Winter still has its grip on us but it's always summer inside when you grow citrus trees.
Dwarf citrus trees take up little space but they produce full-size fruit. My dwarf Meyer lemon and dwarf Persian lime trees are about 10 years old and they stand just a few feet tall.
That's as big as they're going to get. Young plants that I ordered online and potted last spring are less than a foot tall. They include an orange, tangerine and lemon. Surprisingly, one has already bloomed and set fruit.
A dwarf variegated calamondin tree is the most impressive tree in my collection. Even in its large pot, the plant is about chest high on me. The calamondin produces a small fruit about the size of a rubber ball used for playing jacks. Calamondin cake and marmalade are Southern delicacies.
Although you can sprout and grow the seeds of any store-bought citrus fruit, beware! They won't bloom or set fruit for at least a decade--and you'll need a 20 foot ceiling. So make sure to buy a dwarf variety of citrus tree at the nursery or online.
My dwarf citrus trees spend the winter on my sunny back porch and move outside in May for the summer. They can bloom in any season. The fragrance of the flowers is fantastic; even a few will perfume a room.
Even the leaves of citrus trees can be used in cooking or for making tea. Crush the leaves to release the flavor and brew in combination with black tea for a delicious beverage.
Dwarf citrus trees are easy to grow and long-lived. They aren't prone to pests or dideases and they're even drought tolerant. With minimal care, you'll be picking fruit for life.
