WHAT ARE LEMONS?
Lemons are some of the most hearty plants that you can add to your farm. Due to their thorny leaves, they are ideal for areas that are exposed to livestock, as most animals will not disturb them when they grow. This citrus plant also does not grow too tall, so you can place them close to your structures. You can expect your tree to give fruit in 3 – 5 years after planting.
The lemon, also known as citrus limon, is an acidic, pale-yellow oblong berry produced by a thorny tree. The fruit tree can be grown in a wide variety of climates. This is a hybrid fruit between a lime and citron, native to the subtropical region of Asia and commonly grown around warm temperate areas. The lemon belongs to the citrus family and thus shares many of its characteristics such as the notably thick skin that many citrus fruits carry. Lemons can be used for many different purposes. For example, they can be squeezed and put into juices, added to clean solutions, as a cure for dark spots and acne, or even to whiten your teeth. Lemons are also good to strengthen your immunological systems.
WHERE DOES LEMONS COME FROM?
Just like most fruits and vegetables, the true source of lemon is unknown but speculations and findings from research leads us closer to discovering this. Some have linked the origins of lemons to Northwest India, whereas others too have linked the origins to South of China. From China, the fruit made its way to Iran where it then spread along the Mediterranean basin, towards Greece in the East, and Spain in the West.
WHO ARE THE BIGGEST EXPORTERS OF LEMON IN THE WORLD?
In 2020, Lemon was the 740th most traded product according to data sourced from Observatory Economic Complexity (OEC). Within this same year, Spain ranked in first with an estimated export worth valued at $1.03B. The next largest exporters were Mexico at $555M, South Africa at $412M, Turkey at $248M and the Netherlands hitting 5th at $267M. Collectively, these five countries exported two-thirds of the global exports of lemon in 2020. From 2019 to 2020, the exports for lemon appreciated by a whooping 12.2% indicating an increased interest in the citrusy fruit in the current day and age.
WHO ARE THE BIGGEST IMPORTERS OF LEMON IN THE WORLD?
The global market for lemon importation has witnessed a steady increase by 3.1% to 3.7M tonnes in 2019. Overall, there is a noticeably moderate expansion in imports over the last decade with some noticeable fluctuations throughout this period. In 2020 however, the top importers of lemon – fresh or dried – were the United States, raking up imports valued at $588M, followed by Germany at $495M, France at $261M, Netherlands at $260M, and Russia at $185M..
HOW DO LEMONS GROW?
When life gives you lemons, you grow a lemon tree! There are some benefits to adding lemon trees to your garden or growing these fruits commercially as they emit a pleasant and refreshing fragrance. The next time you find yourself making something with fresh lemon, scoop out the seeds and grow them where ever you wish.To begin, ensure the soil is moist, but not soaked all the way through. You can do this on a carefully prepped bed or in a pot that is 24 inches wide and 12 inches deep. For best results, avoid delay in planting the seeds until after obtaining them from them from the fruit as it needs to be moist when buried about half an inch deep in the soil. Lightly water the area after planting.
In roughly two weeks, there should be a sproutling. Ensure it receives at least eight hours of light per day and a moderate dose of fertilizer. For gardener’s growing the lemon tree in a pot, make sure that you move your tree to a larger pot if it outgrows ints current pot. The process of moving is pretty much the same as when planting. You should prep your new location, dig your hole, ensure the soil is moist and make sure your plant gets enough water.
The final step is to wait for your tree to mature. After hitting maturity, your tree should begin to produce fruits from within to five years. Once your tree starts bearing fruits, you would have enough to satisfy your dietary needs and have a ton to share with family and friends too! Note that different varieties of lemon produce fruits at different times, and some trees can produce fruits all year round.
HOW DO YOU HARVEST LEMONS?
So how do you know when you are ready to harvest? Know that the lemon tree, make many other fruit trees, will contain both unripe and ripe fruits at the same time. One indicator is to check for size. Lemons are usually ripe between two and three inches in size, but it depends on the variety. Another indicator to look out for the color of the skin. The lemon can be green, greenish yellow, or fully yellow colour when ripe, so colour isn’t a guaranteed indicator. The best method to picking lemons is by hand and so clippers or pruning shears are not necessary. Grab the fruit you believe to be ripe, and gently twist with a downward pull and it should come right off easily! As the tree gets bigger, you would need a ladder to reach the higher fruits.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH LEMONS?
There’s so much you can do with a lemon – the possibilities are endless. Studies show that incorporating lemon into your diet or detox regimen leads to greater improvements in insulin resistance and boosts overall immune health. Like most other fruits, lemons increases the absorption of iron within the body, reducing the chances of anaemia. Also, being a citrus fruit, lemons are no stranger to flavonoids. Studies have also revealed that regular consumption of lemons reduces the risk of stroke and high blood pressure. Lemon is also a trusted source of Vitamin C.
HOW DO YOU GET STARTED IN THE LEMON FARMING BUSINESS?
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