Out of season right now. The next sowing window opens in June.
Growing Calendar
This month: Sep
Plan ahead for this crop
- •Check growing conditions
- •Prepare for next stage
Watch Out For
Scale insects and citrus mealybug are common on plants that winter indoors, sticky honeydew and sooty black mould on leaves are the giveaway signs
Sudden leaf drop is usually a stress response, a cold draught, being moved abruptly between very different light or temperature conditions, or waterlogged roots
Citrus genuinely dislike wet feet: let the top of the compost dry out between waterings rather than keeping it constantly moist
Grown Organically
Every method in this guide works with natural systems: no synthetic chemicals, no shortcuts.
Read our approachCommon Questions
About growing Lemon in the UK
Can I plant a lemon tree in the ground in the UK?
Not reliably. Citrus isn't hardy enough to survive a typical UK winter outdoors, even in sheltered spots in the mildest areas it's not dependable. Growing it in a large pot, moved indoors for winter, is the realistic way to keep one alive and fruiting long-term.
When do I move my lemon tree outside and back in?
Outside once nights are reliably warm, often not safely until mid-June, and back indoors before the first autumn frost, usually September or October. Moving it gradually, a few hours outside at first, reduces the shock either direction.
Why are my lemon tree's leaves dropping?
Almost always a stress response: a cold draught, being moved suddenly between very different light levels, or waterlogged roots. Keep changes gradual and let the compost surface dry out between waterings.
Why isn't my lemon tree fruiting?
Citrus are genuinely slow to mature, often several years before reliable flowering and fruiting, and need a proper citrus feed (not a generic one) through the growing season to support it. A young or under-fed plant may simply not be there yet.
Written from real growing experience, not just research. Read the story behind Pelham Gardens.
Member guides
There's more to growing Lemon than this guide covers.
A Garden Journal to log what worked, a personalised sowing planner in My Garden, and monthly reminders timed to the calendar.
