Lemon Tree

Hi All, would appreciate your thoughts. I bought a small Meyer Lemon Tree covered in Lemons from a Garden Centre late Summer 2024. It's in a cold conservatory and over wintered just fine. It started into growth a couple of months ago, the existing Lemons are tinting up nicely, it's flowered (what a lovely scent) and new fruits are setting. Recently though it's started to drop its leaves and showing some yellow veining on the leaves. I have been feeding with Tomato food. Just recently (couple of days) in response to the issues I've top dressed with some John Innes No. 3 Mature Plant Compost and added some Doff Rose and Shrub pellets.

I appreciate it's too soon for improvement and don't want to do any more, I think ive thrown enough at it, though I might water with weak seaweed next time.

I'd appreciate any thoughts but I'm wondering if I should remove the Lemons that were on it when I bought it last year?

 

I find that if you leave the fruit on it does drain the plants energy.
I take lemons off slice them and then freeze, good to put in a drink that way.

Be careful I think you are in danger of overfeeding if you carry on.
I also find that the plant usually wakes up before the roots, so new growth is forming but probably new roots aren't yet.
A certain amount of leaf loss happens this time of year, as long as the new growth turns out nice and green it should be OK.

 

I agree with the overfeeding. There is no need to remove the fruit, they take quite a long time to reach full size and ripen, a fully ripened lemon can be eaten raw. I would put your tree back outside, let it have the sun on its back, and be patient. No more feeding, just keep it watered to just damp. They do not like to be waterlogged.
I left my Meyers outside all winter. It lost all of its leaves so just after Christmas I brought it indoors, gave it a feed and left it to recover which it has. No further feed yet, new foliage has appeared and the tree is looking good except it has scale insects because of being indoors in a hot dry atmosphere. Will have to give it a clean with some vodka or gin and get it outdoors again.

 

There are 2 different specialised Citrus feeds which you apply at different times of year - the correct feeding regime is important. The Meyers is about the hardiest variety for the UK tho your actual location is still a factor. Those you buy full of fruit have been forced so will need time to adapt to your conditions. Consider where they are naturally grown and try as far as possible to emulate those conditions. A good soil based compost which is reasonably well draining is the best medium - not always easy to get hold of here these days. I've never heard of Doff Rose and shrub pellets but doubt they will do anything for a citrus.
I found the best way to deal with scale insects on these trees is to use Methylated spirit - soak a piece of tissue/cloth and gently scrub off. Rinse well, keep an eye out for any new infestation and repeat if necessary.

 

Thanks all for your thoughts, plenty to work with.