Have you seen the price of lemons lately?

In light of Cinco de Mayo celebrations being squeezed by the outrageous prices that limes were fetching from Mexican suppliers this year, lemon wedges were being slipped into drinks by bartenders. Limes have more than tripled in cost the last couple of months. California lemons, now at three-for-$1.99 in the local grocery store, are also becoming outrageously expensive.

Realtors will often list trees among the attributes of a property that they are presenting. Healthy citrus and other edible fruit-bearing trees are inviting and enticing to home buyers, so consider growing your own, even if you are the new owner. With a little bit of knowledge and nurturing at peak temperatures, several citrus varieties and types can be grown right here in central Florida.

All citrus are sensitive to freezes, but the Meyer lemon is the most cold-hardy of the lemon varieties. It is actually a hybrid of a tangelo and a lemon. Once ripened, the large egg yolk colored fruit has a distinct tangerine odor and tastes ever so slightly bittersweet —right on the center of the tongue. They make a deliciously refreshing beverage when mixed with water, honey or sugar. By comparison, the true lemons, the Lisbon and the Eureka, are slightly more acidic and sizzle both sides of the palette with their zesty tartness. Whether used as a garnish, squeezed over seafood, a fresh slice of papaya or mixed into a dessert recipe, a lemon will enhance a meal with its sparkling flavor, plus adds substantial nutrition. The juice is a good source of potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C.

Heather West-Mennenga of Superior Landscape and Garden Center knows the market well. “Citrus sells the most when people see the fruit on the trees.” She gently clasped a corymb of white blossoms on a thorned Meyer lemon branch and pointed out the young green fruit. “Now is a good time of the year to be planting.”

 “It was such a good winter for oranges and grapefruit, so everyone that comes in wants a fruit tree,” she added. “The loquats are full of fruit this year.” A loquat, also known as a Chinese plum, fuses the flavors of peach, citrus and mild mango.

All citrus varieties need lots of sun. Select a location on your property that is at least 15 feet from buildings and also other trees. Citrus can be planted from now until September. It is very important to only purchase certified nursery plants from nurseries registered with the state. Ask where the supplier’s trees were grafted and raised. Choose trees that were grown between Orlando and Gainesville since south Florida trees are not acclimated to this region. Look for a young tree that has been repotted into a large container and is possibly already producing flowers and some fruit. If a tree is growing in a small three-gallon container, it should not be more than four feet high. Beyond that, the roots will have nowhere to expand to, so they end up filling the container in a unnatural circular fashion. 

After transplanting a young citrus tree into sandy, well-draining soil, watering is the key element. Heather recommends holding off on fertilizer for the first month; watering will encourage the roots to grow. Fertilizing too soon can cause a growth spurt which can stress the tree before the roots have a chance to spread. In the beginning, a liquid hormone root stimulator can be used and make the first feeding a half ration.

Once established, follow the recommended fertilizing instructions and check for pesticides and leaf rot which can be more prevalent in a humid climate. Applying a frost cloth to tent the tree on frigid nights will help to protect it. Wait to harvest citrus until it is fully ripe, for it will not ripen off the tree. A taste test is your best indicator.

Don’t just use the juice. The peel may be candied or used in cooking and baking. When burned as kindling in a furnace, the dried peel produces quite a pleasant aroma. For horse owners, lemon peel marinated in apple cider vinegar can be strained into a formula to repel pesky flies. Although the Lisbons ands Eurekas have a thicker peel, Meyer lemons have a lot of oil in the skin. 

Heather also recommended the limequat —the hardiest of the limes, “If you rub on the skin of a limequat, it just bleeds oil.” A cross between a key lime and a kumquat, the limequat is a delightfully mouth-puckering, tart fruit that can be used in everything from jams and chutneys, to margaritas.

The variety of fruits that can grow in Central Florida is due in great part to the breeding programs of the University of Florida. The list extends to include apples, black raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, plums, nectarines, persimmons, pomegranates, figs and even olives.

Heather warned against store bought fruits that are picked too young and laced with chemicals to keep from rotting in transport. “The body was meant to heal itself, but if it is not given the nutrition it needs, it can become ill.” She summed up the satisfying rewards of cultivating at home best, “Unless people have actually grown and picked their own fruit, they do not know how good it can taste.”