Lemons and Limes -- Something I Rarely Need to Buy
@DeborahDiane (40849)
Laguna Woods, California
May 3, 2017 5:13pm CST
I use lemons in my tea and in other ways virtually every day, and yet it has been years since I had to buy a lemon or lime.
Our retirement community has planted an abundance of lemon, lime, orange, loquat and other fruit trees around the community, and anyone who lives here can help themselves. In fact, they encourage us to pick the fruit so it does not fall to the ground and attract rodents.
Yesterday, I went to pick lemons from our closest tree and it was empty. My neighbors and I had picked it clean over the past few weeks. There are some green lemons on it, but we will have to wait another couple of weeks before they will be ready.
In addition, I have a potted lemon tree on my patio (shown above), but it was empty of fruit, too! I am eating lemons faster than I can grow them! LOL
As a result, I had to buy a few lemons at the grocery store this week. It was a shock to me. I had not bought a lemon in so long! 
Do you grow any of your own fruit or vegetables?
Do you grow any of your own fruit or vegetables?17 people like this
17 responses
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 May 17
Your post reminds me of my parents house when I was growing up! They had lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit and avocado trees growing all throughout the back yard, as well as numerous vegetables in the garden. It seemed we never had to buy a lot of fruits or veggies at the store because they grew so much at home!
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 May 17
@moffittjc - I think some people grow their own grapefruit and avocado trees, but the community only plants the lemon, lime, orange and loquat trees. I wonder how they made those specific choices ... although I have no complaints!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 May 17
@DeborahDiane I've seen a lot of housing developments here in Florida that have sprung up where old citrus groves used to be, and the developers will often leave many of the citrus trees in place around the streets and houses, giving homeowners their own supply of oranges!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 May 17
@moffittjc - That is wonderful. I hate it when I see a grove of any kind cut down in order to make way for homes to be built. This seems like a great way to accommodate both trees and people, and make life better for the people who live there.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
4 May 17
@DeborahDiane yes it makes no sense as they have two patios that would take several trees e ach what a great idea
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 May 17
@Hatley - Perhaps you could leave a few hints about how nice it would be to have some citrus trees around your community. As you can see from my photo, you can even grow them in pots.
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 May 17
@Hatley - You live so close to me. I'm surprised they don't at least have an orange tree or two around the outside of your retirement center.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 May 17
@LadyDuck - I think that fig, apricot and apple trees are better able to handle freezing weather than any type of citrus, including kumquats. Our community has loquat trees, but I haven't seen any kumquats. That's too bad, because I like kumquats, too.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
5 May 17
@DeborahDiane When we lived in Monte-Carlo, on the French Riviera, you could see lemons and kumquats in every garden. They do not even need to move inside the lemons in winter. The weather was beautiful there.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 May 17
@LadyDuck - I have always heard that Monte-Carlo has beautiful weather. The coastal region of Southern California, where we live, is supposed to be very similar to the weather along the Mediterranean. It makes sense we would have a lot of the same plants.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91127)
• United States
3 May 17
I wish my community would do something like this. It must be nice having all that fruit on hand to pick whenever you need it. I'm sure the lemons you bought didn't taste quite as good as your own grown ones.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 May 17
You are right ... the lemons from the grocery store were not as juicy as the ones I pick. Since the trees here produce lemons and limes the year around, I should have more fresh ones within a couple of weeks. The oranges are usually only available in December ... in time for Christmas.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
4 May 17
No, not here but we used to have a vegetable garden, strawberry patch, grape vines and apple and pear trees. We moved to an apartment several years ago. Enjoy your lemons and limes. I don't believe lemons or limes grow this far north.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 May 17
@RubyHawk - If you get hard freezes, then that would explain why lemons and limes don't grow there. They don't handle freezes very well. I think the trees will survive, but the fruit is ruined.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
5 May 17
@DeborahDiane We do have freezes during winter. Do you have avocados out there. They don't grow here but I planted seeds in pots. I gave my sisters plants for their gardens. The plants are alive but not growing.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
4 May 17
@DeborahDiane I don't really know but I've never seen lemon or limes growing.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 May 17
@BettyB - Mmmm! Blueberry bushes sound like a wonderful summer treat. I hope you do plant some!
@allknowing (153529)
• India
5 May 17
That is a wonderful idea to have fruit trees in your community. Hope other such communities will follow suit.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 May 17
@allknowing - Yes, I think it would be nice to have fruit trees in other communities. They are good for the environment, and good for people who want fresh fruit.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
5 May 17
I have wondered about growing lemons in Florida and I might buy a tree next year but here, in Connecticut, I will be growing tomatoes, that is about it.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
11 May 17
@DeborahDiane I do grow rhubarb and I have an apple tree, it is however, a temperamental tree and rarely gives fruit
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 May 17
@BelleStarr - Our daughter who lives in Delaware has planted some tomato plants and other summer plants in her garden. She also has an apple tree. I think they do well in the Northeast.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 May 17
@BelleStarr - My grandmother used to grow rhubarb and made a wonderful rhubarb pie. I'm sorry your apple tree is temperamental!
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 May 17
We grow lettuce and strawberries and tried to grow some other veggies, but had little luck last year. It is finally time that I can plant some tomatoes too.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
9 May 17
@DeborahDiane Anne uses so many lemons! Ice tea, hot tea, on greens if we have them too.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 May 17
@JamesHxstatic - I think lemons are great for us. I love making lemons a major part of my diet.
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 May 17
@JamesHxstatic - I love fresh garden tomatoes. I have a friend whose husband grows tomatoes and I love it when they give a few to me!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 May 17
@DianneN - It is fun you can grow some of your spices. I haven't done that in decades, but when we were young we used to grow our own mint and parsley. They smell good around the outside of the house, too.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 May 17
@DianneN - I understand. I do not plant as many things myself as I did when I was younger. It seems like a lot of work, now.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
9 May 17
@DeborahDiane We had mint, but 
to keep it from spreading all over the garden, we planted it in a plastic pot. The garden is now grass. Those days are long gone.
to keep it from spreading all over the garden, we planted it in a plastic pot. The garden is now grass. Those days are long gone.1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 May 17
@CRK109 - It would be nice if there were more fruit trees across the country. We need another Johnny Appleseed!
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 May 17
@HazySue - Maybe they will plant a few more. Actually, I probably could have found some free lemons if I had been willing to walk a little further and look for them. However, I didn't want to just wander around, hoping to find them, so I bought a few at the grocery store, instead.
1 person likes this
@Gabugs (1895)
• United States
8 May 17
@DeborahDiane Hi! Nice meeting you again after my long absence.
I too enjoy have lemon tea twice a day. Besides, I use lemons often in my food. I enjoy the tangy taste of lemons.
My hubby has planted lemon plants in our backyard; bt it looks like a long wait. I see some tiny sprouts; that's all. Is there a particular tip to make them grow faster?
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 May 17
@Gabugs - I am happy to see you again, too. It has been a long time since I ran across you! I don't know how to grow lemon trees faster, other than using the right kind of fertilizer. You might see what you can find. Enjoy your lemons, once they start to come.
1 person likes this
@Gabugs (1895)
• United States
9 May 17
@DeborahDiane Thank You dear. A lot of leaves have come on the lemon tree with a few flowery sprouts. Will let you know when they arrive.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jan 18
I would think they would grow well in Israel. They grow well in most climates, as long as you do not get hard freezes. We have lemons and limes the year around here.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
30 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane
Deborah-Diane, I love our lemons here.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
3 May 17
You a very lucky and you have a good community, We have a mango tree in our front yard and "balimbing" or star fruit and " kamias" or balimbi tress at the back yard.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 May 17
@louievill - I love mangos, but I am not familiar with the other types of fruit trees you have. It is wonderful to grow your own fruit, though!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 May 17
@jstory07 - It is a little early in the spring. Perhaps, in a few weeks, you will start seeing some results of your garden.
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 May 17
@JudyEv - Yes, I love our community trees. They are very pretty and useful, too.
1 person likes this
