Eureka Lemon

 

        Eureka Lemon   

       Lemon – citrus x limon - “Eureka”

Eureka Lemon tree is a part of the citrus genus of plants and is famous for its lush green and sparse foliage and juicy, flavourful fruit.  Its scientific name is Citrus limon "Eureka”.  This Citrus limon, is the standard commercial lemon variety around the world because of its consistent flavour, firm texture, high oil content, and nearly year-round growing season. This variety was originally named "Garey's Eureka" after Thomas Garey, who propagated the first Eureka lemon tree.

Eureka trees grow vigorously with a spreading and open form. This lemon trees are slightly less cold -hardy and are less thorny than Lisbon lemon trees.  The new growth and flowers are tinged with purple.  Eureka lemon trees bear multiple crops per year, but the main season is late winter, spring, and early summer. The fruits are borne on the outside of the canopy and are frequently held in clusters. Eureka lemons are medium-small, elliptical in shape, and sometimes longitudinally ridged. 

The fruits usually have a slight neck and a short nipple. The rind is yellow at maturity, has sunken oil glands, and is slightly textured. The flesh is pale greenish-yellow, low-seeded, and very acidic. There are many named selections of Eureka lemon, with individual characteristics that distinguish them from the original clone.

This thornless variety lemon  originated in California from seeds and later on came to Asia from Sicily in the late 1850s. Eureka lemon trees are classified as true lemons, not as a hybrid or crossed ones.  Eureka lemon trees grow to between 10 and 20 feet tall along with a smaller dwarf version is also available.

This evergreen variety of lemon tree produces fleshed, large, juicy, soft skinned, golden yellow lemons with very few seeds round the year. But it produces abundantly during the winter and summer.  It begins fruiting at quite a young age, but handsome quantity is harvested when the plant is 4 to 5 years old.  Like other lemon trees, this popular variety is also self-fruitful and does not require cross-pollination to set fruit.

This lemon variety is considered to be a true lemon tree, as it is not the result of any hybridization. It was brought over to the United States in seed form from Italy in the middle of the 19th century and has been growing in the warmer states ever since.  It requires a climate that gets neither too hot nor too cold and therefore fares best in USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10.  Any temperatures lower than 20° F will cause significant damage to the Eureka lemon tree. 

This citrus plant is an excellent lemon variety that also has a great tolerance to low temperatures and producing beautiful glossy, dark green foliage.  Whilst producing beautiful green foliage and fruit would be enough, this plant also produces stunning white flowers that have a strong iconic scent, making them perfect to grow in your conservatory so you can benefit from that beautiful smell indoors. They are hardy in most parts of the UK, so although they make beautiful specimen plants in a conservatory, they can also be grown in a well-drained pot in a sheltered spot outdoors. 

These lemons are large, averaging 6-8 centimetres in diameter, with an oblong shape. They have a vibrant yellow skin with sunken oil glands, resulting in a textured surface. The rind is full of volatile oils, providing an intense citrus aroma. Eureka lemons have a pronounced blossom-end knob, called a mammilla, and a medium-thick white pith. The juicy, yellow flesh contains few to no seeds and offers a tart and acidic flavour.  They have the most amazing flavour and will work beautifully in a gin & tonic or two. Try using them to make lemon curd too.  As this plant is supplied as a large specimen in a 5-litre pot, it will begin to produce fruit within 18 months. Plants dispatch from 1m – 1.5m tall.

Propagation from seed is not recommended. Lemon trees take 5–10 years to produce fruit when grown from seed. Additionally, it’s unlikely that any lemon trees  grow from seed will grow true to type.  Soak seeds overnight in water and plant them 3cm deep in moist potting soil. Cover or wrap the pot with a plastic bag and let sit in a warm and sunny spot for a few weeks until the seeds start to grow. Then, remove the plastic and give seedlings at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day until transplant. Plants are usually grown from cuttings which may or may not be grafted onto different root stocks.

Plant Eureka lemon tree in a spot that gets full sun. These trees require plenty of sun to thrive and do best in positions where they receive 10 to 12 hours of sun a day. They can be grown in partial shade with 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day, but in these conditions, they may struggle to bear fruit, and growth will be slower.

Water the lemon tree often. Lemons grown in containers need water twice a week and may need to be watered daily during hot, dry weather. Once established, lemon trees planted in raised beds will still need a deep watering every 7 to 14 days, depending on weather conditions. 

Fertilize the tree with a nitrogen-rich or citrus fertilizer three times a year. Split the fertilizer applications so that the tree receives about 1 to 1.5 pounds of nitrogen a year. Dwarf Eureka lemon trees receive about half this amount.  Apply the fertilizer equal distance from the root base to the height. For example, if the tree is 10 feet tall, apply fertilizer at a 10 foot radius from the base. Citrus are demanding, which makes sense because of their large, leafy stature and fat, juicy fruit production. Fertilize with compost to provide ample nitrogen. Add phosphorus just before flowering to prevent deficient fruit production.

Leaves may be sprayed periodically with a citrus fertilizer in the spring and summer. In specific, use nitrogen based foliar spray to supplement a large crop.  While lemon trees do not require extensive pruning, it should be done each year prior to the trees blooming. Remove any suckers and dead or sickly-looking branches with pruning shears.

Especially in the first production year, fruits can take anywhere from 6–8 months to ripen. The fruit’s ready to harvest when it’s turned yellow and is still firm but not hard. Fruit can be pulled off or cut with pruning shears to avoid damaging the tree. Fruits can be stored in the refrigerator or cool temperatures for several weeks.

Eureka lemons may be used in wide range of applications, from sweet to savoury. They can be made into marmalades or used in baked goods, such as lemon meringue pie, and their zest can be infused into oils. Both its zest and juice can be used in cocktails, syrups, marinades, and dressings. Pair with other citrus, poultry and seafood, tea, or fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Due to its high content of vitamin C, it is considered to have antibacterial and immune-boosting properties. Lemon juice has been associated with weight loss because it aids in digestion and detoxifies the liver. Limonene is an essential oil derived from the rinds of citrus fruits and has been incorporated into pharmaceuticals to relieve heartburn.

Eureka lemon trees are attractive plants to grow. They have bronze coloured new growth, while older leaves develop into a bright shade of green. The great thing about this tree is that it doesn’t have a dormancy period and therefore can produce fruit all year long. Eureka lemons are among the typical lemons find at the grocery store, suitable for cooking with or using in drinks. They are commercially popular because of their reliable flavour and continuous growing season.

The 'Eureka' grows year-round and abundantly. This is the common supermarket lemon, also known as 'Four Seasons' because of its ability to produce fruit and flowers together throughout the year.

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