Growing Lemon in Australia: The Complete Guide
Lemon is an easy to moderate citrus tree to grow, needing full, sheltered sun with regular, deep watering.
Lemon is one of the easy to moderate additions to a home garden, and this article walks through everything behind our one-page printable guide in a bit more depth.
Planting depth
Keep the graft union — the knobbly join near the base — 5–10cm above soil level. Bury it and the tree can revert to rootstock, or rot at the join. Stake loosely for the first year.
How to Plant Lemon
Method — plant with the graft union 5–10cm above soil level; never bury the trunk. Soil — well-drained, slightly acidic. Use raised mounds in heavy clay. Timing — plant in spring, once frost risk has passed, in a warm sheltered spot.
Keeping It Growing Well
Keep these points in mind:
- Water deeply and regularly, especially through flowering and fruit set.
- Feed with a citrus fertiliser in early spring, late summer, and autumn.
- Mulch around the drip line, kept clear of the trunk.
- Prune lightly after harvest to open the canopy and remove crossing growth.
Problems to Watch For
Worth paying attention to:
- Leaf miner — silvery trails on new growth; prune tips, avoid nitrogen flushes.
- Gall wasp — swollen stems; prune out galls before spring emergence.
- Sooty mould — follows sap-sucking pests; treat the pest, mould washes off.
- Fruit drop — irregular watering or stress; keep care consistent.
Harvest and Storage
Signs — full colour, slight give when squeezed. Taste-test one to confirm. Method — cut or twist fruit from the stem rather than pulling, to avoid tearing bark. Curing — none needed — pick as required, fruit holds well on the tree. Storage — room temperature 1–2 weeks, or refrigerated up to a month.
For the condensed, printable version of everything above, head to the main lemon guide page.