Classic lemon varieties are not hardy
Classic lemon varieties of the genus Citrus limon are not hardy in our latitudes and should meet their needs be overwintered accordingly. The danger is not only that the tree may be due to the freeze to death when frost occurs could. The weather is generally too wet and also too dark. Lemons ideally overwinter at an average temperature of around 10 ° C and significantly more light than the winter sun can give them.
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Hardy lemon varieties
Still, there is a way out - unless you value it edible or tasty fruits place. The bitter lemon from central and northern China, also known as the three-leaved orange (Citrus trifoliata or Poncirus trifoliata), is the only citrus species that is deciduous in winter and can reach temperatures of up to - 25 ° C frost hardy. This pretty bush, which grows up to three meters high, can be used without hesitation planted in the garden
will. The bitter lemon will often as a finishing base is used, which in turn makes the grafted plant more insensitive to cold and moisture. However, their yellow-orange, hairy fruits are inedible due to the bitter substances they contain.Other hardy citrus varieties
Crossings or Hybrids of the bitter lemon described are often winter hardy, but only up to temperatures between minus eight and minus twelve ° C. These are crosses of orange and bitter lemon (citranges), tangerines and bitter lemon (citrandarines) as well as the so-called papedas (ichang). The fruits of these trees, however, have a more or less tart and sour aroma. In principle, the following applies: the harder the citrus variety, the less tasty the fruit.
Ichang lemon
Ichang Lemon is a very old, Chinese hybrid of Citrus ichangernsis and Citrus maxima. The plant is frost hardy down to minus 10 ° C. It forms a broad bush with large, drooping leaves and shoots and large, white flowers. Its fruit resembles a thick lemon with a thick, soft skin. The pulp has a sour pomelo aroma with the light bitter substances of grapefruit.
Tips & Tricks
The millennia-old Japanese hybrid yuzu is also frost-resistant up to a temperature of minus 12 ° C. It is a cross between Ichang and Mandarin, which produces clementine-like fruits. The Satsuma tangerine is also quite hardy.
