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'Lisbon' lemon (erroneously
spelt in some catalogues as 'Lisborn') is the most popular lemon with home gardeners for
an all year round crop in Mediterranean climates. It was of course originally from
Portugal, introduced to Australia in 1824 and selections from it later exported to
California, where they regard it as an Australian lemon! It's heaviest fruit set is
however in winter and they set their fruit within the tree, unlike most other lemons. It
is frequently seen being buffeted by a howling south westerly wind in winter along
Adelaide's coastal areas, still clinging on to its large crop. It's a very large bright
yellow oval shaped lemon, when grown well. It makes a huge tree to at least 8 metres in a
sheltered spot and can easily be pollarded to make a smaller more manageable tree in small
backyards. While it's prone to citrus scale, as most lemons are, they hardly deter the old
'Lisbon' from cropping. I reckon there's nearly one in every garden in the inner suburbs
of Adelaide and certainly one in every farmyard orchard from Poochera SA to Manangatang
Vic. There are many 'Lisbon' selections, such as 'Prior', 'Limoneira' and 'Frost' , but
they are usually all sold to home gardeners as 'Lisbon'. 'Meyer' lemon is the ideal cooler climate lemon, that bears its main crop in
summer. It was selected from a lemon x orange x mandarin hybrid found growing near
Beijing, China in 1908. The fruits turn a pale orange colour when mature on the tree. They
are also rounder than most lemons. It is fairly frost hardy to -2_C and is what could be
called, a sweet lemon, if any lemon is worthy of that appellation. The skin is quite soft
and lacks the lemon zest flavour. Because of it's cold tolerance it is popular inland,
where winter night temperatures often plummet to freezing in winter. is the ideal cooler climate lemon, that bears its main crop in
summer. It was selected from a lemon x orange x mandarin hybrid found growing near
Beijing, China in 1908. The fruits turn a pale orange colour when mature on the tree. They
are also rounder than most lemons. It is fairly frost hardy to -2_C and is what could be
called, a sweet lemon, if any lemon is worthy of that appellation. The skin is quite soft
and lacks the lemon zest flavour. Because of it's cold tolerance it is popular inland,
where winter night temperatures often plummet to freezing in winter.
'Tropical Lemon' is the most the popular lemon in
Darwin. It's a selection of 'Meyer', but with a more pronounced neck to the fruit.
It's a large mild tasting light green fruit with low acid that yields plenty of juice. The
main bumper fruit set is December to March with a smaller set from July to August. is the most the popular lemon in
Darwin. It's a selection of 'Meyer', but with a more pronounced neck to the fruit.
It's a large mild tasting light green fruit with low acid that yields plenty of juice. The
main bumper fruit set is December to March with a smaller set from July to August.
'Eureka' lemon (syn. 'Garey's Eureka')
is the preferred lemon in Perth. It makes an open tree and is nearly thornless, cropping
all year round in hot coastal areas like Perth, with the bumper season in March-April. The
fruit has a pretty rough skin that is often ribbed and a highly acidic flesh, but yields
lots of juice. The fruit also has a most prominent nipple at its base. This cultivar
originated from Los Angeles in southern California USA, where some imported Italian lemons
were germinated and grown-on. This is the most common lemon grown in Israel, California,
Argentina and South Africa, so it is the lemon Europeans would have purchased from their
super markets and fruit shops. lemon
(syn. 'Garey's Eureka')
is the preferred lemon in Perth. It makes an open tree and is nearly thornless, cropping
all year round in hot coastal areas like Perth, with the bumper season in March-April. The
fruit has a pretty rough skin that is often ribbed and a highly acidic flesh, but yields
lots of juice. The fruit also has a most prominent nipple at its base. This cultivar
originated from Los Angeles in southern California USA, where some imported Italian lemons
were germinated and grown-on. This is the most common lemon grown in Israel, California,
Argentina and South Africa, so it is the lemon Europeans would have purchased from their
super markets and fruit shops.
'Villa Franka' lemon (syn. 'Villafranca')
is a large tree to 8 metres with less thorns than the 'Lisbon' and fruit similar to the
'Eureka' lemon. It is reported to be from Sicily in Italy and introduced into Florida USA
in 1875. It's main crop is mid winter and although quite acidic, there are very few seeds
in the flesh. It is a popular lemon in Queensland, where it produces good summer crops. lemon (syn. 'Villafranca')
is a large tree to 8 metres with less thorns than the 'Lisbon' and fruit similar to the
'Eureka' lemon. It is reported to be from Sicily in Italy and introduced into Florida USA
in 1875. It's main crop is mid winter and although quite acidic, there are very few seeds
in the flesh. It is a popular lemon in Queensland, where it produces good summer crops.
'Lemonade' (syn. "Brisbane Lemon")
came to Brisbane from the Pacific Islands in the mid 1980's. Its fruit lacks enough acid
to be what I'd call a lemon, since they can easily be eaten as a fresh fruit. Only the
brave would do that with a 'Lisbon'. The tree has thorns and bears several heavy crops
each year. (syn. "Brisbane Lemon")
came to Brisbane from the Pacific Islands in the mid 1980's. Its fruit lacks enough acid
to be what I'd call a lemon, since they can easily be eaten as a fresh fruit. Only the
brave would do that with a 'Lisbon'. The tree has thorns and bears several heavy crops
each year.
'Fino' lemon (syn. 'Primofiori', Mesero' &
'Bianco') is a selected seedless clone from Spain, reputed to be an early maturing
variety with excellent quality fruit and capable of enormous fruit set. Elite budwood is
currently available to commercial growers, so it may become available to home gardeners in
the not too distant future. (syn. 'Primofiori', Mesero' &
'Bianco') is a selected seedless clone from Spain, reputed to be an early maturing
variety with excellent quality fruit and capable of enormous fruit set. Elite budwood is
currently available to commercial growers, so it may become available to home gardeners in
the not too distant future.
'Verna' lemon (syn. 'Berna') is a late
season thornless lemon from Spain, with very smooth and uniform fruit that hang for a long
time on the tree. This may not interest the home gardener, but now that elite budwood is
available to commercial growers, we may see it available for home gardeners in future. (syn. 'Berna') is a late
season thornless lemon from Spain, with very smooth and uniform fruit that hang for a long
time on the tree. This may not interest the home gardener, but now that elite budwood is
available to commercial growers, we may see it available for home gardeners in future.
"Rough Lemon", (syn. "Bush
Lemon" or "Citronelle") is often seen on damaged lemon trees
where the rootstock becomes dominant. The "Rough Lemon" is quite easily detected
by the very rough nature of the fruit and if that's not enough, the mildly sour taste and
loads of seeds will convince you! The skin does make good zest for cooking and it's a good
rootstock on clay soils. It makes a large tree and has small thorns.
"Citron" Citrus medica. The Medes
and Persians used the oils of the "Citron" in medicines at least 2700 years ago
and even today the Israelis revere the "Citron". In fact they are about the only
nation that grows it on any significant scale. I've seen it planted in the grounds of the
Massada College for Hebrew scholars in Glenside SA, but I know they had a difficult task
sourcing their "Hadar". The significance of the "Hadar" is that
it's used in the Jewish ceremony of Suchot, which varies from dates in September to
October, according to the solar calendar. Citrus medica. The Medes
and Persians used the oils of the "Citron" in medicines at least 2700 years ago
and even today the Israelis revere the "Citron". In fact they are about the only
nation that grows it on any significant scale. I've seen it planted in the grounds of the
Massada College for Hebrew scholars in Glenside SA, but I know they had a difficult task
sourcing their "Hadar". The significance of the "Hadar" is that
it's used in the Jewish ceremony of Suchot, which varies from dates in September to
October, according to the solar calendar.
"Etrog" in Hebrew is a "Sour
Citron", about the size and shape of a 'Lisbon' lemon. I believe it is only used for
candied peel production and given that the Kumquat 'Marumi' are so much tastier, I don't
know that I'd bother growing it. in Hebrew is a "Sour
Citron", about the size and shape of a 'Lisbon' lemon. I believe it is only used for
candied peel production and given that the Kumquat 'Marumi' are so much tastier, I don't
know that I'd bother growing it.
"Buddha's Hand" is a curiosity citron
grown in Japan, China, south east Asia and in California. I haven't seen it in Australia,
but photos I've seen from California, show it to be a weird looking fruit with dozens of
long finger or tentacle like protrusions. It could only be used for oils, since the flesh
is almost non existent. is a curiosity citron
grown in Japan, China, south east Asia and in California. I haven't seen it in Australia,
but photos I've seen from California, show it to be a weird looking fruit with dozens of
long finger or tentacle like protrusions. It could only be used for oils, since the flesh
is almost non existent. |
