[johnoconnell]

Hi Folks,

I've a north east facing full height glass section at the back of my house and was wondering if I bought a small lemon tree to stick in a pot would it survive? I'm going to pop out to homebase over the weekend to get some pots to start growing herbs indoors and I like the idea of growing the bits I'd use - I don't get home from work a lot of times so packaged herbs just go off. I was going to get a small 40 - 50cm trough and stick in some basil, rocket and mint - the window box tutorial was great!

Cheers,

John

[Liparis]

Your lemon tree will survive. It would probably do better outdoors through the summer months on a south facing patio and brought in for the winter. Citrus trees can take some frost but because of their flower/fruit behaviour are better protected from frost. A tree getting into production will have flowers, embryo fruits, unripe fruit and ripe fruit all at the same time, so it just requires it's flowers and embryo fruit protected from frost.
Old Victorian Orangeries are sight to behold with their mature citrus trees, they were normally unheated. You can still see some in work to this day in England, I'm not sure if any still exist in Ireland.
Bill.

[johnoconnell]

Much appreciated for that - I'll keep it in a decent pot so it can be moved a bit - the deck down the end gets sun for 75% of the day so I'll sit it there during the summer months and take it in once it gets a bit nippy around october / november. Much appreciated!

[Liparis]

I'm not on a commission here, but you could put it in a large decorative pot and buy one of those plant caddys someone is selling on the forum. Just a thought.
Bill.