Lemons, Limes and Figs! Oh My!
Posted on April 21, 2017
The wait is over! Our courtyard here at Van Wilgen’s is filled with Lemons, Limes, and Brown Turkey Figs. The amazing smell of citrus fills the room. Growing Your own citrus or figs can be a very rewarding experience. By just providing them with their basic needs you will be able to sit back and reap the rewards.
Citrus need:
- Full sun for adequate growth.
- Well-drained slightly acidic soil.
- Water sufficiently so the water is reaching the root ball. Once or twice a week.
- A high temperature of 70 to 85 degrees is ideal, and the low temperature should never go below 50 degrees.
- Remember plants are living organisms, and just like you or I, they need food too. Apply espoma citrus tone once a month from March to November.
- Citrus is a tropical plant and can’t be left out in our zone over the winter. So, don’t hesitate to come in or call us in the fall and we will walk you thru the best way to bring your citrus in for the winter.
Figs need:
- Full sun for adequate growth
- Ph should be between 6.0 and 6.5.
- Water thoroughly once or twice a week as needed.
- Fertilize during the summer months with espoma garden food 5-10-5.
- At the beginning of the season or as soon as you buy the fig you will add approx. a cup to a cup and a half of lime just once for the entire year, this slightly raises the alkalinity of the soil which is what the figs need to thrive.
- Figs are a tropical plant so give us a call in the fall and we will walk you thru overwintering it properly.
There’s nothing like homemade lemonade or lemon tarts made from your very own citrus tree. We love to get pictures and stories from our customers, so at the end of the season send us pictures of your tree and what you have made with your harvest.
Darlene Granese, Greenhouse Manager
