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Old 09-11-2006, 11:16 PM posted to austin.food,austin.gardening
Jangchub Jangchub is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 683
Default Meyer lemons - woo hoo!

I also have two Meyer's lemons. One is common, the other is
variegated and the fruit is pink. I would love to put them in the
ground, but I'm afraid to up where I am near the Dell Diamond.

My variegated gave us 50 lemons this year, and 42 from the common
green. There are still a few on the trees and they are flowering
again. Just in time to hatch some out in the greenhouse.

On Thu, 9 Nov 2006 10:16:22 -0600, "Mike Harris"
wrote:

Cross posted to both austin.food and austin.gardening

I'm pleased to report that the Meyer "improved" lemon tree I planted five
years ago is now bearing in relative abundance!

For those unfamiliar the Meyer lemon is thought to be a cross between a true
lemon and a mandarin orange, making it more cold-hardy than the more common
market lemons (Eureka or Lisbon). The fruit is also considerably larger,
thinner skinned, much juicier and not quite as tart as a standard lemon with
a subtle flavor that, once tasted, is unforgettable and distinct.
"Improved" refers to disease resistance not fruit quality.

My tree has done well in Austin (78702, a few blocks from Town Lake) with no
problems with freezes. I't's been hardy to 27F uncovered; colder than that
and I'll put a plastic tarp over and hang an automotive style drop light
from a lower branch.

I'm planning on doing a lot of cooking in the next few weeks - Meyer
lemonade, a meyer lemon granita inspired by the one we were served at La
Traviata on Congress last year, and so forth.

If anyone has any recipe ideas that highlight the fruit please pass them
along.