If you love the sweet and delicate flavor of Meyer lemons, You’ll love the ‘Improved Meyer’ lemon bush. Florida gardener Melissa Strauss has the details to help to grow this sweet citrus bush. Citrus trees are some of the easiest fruit trees to grow and care for. Once established, they only need attention a few times per year. If, like myself, you love all things lemon, I’ve got a great little shrub that you’ve just got to read about. I adore Meyer lemons, and it’s not just because I share my maiden name with them. It’s because they are positively delicious! What are ‘Improved Meyer’ Lemon Bushes? ‘Improved Meyer’ lemon is a delightfully compact, semi-dwarf variety of this hybrid citrus species. Meyer lemons are a cross between a citron and another hybrid, the offspring of a pomelo and a mandarin. These trees are bred to produce fruits that have the punchy tang of a lemon tempered with a mellow mandarin flavor. The resulting fruit is rounder, sweeter, and more fragrant than the average lemon. These medium-sized bushes grow well in zones 8-11, with some extra winter protection in the northern part of their range. However, living in a cooler climate doesn’t mean you can’t grow one of these tasty plants. ‘Improved’ Meyer lemon bushes are small enough to grow quite nicely in a container. They also bloom more than once a year and can bear fruit nearly year-round. Native Area The ‘Meyer’ lemon is a hybrid citrus variety that originated in China. Frank Nicholas Meyer, of the US Department of Agriculture was responsible for bringing it to the United States. While he is not responsible for the breeding, his name became associated with the plant. Most likely, though, it has been in cultivation in China for thousands of years. Characteristics The ‘Improved Meyer’ lemon is a semi-dwarf citrus with a shrubby appearance. It grows upwards to ten feet tall if left to its own devices, but it is easy to keep it small by pruning it. It is often kept as a container plant, as it is an attractive bush and adaptable to indoor growing. Meyer lemons are not true lemons, but they have some lemon-like qualities. The fruit is rounder than a true lemon, with thinner skin. The skin is a rich orange-yellow color and has a strong but mellow lemon scent. The pulp of the fruit is deep yellow with a hint of orange and contains seeds. These lemons have a reputation for being extra sweet and juicy compared to other lemons. ‘Improved Meyer’ lemon bushes can grow up to 10′-12′ tall, but they take very well to pruning. You can keep this plant small and still expect to see plenty of attractive fruit. The foliage is deep green, smooth, and glossy. While a Meyer lemon can produce fruit at any time of year, the primary bloom time is in the spring. The flowers are white with purple accents on the outside of the petals. They have a strong and pleasing fragrance. I love to snip a few branches in the spring to add to early-season cut flower arrangements. The scent is simply wonderful. The bulk of their fruit matures in late fall to early winter. Propagation These bushes are easy to propagate. There are three effective methods to try once your tree is mature and bearing fruit. These plants breed true from seed, and the fruits contain plenty of them.

Container growing can be a great solution for gardeners in cool climates who want to grow their own avocado trees. Join Florida gardener Melissa Strauss for some tips on growing one of these tropical trees in a pot or container. There is no doubt about it, avocados are popular. With some amazing nutritional benefits and that famously creamy texture, there just is no substitute for this tasty fruit. The trees, however, are tropical and grow in a relatively limited range. If you don’t live in a warm climate, you’ve probably been stuck paying top dollar for your avocados at the supermarket. If this is your plight, I have some excellent news for you! There are varieties of avocado that you can grow in a pot or container, even in cool climates. Growing an avocado tree in a pot or container allows you to bring it indoors for the winter. Since these trees are not especially cold-tolerant, they won’t survive the winter in many parts of the country. Planting yours in a container will make all the difference if you live north of zone 9. Here’s how to do it! What Are Avocado Trees? Avocado trees are multi-branched evergreens that love warm, humid weather and lots of sunshine. As a result, they can be a challenge to grow in cool climates and indoors. However, some excellent dwarf varieties will thrive in a large container. Let’s talk about these trees and how to keep them healthy in a pot. Characteristics When discussing growing an avocado tree in a pot or container, we will primarily focus on dwarf varieties. A standard-sized tree can reach anywhere from 20 to 80 feet tall at maturity, so naturally, these are tough to bring in for the winter. Dwarf varieties often stay between eight and 12 feet tall, and you can keep them even shorter by pruning properly. Dwarf avocado trees are slower growing and have a dense, bushy form compared to most standard trees. A grafted cultivar can produce fruit in about two to four years, and the fruits are comparable in size and quality to a standard. They are slower growing and ideal for urban gardeners or anyone with limited space. Native Area Avocado trees are native to the southern part of Central America. Their range spans from the eastern highlands of central Mexico, down through Guatemala, and into some parts of South America. They appear in tropical and subtropical mountainous regions at elevations up to 6,600 feet. Planting Since we are discussing growing avocado trees in containers or pots, we won’t delve into the specific time of year. You can purchase and repot your tree at any time of year, as long as you provide it with proper care, including limiting exposure to cold temperatures. Choose a large container, as large as possible, to contain the extensive root system. A wide pot is going to be more effective than a deep one. These trees have shallow, fibrous, and extensive root systems that don’t extend deeply into the earth. Most of the root system will be in the top several inches of soil. For a young tree, choose a pot that is at least 12″-15″ in diameter. A mature tree will thrive best in a container that holds 20-25 gallons, so plan for that when you decide where it will live during the colder months.

Tasty, tropical guava is a farmer’s market favorite in warm climate zones. Learn how to grow this treat of a tree with Florida gardener Melissa Strauss. If you want a tropical fruit tree that matures quickly and produces lots of sweet, juicy fruit, ‘Barbie Pink’ guava fits the bill. Maturing in as few as eight years, this fruit tree can live for 40 years or more. These long-lived trees are great for growing in the ground in warm climates, but they also thrive in containers. Let’s learn how to grow these attractive, tasty fruits. What Is It? Legend has it that guavas were once considered an inedible fruit. A kind young boy who wanted to feed a beggar prayed to the gods to make the fruit edible. The gods, impressed by his kindness, transformed the fruit into the sweet, tart, and tangy delicacy we know and love today. ‘Barbie Pink’ is a beautiful, evergreen variety of guava tree that produces sweet and tangy fruits with vibrant, pink flesh. It grows beautifully in warm climate gardens. In cooler climates, you can also keep this tree in a large container as a patio tree. It’s a low-maintenance, sturdy tree that will bear fruit early, and plentifully. Cultivated for as long as 5,000 years, guavas were first domesticated in Peru. Impressed with the delicious fruits, explorers from Spain and Portugal brought the tree to the West Indies and Florida. They traveled across the ocean with their tropical treasure, which led to its introduction in Asia and India. Growing up in South Florida, I can scarcely remember a trip to Miami that didn’t include a Cuban coffee and a guava and cream cheese pastry. If you’ve never tasted one, they are as delicious as they sound and worth every calorie. Characteristics This evergreen tree is popular in tropical climates as an attractive member of ornamental landscapes. However, delicious fruits are the main reason for planting them. Guava trees can grow up to 20 feet tall, but generally, we prune them to keep them compact and easier to harvest from. Prune them to 10-15 feet, and they will spread nearly as wide as they are tall. Light brown, mottled bark covers the sturdy trunk of this shrubby evergreen. The leaves are large, ovate, and deep, glossy green. In spring, attractive white blossoms have a scent similar to the fruits. The guavas mature from green to yellow when ripe, and have a strong, wonderful aroma. Inside is the prettiest pink flesh dotted with tender, edible seeds. The fruit is a rich source of nutrients, including fiber, potassium, folate, and B vitamins, but packs the greatest punch of vitamin C. The seeds are also fiber-rich and full of antioxidants, making them a digestive powerhouse. Native Area Pink and red guavas are native predominantly to Mexico and tropical America. ‘Barbie Pink’ is a variety bred in Florida. These plants make the invasive list in South Florida but are perfectly fine to grow in Central Florida. Elsewhere, they are not invasive. Grow in Florida with care, and make sure to harvest the fruit. Do not allow it to re-seed. Planting The ideal time to plant your guava is in summer. June or July are the best months. To grow it in a container, timing is not important, just make sure to bring it indoors for the winter. Guava trees like loose soil in which to establish their roots. To plant this tree, dig a hole that is three to four times the diameter of the root ball and three times as deep. This may seem excessive, but it will pay off. Loosening the soil this way will allow for fast and healthy root development. Backfill the hole so that when you position your plant, the root ball is level with the surrounding earth. Position the plant in the hole and backfill around it. No need to amend the soil in most cases. Tap down the soil and water your tree thoroughly. Guava trees have roots that can be aggressive and extend beyond the drip line. They can send up shoots farther than you might expect when planted in loose soil. Make sure to plant far enough away from any buildings or structures, and give them space from other trees, as well.