Persian Sweet Lemon Tree – (Limu Shirin)
Persian Sweet lemon tree is also known as Limu Shirin and produces fruits with completely sweet flesh that is very juicy and delicious. Very fragrant flowers.
Not compatible with your zone (2a)
General Plant Information
Native to southern regions of Iran, the Persian Sweet Lemon (Limu Shirin) has a sweet, mild flavor. In fact, the fruit is so sweet that you can make lemonade from its juice without having to add extra sugar.
An everbearing fruit tree that is easy to grow and also a heavy producer, the Limu Shirin tree is a wonderful addition to the home garden. The tree itself is quite beautiful and produces fragrant, white flower blossoms. The fruit is medium-sized, round in shape, and has a thin, smooth, yellow skin. It has greenish pulp and an intense, sweet aroma—a floral, lime scent with a touch of pine.
In Iran, it is used as a home remedy for colds and flu, as it is very high in vitamin C and antioxidants.
The Persian Sweet Lemon is very popular throughout India, and is used in many recipes in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Latin American cuisine. It’s great for desserts, cocktails, sauces, marinades, chutneys, limeades. The rind can be used to make candied peel. Because of its low acidity, it should not be used as one would use a Eureka Lemon in a recipe, as it won’t deliver any tartness.
Persian Sweet Lemon Tree Information and Care
Our Persian Sweet Lemon tree is grown in Standard, Semi-Dwarf, and Dwarf forms. This Semi-Dwarf and Standard citrus tree has a single trunk and branches out to form a canopy. Dwarf citrus are topped low, and as a result they grow as a bush. These are great for pots! Although a citrus tree can grow over 20 feet tall, most prune to keep them short. Therefore, many people grow sweet lemon trees 9 – 15 feet tall. When it comes to spacing, plant citrus trees as close as 9 feet apart. Provide more space to allow for larger growth. A great choice for the home garden, its small size will serve as a beautiful ornamental, as well as provide many fruit.
How To Plant, Water, and Fertilize A Sweet Lemon Citrus Tree
Plant a Persian Sweet Lemon tree in the full sun. It amends with high quality planting mix and fertilizer in soil that drains well. Water a newly planted tree twice per week during the Spring through Summer. Water once per week in the Fall and Winter while the weather is cool. Consequently, trees in hot climates or sandy soils may need water more frequently.
Spring is the most important time to fertilize a citrus tree. Use a citrus food fertilizer with a 2-1-1 NPK ratio in the Spring through Summer. To promote growth, there is twice as much nitrogen to phosphorus and potassium. Blood meal and manure are great organic sources of nitrogen. Use a fertilizer with more phosphorus and potassium like humus or bone meal during the Winter to promote flowers and fruit.
This tree has very few pests and problems. They are less attractive to birds and animals like squirrels.
The sweet lemon tree does very well in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego Counties.
Size and Spacing
Plant most citrus trees about 10 – 15 feet apart. Some varieties like Grapefruits and Oranges can grow larger.
Planning is the most important step when planting a tree. Plant your tree where it has enough space to grow to its full potential. Otherwise, your tree will grow into your surrounding trees. A tree that can grow taller with faster growth will overshadow nearby trees. You may need to move other trees to allow for the one that is thriving rather than cutting back one that naturally grows fast and tall.
Additional Information
Bloom Color : WhiteSun Exposure : Full Sun
Plant Type: Evergreen
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11
Pollination: Self-Fruitful / Self Pollinating
Planting Information
Soil and Planting: Plant in soil that drains well. Dig a hole that is as deep as the tree’s roots and at least twice as wide.
Place the tree in the hole and backfill around the plant’s roots with a mixture of the native soil and high-quality planting mix that has washed sand and organic fertilizer.
Create a basin around the roots drip zone so that water collects. Water deeply until the roots and nearby soil is saturated and reaches field capacity.
Plant Care Information
How To Water
The quantity and frequency of water to provide is based on the tree’s maturity – Fully saturate most soils with water once per week during the early spring. Increase to twice per week as the weather warms. Water 3 times per week or more during hot summers. Provide about 5 gallons of water for a 5 gallons size plant, 15 gallons of water for a #15-size container plant, and 25 gallons for a #25 depending on soil type. Sandy soils can hold less water required more frequently, while clay soils can hold more water and require less frequent irrigation. Young trees with less developed roots require water more frequently while mature plants with developed roots will require less frequent watering.
Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition
Fertilize your tree every 3-4 months. Use a complete balance fertilizer with a 1-1-1 or 2-1-1 NPK ratio during the Spring and Summer growing season, and a formula with more phosphorus and potassium before the tree flowers to improve fruit production and development.
Winter Pruning and Summer Thinning
Prune your tree to allow light into its center for proper growth and fruit production.
Prune fruit trees in the Winter to maintain size and shape to prepare for Spring growth. Thin the tree in the Summer, and remove excessive fruits. Remove any dry twigs and branches. Cut off any new growth below the graft or very low in the tree, this will direct the plant’s energy to its main branches. Thin your trees during the Spring and Summer seasons to ensure the plant’s energy is directed as desired. Harvest ripe fruit to prevent undesired pests.
Harvesting and Pest Management
The basics of integrated pest management is cleanliness and the use of a combination of methods. This means we use of organic pesticide when the pest population reaches a threshold that requires action. Horticultural oils such as Neem oil is an organic pesticide that controls tiny, soft bodied insects. Use organic Bordeaux and Liqui-cop to manage fungus causing diseases such as powdery mildew, rust, and leaf-curls.
Keep a clean environment, free of weeds and dropped fruit that host insects or attract animals. Harvest when fruit reaches size and store indoors. Use repellants and bird netting to protect your harvest from other animals.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Plant Trees under at least 4-6 hours of direct morning sunlight in fertilized soil that drains well. Provide enough water to saturate roots at the right frequency to develop good-quality fruits. To grow healthy trees, trim using proper techniques at the right time to prevent biotic pest problems and protect from abiotic Stresses like wind and heat. Sunlight Sensitive plants can burn if they receive direct afternoon sunlight in hot climates due to heat stress. Use shade to prevent this damage.
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Compatibility
The two factors that determine if a deciduous fruit trees will grow well and produce fruit in a certain area are the Chill Hour Requirement and the Cold Hardiness. “Chill hours” are the amount of cold a deciduous fruit tree need to produce fruit. This is measured in the number of hours below 45 degrees Fahrenheit a plant must experience during its winter dormancy. Paradise Nursery only grows Low Chill fruit trees that meet the chill requirements of all areas of the United States.
The second factor is Cold Hardiness. Cold Hardiness refers to the minimum temperature a plant can tolerate. The USDA’s Cold Hardiness Zones indicate the average minimum winter temperatures of areas. Based on the shipping zipcode, our website will only allow you to add plants to your cart that grow within your USDA Hardiness Zone, and tolerate your climate.
Pollination & Propagation
(Grafting/Cutting) Most of Paradise Nursery’s edible plants are self-fruitful. Self-pollinating trees do not require an additional tree to produce fruit. For your convenience, we have indicated which trees require a pollinator, and their associated pollinators. Only the sweet cherries, avocados, and some plums require a pollinator. All of our other propagated edible plants do not require a pollinator. All of our edible plants are either grown from cuttings, budded, or grafted. This way, we can ensure that our plants are high quality and fruit immediately. Plants will generally begin fruiting within a year of planting.