Sublime citrus fruit
Igrow quite a few orange and lemon trees in pots, and when they are performing well they look fantastic with their orange and yellow fruits against the rich evergreen leaves. The perfume from the blossom is exquisite, too.
Seville oranges are very hardy and the blossom has a wonderful fragrance, although the fruit are not edible unless cooked. They do, of course, make the best marmalade.
Sweet oranges can be eaten, but are less hardy, although not nearly as sensitive to cold as limes. Perhaps the easiest citrus to grow in a pot are lemons. However, avoid the mistake of too large a container. At best it will lead to an excessive root system which will result in masses of foliage at the expense of fruit. But it is also likely to result in the compost holding too much water, which will rot the roots.
gradually increase the size of the pot as the plant grows, so there is only an inch or so of space for the roots to expand into. Plants should be repotted every three years as they grow with the final pot 23-27 in in diameter.
The secret of good potting compost for any citrus plant is drainage. Yellowing leaves are nearly always a sign of too much water so add plenty of horticultural grit to your potting mix. I top dress this with a thick mulch of good garden compost. If the compost is appropriately freedraining almost all the water should drain very fast. In winter there is no need to do this more than once a month and in summer no more than once a week. A greenhouse, conservatory or sunny porch makes life easier but citrus do not like being indoors longer than necessary. Fresh air and sunshine are what they like best.
However, wherever you live in the UK they do need winter protection. A greenhouse or frost-free shed is ideal as most houses or conservatories are unsuitable for overwintering citrus trees as they like the air around them to be quite moist.
A good rule of thumb is that if it is dry enough for soft furnishings then it will be too dry for a citrus to be happy.
Although the fruits are very decorative and can remain on a mature plant for months, it is advisable to remove most from young plants as they take up a lot of energy. removing ripe fruit also stimulates flower production, followed by even more fruit.