A few summers ago, I was gifted a pair of dwarf Meyer Lemon trees. Despite a battle with brown scale, they thrived outdoors in summer and wintered in my kitchen. Their incredibly fragrant blossoms would yield a continuous harvest of sweet, juicy lemons enjoyed throughout the seasons.These diminutive, shrub-like trees were so enchanting! They can sport pink buds, fragrant white blossoms, and varying degrees of maturing fruit on them -- all at the same time. A very unique characteristic!
Meyer lemons are a cross between lemons and mandarins. If you haven't tasted their fruit and juice, you really should. A sweeter lemon you will not find, and these are surely a treat! Don't worry, they still have their lemony sourness. It's just more balanced and less acidic, with a gentle sweetness that is so unique!
We enjoyed many seasons as my plants grew, indoors and out. My dwarf Meyer lemon trees were only about 2 1/2' x 2 1/2', with only minor pruning, making it easy to bring them back indoors when they would otherwise freeze outside in our Zone 4 winters. They soaked up the sun in south facing windows during their indoor stay, and continued to produce fruit. All in all, they had a good life and yielded many delights that everyone enjoyed.
Sadly, my battle with the brown scale eventually resulted in me throwing the plants onto the compost heap in the middle of winter. I had finally had enough! I did receive some complaints -- from those who were not fighting the brown scale war with me, mind you. I know I made the right decision, after too many seasons of cleaning up the sticky honeydew left behind -- on everything!
I do plan to grow some new lemon trees, hopefully minus the scale issue. It is such a treat to enjoy their fragrant gifts. There's nothing like harvesting their fresh fruit in my kitchen, with a snowy scene just outside my window.
So enjoy this glimpse of summer sunshine, these golden globes of goodness that were a delight to grow. Thinking of their deliciousness makes me want to create a lemon curd... mmmmmmm. Anyone have a vegan recipe?