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Dwarf Lemon Woes (Melbourne)
We planted a dwarf lemon about three years ago. It flowers, but not
abundently and seems to produce a few little starter fruits about 2 to 3mm in diameter, but they all drop off after a few days. If you touch one that's sstill attached, it dropos off immediately. It's a "Lots A' Lemons". It's in in a terracotta pot with internal measurements 520mm dia by 510mm deep. The pot previously had a cumquat bush that thrived (cumquat marmalade in big batches - yum), but I totally replaced the old dirt with terracotta potting mix. The pot's sitting on a paved surface and might not drain particularly well. It's been fed and watered according to the instructions on the tag that came with it. It might have been over-watered for the first year before I bought a soil moisture meter. It's had leaf miner attacks which we handled by spraying and removing affected leaves. Some of the leaves turn yellow. Any thoughts? -- Regards. Richard. |
#2
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Dwarf Lemon Woes (Melbourne)
On Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:47:20 +1100, Richard Sherratt
wrote: We planted a dwarf lemon about three years ago. It flowers, but not abundently and seems to produce a few little starter fruits about 2 to 3mm in diameter, but they all drop off after a few days. If you touch one that's sstill attached, it dropos off immediately. It's a "Lots A' Lemons". It's in in a terracotta pot with internal measurements 520mm dia by 510mm deep. The pot previously had a cumquat bush that thrived (cumquat marmalade in big batches - yum), but I totally replaced the old dirt with terracotta potting mix. The pot's sitting on a paved surface and might not drain particularly well. It's been fed and watered according to the instructions on the tag that came with it. It might have been over-watered for the first year before I bought a soil moisture meter. It's had leaf miner attacks which we handled by spraying and removing affected leaves. Some of the leaves turn yellow. Any thoughts? Could be overwatering or deficient in nitrogen (lemons are heavy nitrogen feeders)? That potting mix may well be clapped out by now, or possibly wasnt that high in nutrients to begin with. You're in Melbourne, but I'm guessing the weather is fairly warm and the tree hasnt been exposed to frost? I'm leaning towards lack of nitrogen... |
#3
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Dwarf Lemon Woes (Melbourne)
On Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:47:20 +1100, Richard Sherratt
wrote: We planted a dwarf lemon about three years ago. It flowers, but not abundently and seems to produce a few little starter fruits about 2 to 3mm in diameter, but they all drop off after a few days. If you touch one that's sstill attached, it dropos off immediately. It's a "Lots A' Lemons". I have seen examples of this plant in 250mm pots with in excess of a dozen mature fruit on each plant. So they do fruit well at a young age. It's in in a terracotta pot with internal measurements 520mm dia by 510mm deep. The pot previously had a cumquat bush that thrived (cumquat marmalade in big batches - yum), but I totally replaced the old dirt with terracotta potting mix. Was the original plant in a 200mm pot? If so, 520mm diameter is too big. I would have put it in a 300mm pot to start. The pot's sitting on a paved surface and might not drain particularly well. That is a huge problem and will lead to collar rot and the plant's demise. Always sit pots on feet or half pavers or something. Oh, and if there aren't enough holes, drill some more using a masonry drill bit. Don't use the hammer drill setting on the drill itself. It's been fed and watered according to the instructions on the tag that came with it. It might have been over-watered for the first year before I bought a soil moisture meter. It's had leaf miner attacks which we handled by spraying and removing affected leaves. Some of the leaves turn yellow. Any thoughts? Old leaves turn yellow and drop off. Give it some dynamic lifter. |
#4
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Dwarf Lemon Woes (Melbourne)
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#5
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Dwarf Lemon Woes (Melbourne)
On Sun, 13 Nov 2011 08:48:57 +1100, "David Hare-Scott" wrote:
We planted a dwarf lemon about three years ago. It flowers, but not abundently and seems to produce a few little starter fruits about 2 to 3mm in diameter, but they all drop off after a few days. If you touch one that's sstill attached, it dropos off immediately. It's a "Lots A' Lemons". I have seen examples of this plant in 250mm pots with in excess of a dozen mature fruit on each plant. So they do fruit well at a young age. It's in in a terracotta pot with internal measurements 520mm dia by 510mm deep. The pot previously had a cumquat bush that thrived (cumquat marmalade in big batches - yum), but I totally replaced the old dirt with terracotta potting mix. Was the original plant in a 200mm pot? If so, 520mm diameter is too big. I would have put it in a 300mm pot to start. Why? They retain too much moisture if put in too big a pot, this leads to root and/or collar rot. |
#6
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Dwarf Lemon Woes (Melbourne)
On Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:43:16 +1100, Jeßus wrote:
On Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:47:20 +1100, Richard Sherratt wrote: We planted a dwarf lemon about three years ago. It flowers, but not abundently and seems to produce a few little starter fruits about 2 to 3mm in diameter, but they all drop off after a few days. If you touch one that's sstill attached, it dropos off immediately. It's a "Lots A' Lemons". It's in in a terracotta pot with internal measurements 520mm dia by 510mm deep. The pot previously had a cumquat bush that thrived (cumquat marmalade in big batches - yum), but I totally replaced the old dirt with terracotta potting mix. The pot's sitting on a paved surface and might not drain particularly well. It's been fed and watered according to the instructions on the tag that came with it. It might have been over-watered for the first year before I bought a soil moisture meter. It's had leaf miner attacks which we handled by spraying and removing affected leaves. Some of the leaves turn yellow. Any thoughts? Could be overwatering or deficient in nitrogen (lemons are heavy nitrogen feeders)? That potting mix may well be clapped out by now, or possibly wasnt that high in nutrients to begin with. You're in Melbourne, but I'm guessing the weather is fairly warm and the tree hasnt been exposed to frost? I'm leaning towards lack of nitrogen... Thanks. No frost, but it gets down to around 5 to 7C at night in winter. -- Regards. Richard. |
#7
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Dwarf Lemon Woes (Melbourne)
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