Can you grow lemons in Tampa? (to buy, shop, trees)

[lalabooks]

Hi all, I have not seen this topic addressed so here goes. Does anyone know whether you can grow lemons in Tampa? I am not talking about limes (the green one), or any other citrus. I am talking about yellow lemons, either Meyer lemons or some other variety, the kind that come from Calif. I just moved here and I wanted to know whether it's possible. If so, I imagine that I should go to a nursery to buy a tree, right?

[tilli]

Yes, you can grow lemons in Tampa. Like all citrus you need to protect it from hard freeze. Jene's Tropicals in St. Pete has a great selection of fruit trees on appropriate root stocks. Right now their website lists available lemons as = Meyer, Ponderosa, Eureka, Pink, and Bearss.

http://shop.tropicalfruit.com/Lemons_c_45.html

[Keeper]

Sure.. you can grow citrus in Tampa. Myers lemons are good because they are so big. IIRC it takes a few years before they produce fruit. Go to a good nursery to be sure you get the info you need

[Spring Hillian]

Decide what you want to do with those lemons before you plant the tree. Myers lemons are great for juice. There are varieties for other purposes, like slicing. Be forewarned. These trees produce a lot of fruit once they mature. Have an outlet for a whole of fruit each year. :-)

[vaughanwilliams]

I don't know about Tampa, but I grew them in St. Pete. And yes, you should go to a nursery.