I had a "Lemon Tree, Very Pretty" as the song says. However, after a few years of bearing lots of pretty flowers and lovely fruit, it got an awful disease. I think it was wasp gaul. Nothing can rid the plant of this gross disease except cutting it off. Well, the whole tree was covered in the forever creeping gaul, so I had the whole tree cut down except for a little stump. As it was cut below the graft, I was told that if it regrew it would grow as a bush lemon tree, the host for the graft. It wasn't long before it started shooting prolifically and the long gangly branches had huge spikes like on a bush lemon tree. Many, many flowers blossomed but it was far from a pretty lemon tree as the branches were drooping and the tree was a weird shape.
However, as the fruit appeared I was surprised to see that they weren't crinkly, thick skinned, bush lemons but the lovely smooth, thin skinned lemons like before. The tree was laden with hundreds of lemons and the branches couldn't cope with the weight and the fruit was touching the ground so BB propped up the branches with stakes.This made the tree look even more ugly, but the fruit is big and juicy.
Now the fruit is ripening and it is fun harvesting them.
This is the fourth load. We have given some to neighbours and friends and we have hunted the recipe books for ideas with lemons. I have ice block trays full of frozen juice. I just wish our vegie patch would do so well as our ugly, mutant lemon tree.
that is one fabulous lemon tree and a great story. i've always wanted a lemon tree but so little room, not to mention lack of sun. i love some lemon on fish but never have one on hand when i have fish. i've bought the lemon juice but that goes to waste too. i recently bought some lime juice. even better than the lemon. your chillies are pretty spesh too. my chilli bush is quite good but looks sad compared to yours. well done. :)
ReplyDeleteOh Diane, I have the most incredible dessert made with lemons from my grandmother. I will find it and post tonight if I can. Watch for it. It is a frozen dessert, and so refreshing in hot weather too.
ReplyDeleteHello Diane,
ReplyDeleteSo do you know the name of the lemon tree?
Amazing how many lemons, it's a problem what to do with them all as you have found out.
It is true that if any plant is grafted, and it's cut right through well below the graft then the 'root stock' will probably grow.
I miss the trees in my last house. Lemon, Orange and Grapefruit. I think I miss the lemon tree the most. They are so pretty with all those yellow 'things' hanging onto the tree.
ReplyDeleteThose lemons are amazing Diane. Loved learning about its history. Another great post :)
ReplyDeleteOh how lovely! I don't mind if you send me some by the way...
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! Those ae BIG lemons - just goes to show,some of the prettiest fruit can come from a not-so-good-looking-tree :-)
ReplyDeleteMy parents had a lemon tree and for some reason the lemons where a mixture of smooth skin and crinkly skin not sure why that was as we always thought you had one or the other on the tree.
ReplyDeleteI posted that great dessert with lemons just for you.
ReplyDeleteMy mouth shrinks, when I think of eating lemons lol ! I have seen lemon trees in Italy too and now in Morocco but more Orange trees.
ReplyDeleteThe people in South Morocco are not very friendly I would never spend holidays there ! What a difference to the always smiling Egyptians !
Hi Diane! Lovely post; amazing to read that song again...
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment at Blogtrotter, which is profiting from the holidays in Lisbon this week and has a tour of Lake Galve, one of the beautiful lakes near Trakai, to show you! Hope you enjoy and have a great week!
Whiteangel: I think the tree was a Meyer lemon tree, but now it is half a bush lemon tree and half a meyer lemon. The fruit as you can see are not bush lemons but the branches with big thorns are.
ReplyDeleteKathleen: Thanks for the recipe. I'll try it when the weather is a bit warmer.
Ah! Wonderful lemons, lemon pie, lemonade, lemon cookies,& lemon frosting.
ReplyDeleteLook at you in your jumpers in the sunshine! Amazing how many lemons one scruffy little tree will produce!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to look up the Peter Paul and Mary song next.
Love
Carol
PS: how about:
Lemon Sorbet
Lemonade
Lemon butter
Lemon tart
wow lemons from where i live are really expensive.
ReplyDeletelove,
nobe
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I know this is an old post but if you're still here, we've learned that we can freeze the lemons whole, take out what we need, let them thaw and shazamm! Perfect lemon juice.
ReplyDelete