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I've Bought A New Plant That I Think Needs Help

UffUff Posts: 3,199
in Plants
I bought a little lemon tree yesterday, a spur of the moment thing like we do. I haven't grown one before so know nothing about growing them but I feel this one needs a little help, please. 
It looks as though it needs repotting and the leaves have a yellowish tinge to them. I see that it has little lemons forming too.
My questions are is it lacking in nutrients and if so how to correct that, should I repot and should I remove the little lemons?
General maintenance advice would be appreciated also, please. 






SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Where’s @Nanny Beach … she grows loads of citrus … I used to have them when Wonky was small but that was quite a while ago and was successful more by luck than judgement I think. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    It looks a bit funny in that pot. Why are roots showing? The compost looks waterlogged or is that just the photo? Lemons like good drainage and sun and warmth, but they don't like to dry out. They prefer soil that is a bit acid. Your lemon looks a bit hungry. I'm no expert on lemons so out of interest I had a Google and found this article which looks pretty good about how to grow a lemon in a pot.
    https://balconygardenweb.com/how-to-grow-lemon-tree-in-pot-complete-growing-guide/


    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Thanks both. If I don't get advice and mine survives it will be luck with me too Dove. We had just had torrential rain up here when I took the pic last evening Bizzie-Lizzie that's why it looked so wet.
    I bought the plant for £12 from a back of beyond nursery that I guess has been struggling to keep things watered this year so my guess would be that it has been somewhat neglected so a bit of a challenge to nurture it and give it a new lease of life plus a new interest.
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    I have two Lemons on the patio. Yes I would repot into soil based compost, maybe with a bit of extra grit. Leave the small Lemons on as they take some time to develop.  You may already know this but they are unusual in that you get all stages of fruit at the same time, flowers, small immature fruit,  and mature fruit.  It doesn't look too bad from the picture,  the new soil should feed it for a while, they like a bit more nitrogen in spring but otherwise a balanced feed is fine. Like all evergreens there are always some leaves looking yellow or falling as long as there is new growth to replace them it's fine. 
    It will need winter protection of course.  There is great joy in being able to pick your own Lemons,  they have a lovely mild taste. 
    AB Still learning

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    You can buy specialist fertiliser for citrus plants, ratio NPK 7-3-10 which promotes plant health and fruiting.  Give it a decent sized pot and some loam based compost such as John Innes no 3 for ericaceous plants.   Keep it moist but not sodden all through the growing season and give it full sun.  Move it to a sheltered spot, free from frosts for the winter.

    I have a Meyer lemon which is producing flowers and fruits now and I expect to be harvesting lemons all winter.   The same with my limquat and a newer Yuzu is producing its first fruits this year.   My citrus plants go outside against a south facing wall and love the heat and light so you may need to keep yours in a very sheltered sunny spot or a conservatory.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Thank you Allotment Boy. That sounds positive and has given me some encouragement. Should I go for JI 2 or 3 with added grit do you think?
    I think what concerns me most now is the protection it needs during the winter as I'm not sure that an unheated small greenhouse is enough. Would it be sensible to cover it in fleece too?
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Posts crossed @Uff.  Citrus don't like frost at all tho the Meyer lemon can cope with a bit.   They don't like dry ch air either so will need misting regularly if taken ondoors.  If it does have to go in an unheated greenhouse yours will need fleecing in cold spells and most cold nights but they also need light as they carry their fruits all year so you need to remove the fleece by day, unless it's freezing.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    @Obelixx, has it covered. 👍
    AB Still learning

  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Excellent thank you very much all. I think that covers most things and it's good to know that there will be help should I need it. I'm looking forward to my new interest.
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    edited July 2022
    Lots of good advice, yes, I have half a dozen lemons,calamondin,grapefruit and mandarine. i use the granular feed, summer, winter, different feed.cheaper to get it together online.They dry out very quikly, IM in the sunniest SE UK, they are actually in the shade by the shed now. Even in winter they get misted (rainwater) weekly. Watered weekly at this time of the year, dunked in a bucket for 15 minutes. Most are in proper citrus compost, one is in JA soil based, cannot see any difference.The calamondine and mandarine overwinter in the conservatory, because they are very tender.
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