GROWING CITRUS TREES

SEVILLE oranges, Citrus aurantium, are very hardy and have wonderful fragrance, although the fruits are not edible unless cooked.

Sweet oranges, Citrus sinensis, can be grown — and eaten — but are less hardy, although not nearly as sensitive to cold as limes (Citrus aurantifolia). Perhaps the easiest citrus to grow in this country are lemons (Citrus limon).

Unless you have a protected, south-facing garden, you’ll need a greenhouse, conservatory or sunny porch, which will make life easier — but citrus do not like being indoors longer than necessary. Fresh air and sunshine are what they like best.

However, they have to have winter protection. Most houses are far too dry and hot for overwintering citrus. The leaves will start yellowing, curling up and ultimately dropping off. I have found that a cool greenhouse kept between 5c and 10c is ideal. Failing that, a closed porch would be better than any indoor room.

The secret of potting compost for any citrus plant is drainage. When you water, the liquid should run freely from the bottom of the container. Yellowing leaves are nearly always a sign of too much water, so add plenty of horticultural grit to your potting mix.

I top dress this with a thick mulch of good garden compost.

Between November and April there is no need to water more than once a month. But once the leaves start to put on new growth, water weekly, giving each plant a good soak. They also benefit from a highpotash liquid feed, such as seaweed, or a proprietary tomato feed given each week.