Why do the flowers of the lemon tree fall

The flowering time of the lemon tree varies depending on the variety of it and, especially, the climate. In a common temperate climate, the medium lemon tree will flower about twice a season, usually between spring and summer and at the end of the season. In the Northern Hemisphere, this will be roughly between March and July for the first bloom and between August and September for the second.

However, this is far from being a firm rule. The flowering of the lemon tree is reflowering, and in warm and mild enough climates, such as in the tropics and subtropics, a lemon tree can flower up to 4 times a year, which will make it spend practically the entire season bearing fruit.

If the weather is cooler, the lemon tree will basically flower in spring, so your lemons will ripen in the cold months.

The causes for which the flowers of a lemon tree fall are several and well differentiated.

• If we have a young plant that blooms but lets its flowers fall without them forming fruit, it may simply be because the lemon tree is not ripe enough . Depending on the variety of lemon tree and whether or not it is a graft , the tree can take up to 5 years to bear fruit.
• This plant is quite demanding with the water when it is forming its fruits. If during flowering it has not had enough watering , it is very possible that it will drop the flowers without forming fruit because there is not enough water to give lemons.
• There is also the possibility that the flowers have not been pollinated . Unfortunately, every year there are fewer bees and other pollinating insects, and without the natural action of these, the flowers cannot be fertilized, if we do not do it by hand.
• The weather is another reason. Lemon trees are warm climate trees, so a very cold spring can cause the tree to drop its flowers because it does not have enough strength for a process that requires as much energy as that of forming flowers and fruits.
• It may happen that the tree has some plague or disease that weakens it so much that it loses its flowers. However, in this case you will see several more symptoms that correspond to the condition you have. In this other post you can learn about the pests and diseases of the lemon tree .
• Flower drop may be due to a lack of nutrients in the soil . If it is a potted lemon tree, it may need a transplant to a larger one, or simply a supply of fertilizer rich in potassium. An infusion of banana peels is an excellent ecological remedy in this case.

If you find yourself not knowing what to do if a lemon tree does not produce lemons , the answer is very simple: you can help it. In order for the lemon tree to bear fruit, we first need it to give flowers, and this happens by meeting all its needs as best as possible: in this way the plant will have energy for the flowering and fruiting process. Keep these tips in mind to make a lemon tree bloom and make it bear fruit:

• Stimulating a lemon tree to bear fruit is not difficult, and one of the measures we can take is the one just mentioned a few lines above: your tree will appreciate a contribution of potassium when the warm months arrive.
• If you live in a temperate or cold climate, try to plant or transplant your tree to a location in the southwest , which is where it will receive the most heat in the case of the northern hemisphere. It is important that the lemon tree receives an adequate amount of sun, although if it has not been regularly exposed to it, put something at first that protects it a little while it gets used to it.
• It is also essential that the soil is adequate. As it is a plant that needs frequent watering , it is especially important that the soil has good drainage to avoid flooding, which would be very harmful. Regarding the frequency of watering, it should be abundant and frequent in autumn, spring and summer, spacing the waterings in winter.
• If also frost or winds are common in your area, putting protectors on your lemon tree will be a very good idea, especially during its first years. It is best to raise a structure around your lemon tree to cover it with thermal mesh on the inside and plastic on the outside, so that it is protected during the cold and most dangerous months .

We recommend that you read these other articles on Growing and maintaining a lemon tree , How to plant and care for a potted lemon tree and How to germinate lemon seeds and their care .

If you want to read more articles similar to Why do lemon tree flowers fall , we recommend that you enter our category of Growing and caring for plants .