Bob Duncan: growing lemons in Canada.

By day, Bob Duncan is an entomologist, but he is better known in Victoria, BC, Canada as a pioneer in growing citrus fruit in Canada. In this video, Bob shows a lemon tree that he has growing outside, a tree that is packed with lemons.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Bob Duncan
• Gardening
• Fruit Trees and More
• Lemons
• Canada

[ericthecyclist]

The seed coating on a lemon seed is pretty thin. I don't think you need to worry too much about removing it. I started quite a few tangerine seedlines a few years ago without removing the shell. What does help is a germination mat (heating mat) and lots of patience.

That said, do you really want to wait 8 years to get fruit from your lemon tree, and an uncertain quality of fruit at that. My home grown tangerine is taller than me, probably about 5 years old, and hasn't bloomed yet.

[ericthecyclist]

Bob is in Sidney BC, Canada, which is probably a bit cooler than Seattle in the winter (a bit further north). Have you tried spraying your tree with a weak ammonia solution? Seems to be recommend by the "Bug off" book for spider mites.

[TheGaya1978]

i would like to start one lemon and one orange tree in my geenhouse. is your stock grafted ot grown from seeds? do you start them yourself? do you sell them? how long does it take to get fruit from a young tree?

[ericthecyclist]

You can find bobs email by searching for fruit trees and more.

The some of the lemon trees I bought from him already had fruit on them. The rest are blooming.

[KiwiCatherineJemma]

I'm in the south of New Zealand (temperate climate, far South Pacific). The Meyer Lemon grafted onto Trifoliata aka Trifoliate Orange rootstock is considered the most cold tolerant Citrus variety. According to some textbooks, Meyer lemons can be successfully reproduced by cuttings and their own roots are quite strong. Trees bought in garden nurseries are likely to be grafted. Trifoliata is a distant relative of the Lemon, a deciduous bush from Northern China. Evergreen top on deciduous roots !

[namirdu13]

wowwwwwwwwww ! hahahha that just awesome! very impressive! citrus in canada!

[felice2442]

thanks for sharing. May i know what type of soil you need ? how to have them bear more fruits ?

i prefer natural fertilisers. do they need lots of sun ? thank you.

[BananaJSSI]

Awesome garden. Bob knows his stuff. I met him years ago when he was over visiting our island.

[mrtnt1717]

Most meyer lemons are grown from rooted cuttings. Bobs trees are grafted on trifoliate orange - mostly .Meyerlemons do well once they are established. They need to be protected here in the northwest. I have a 7meyer' tree growing outside in Vancouver. Your best bet is to buy a tree from a nursery for $20 and up.Meyer lemons are seedless

[evanahickey]

Whats the correct way to start from seed.... ive been watching a few videos, some say plant the seed as is from a lemon. And some say to remove the hard shell, and then the brown skin inside the shell?

[ramonetl]

I live in Seattle and have a meyer that i bring indoors. Its fairly new and I am fighting spider mites. Seeing this I wonder if I should get another one and plant it outside using the tricks you do. The climate should be pretty close though not as warm as Portland. Our houses are close together and I have a space I think could take a tree nicely in front but I would rather put it in the back where there is more space but much less light (mainly mornings and early afternoon). Thoughts?