With Maryland experiencing all four seasons distinctly, keeping your plant mobile to enjoy spring and summer weather while being able to come back indoors before the temperature drops can help keep it thriving. (Photo by Leslie Milby)
With their bright color, summertime scent and refreshing taste, citrus trees are a tempting pick when seeing them at your local nursery.
Christy Little, owner of A Little Farm and Nursery in Stevensville, says while it isn’t all easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy, lemon, lime and kumquat trees are a fun project that can even be fruitful even in Zone 7.
Little’s nursery has what could be considered a little citrus grove tucked in their hot house.
While there are ducks in their pond rather than alligators, their fruit trees show citrus is not just for Florida and California.
Little encourages selecting a plant that was started at least three years ago.
A nursery can better spoil the plant and help it grow strong and resilient so by the time it comes to your house, you can reap the fruits of labor.
While getting a younger plant is often cheaper, the risk of loss is often higher, too.
Another small investment is getting a larger pot for your plant.
With Maryland experiencing all four seasons distinctly, keeping your plant mobile to enjoy spring and summer weather while being able to come back indoors before the temperature drops can help keep it thriving.
Little said that making sure you set your plant in a location that is able to get some sun for at least six hours a day is warmer than 32 degrees will help them weather the winter just fine.
Plus, their green leaves will still keep you feeling sunny through the cold weather as well.
Potentially, citrus trees could survive outside, but they would be far from thriving.
The tree would quickly start to defoliate and need to focus it’s energy into surviving and growing new leaves rather than fruit, Little says.
Still, with a potted plant, you’ll need to put the work in in other ways.
Little says all the nutrients your plant is getting are coming from the soil, so it is important to change it out yearly as she does with her plant babies.
Early spring is the best time to repot, as the tree is transitioning out of dormancy.
Little also recommends using an organic supplemental fertilizer made specifically for its needs such as Citrus Tone in spring and fall to keep your tree thriving.
Citrus trees will grow blossoms and then fruit in clusters.
Many times they will naturally drop immature fruit, but you can also pinch off the excess buds or fruits to encourage growth.
You can also snip off weak or dead limbs as needed.
Little recommends talking to local nurseries for advice on specific varieties.
Even dwarf varieties you might want for your kitchen window have the potential to grow a few feet tall and will eventually need the indoor/outdoor treatment.
One of her favorite varieties she is trying her hand (or rather, green thumb at) is a Ponderosa lemon tree, which is a hybrid of a citron and a lemon.
They grow what looks like an oversize bumpy lemon, which can weigh multiple pounds.
Looking to learn more?
A Little Farm and Nursery hosts workshops, mainly in January and February, visitors can get their hands dirty learning about propagation, berries, ginger and even wildlife and pollinators.
In the meantime, Little says she is always willing to talk about plants and care.
