Lemon Trees in Winter

• True lemon trees --- those that have not been hybridized --- are hardy trees that reach 10 to 20 feet in height. Because the tree is hardy, it can withstand frigid temperatures in winter and still bear fruit; however, they cannot safely withstand temperatures less than 25 degrees Fahrenheit. When temperatures descend into the coldest temperatures, you can either bring the lemon tree indoors or cover the small tree with a blanket to conserve heat accumulated during the day. For indoor winter growing, as long as the tree receives enough south-facing light or artificial growing light it will produce fruits and foliage.

Berna

• The Berna variety is lower in acidity and juice, but is the main lemon in Spain. lemon image by Lisa Eastman from Fotolia.com

  The Berna lemon, also known as the Vema or Vernia, ripens to maturity mainly in winter. As the leading lemon cultivar in Spain, this lemon tree variety is large and highly ornamental. The fruit it bears is oval, with a tough peel. Similar to the Lisbon lemon grown mainly in California, some horticulturists note that the Berna is deficient in acid, lower in juice than the Lisbon variety.

Eureka

• Eureka lemons grow in clusters apart from the leaves. lemons and lemon tree image by jc from Fotolia.com

  The Eureka lemon tree produces fruit all year long but mainly crops in late winter. The tree is medium size and almost thorn-less, which is rare for hardy lemon tree types. While the Eureka is sensitive to cold shocks and early freezes, it will persist through the winter with proper water, soil, and sun. The fruits often grown together in large clusters apart from the foliage.

Femminello

• One of the oldest Italian lemon varieties, the Femminello grows vigorously all year round, but mainly in late winter. Italians call the late winter bloom the "Limoni." The fruit comes in 10 sections and is an extremely succulent lemon fruit type.

Meyer Lemon

• Meyer lemons produce orange-tinted, round fruits mainly in winter. lemon branch image by GeoM from Fotolia.com

  Growing to around 15 feet at full maturity, the Meyer lemon makes an ideal indoor plant, especially in dwarf form. The advantage to the dwarf form of the tree is that it takes less care and can be easily transplanted or moved indoors when temperatures drop below zero.

  Another advantage to this lemon species is that it starts producing fruit at a younger age than most other citrus trees. The white papery blossoms on the Meyer lemon are particularly pleasant in winter for their smell and refreshing look. Also, Meyer lemons are rounder and sweeter than most lemons and look more like yellow oranges than lemons. Gardeners who want to wait to harvest the fruits can let the lemons sweeten on the branch.