Eleven years ago, while surveying science projects for primary students in preparation for the annual science fair, I tried one that worked. I took three lemon seeds from a freshly squeezed, store-bought lemon and gently pressed them into an eight ounce jelly jar half-full of wet sand, screwed on the lid and left them in peace indoors for about ten days. Upon sprouting, I transplanted the seedlings to small pots of soil. One of the three survived and thrived.
For nine years we found a shady spot outdoors that provided filtered sun as well as periods of direct sunlight for the duration of AZ's scorching summer. Then we brought our thorny friend in for the winter--which can get as chilly as zero here on the mountain. The lemon tree required semi-annual pruning to keep its size manageable for its time indoors.
Two years ago, we moved this patient plant into a more spacious and permanent home. The lemon tree is housed on the second floor of our entry tower, benefiting from three windows allowing natural light from "every which way but north".
The tree has flourished but never bloomed. Its beauty and lemonade fragrance keep it safe from the compost pile. Pruning is still necessary to keep it below ceiling level. The pruned branches of lemon leaves grace all our wildflower and daffodil bouquets.
The alkaline soil, late spring frosts and hungry critters have foiled much of our gardening efforts here at Badboulder but a child's science experiment has provided us one of our greater gardening successes.
FROM THE KNOTHOLE: Hey, all you wannabe gardeners, botanists, and landscape artists, this is a note from the guy around the house, you know, the guy who actually does most of this stuff. If you want a lemon tree, take Martha's advice and go to your local tree nursery, buy a potted, well developed Meyers lemon tree, and wa-la, without waiting 11 years, you got it, lemons and all. Because this tree is a lemon, you know, no lemons yet. So, I'll see you next time. Still be here slugging it out.
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