summer it needs regular and abundant moisture. Water the culture 2 times a week and in no case allow the soil to dry out. In winter, irrigate the plant once every seven days and at the same time avoid waterlogging the soil. For irrigation, use only filtered, settled water at room temperature.
This fruit tree loves high humidity. Therefore, in the summer, spray its foliage daily. In winter, carry out the procedure 1-2 times a week. Give the lemon a warm shower every 7-10 days. Also, place a wide container filled with water next to the pot.
Feeding
If you want to achieve fruiting from the Lunario lemon, then be sure to feed the culture. Fertilize every week from spring to fall. In winter, one top dressing per month is enough. Try to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers with each other. Be sure to moisten the soil two hours before applying the preparations. This will help avoid burning the roots.
Use citrus preparations as mineral supplements. To make organic fertilizer, mix cow dung with water in a 1:1 ratio. Leave this mixture to ferment for a week, then strain and dilute with water in a ratio of 1:5.
Transfer
Young Lunario lemons, up to 3 years old, transplant every spring. For mature plants, one transplant is enough every 2-3 years. Carry out the procedure carefully, trying not to damage the roots. To do this, use the transshipment method with partial removal of the old earthen clod.
Choose a pot 10-15 cm larger than the previous one. Lay a 3-centimeter layer of drainage from sand or expanded clay on the bottom of the container. Transplant the plants into a commercial potting mix designed for citrus crops. If not, prepare the substrate yourself. To do this, mix the following components:
- 4 pieces of leaf ground;
- 1 piece of sand;
- 1 part manure.
Before planting, be sure to bake the substrate in the oven to destroy all germs and pests. Afterdisinfection add to the soil 1 tbsp. l. wood ash.
Crown formation
With proper care, the Lunario lemon grows quickly. And in order for the plant to give strength to the formation of fruits, and not the growth of shoots, it is important to prune. Start the event in the spring, before the start of active growth. Form a culture with a bush, 15–18 cm high. Cut out all the dried and damaged branches, and shorten the rest of the shoots to 4–5 leaves.
Please note that fruits are tied only on highly branched trees. If the crown is properly formed, then flowering occurs in the 2nd or 3rd year. To prevent this process from depleting the tree, be sure to remove half of the buds. In the first year, leave 3-4 ovaries, in the second - 5-6 and so on.
Reproduction
You can grow Lunario lemons from lignified cuttings. Start the procedure in spring or summer. For cuttings, choose shoots with a length of 10-12 cm and 2-3 growth buds. Treat the cut points with "Kornevin" and deepen the shoots into the moistened substrate by 2 cm.
Use a mixture of garden soil and sand as soil, and cover the planting from above with polyethylene or glass. Ventilate the greenhouse daily and spray with water from a spray bottle.
After 2-3 weeks, when the cuttings take root, plant them in separate pots and move them to a room with diffused lighting and a temperature of 20-25 ° C. Care in the future, as you would for ordinary trees.
Growing a Lunario lemon at home is not that difficult. Most importantly, ensurethe culture has comfortable conditions, and it will surely thank with rapid growth and abundant fruiting.
