Pavlovsky lemon is the best variety for growing at home

Pavlovsky lemon, green throughout the year, occupies a special place among domestic plants. It is not particularly whimsical to care for, it has a decorative appearance and always green foliage, and its fruits are in no way inferior to imported ones in taste.

Description of the variety

Back in the eighteenth century, one of the wealthy merchants in the city of Pavlov curtained several seedlings of an outlandish plant at that time from Turkey. Over time, the overseas exotic tree won the hearts of the townspeople, and its cuttings began to multiply throughout Pavlovo. That is how Pavlovsk lemons appeared. In a short time, this plant has gained wide popularity in Moscow. You can get acquainted with the appearance of the bush, its fruits in the next photo.

Appearance

Lemon Pavlovsky variety bushy. An adult plant reaches 0.8-1.4 m in height. Has a rounded crown 0.6-1.2 m in diameter with 2-4 skeletal branches. On young shoots, the bark is dark green, adult branches have an olive-gray bark with longitudinal cracks. Almost all Pavlovsk lemons have sharp thorns on branches 1-1.5 cm long.

The leaves are large, 12-14 cm long, with a wedge-shaped base and a long pointed tip. The shape is different, depending on the type, it can be broadly oval, oblong, oval, broadly lanceolate or obovate. The leaves are bright, shiny green or dark green in color. The petiole is short, with a small groove. You should know that Pavlovsky lemons periodically throw off old foliage. However, experts have established that in the crown of a healthy tree, there should be at least 8-12 physiologically active leaves for each fruit.

Flowering and fruits

The flowers are large, bisexual, 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter, located singly in the leaf axils or in inflorescences of 2-3 pieces. Pavlova's lemon belongs to self-pollinating varieties. The flowering period is early spring or autumn, however, this species can bloom all year round, with proper care, so it is not uncommon for one bush to have almost ripe fruits and still green ovaries.

Fruiting begins 3-4 years after rooting. Lemon may bloom earlier, but in this case, the flowers should be removed, giving the plant the opportunity to take root and grow stronger. The yield is average, about 6-8 lemons annually. The quality of the fruit is high. The ripening period, depending on the lighting, ranges from 35-40 days to 2.5-3 months.

Growing conditions

At the moment, Pavlovsk lemons are actively bred in nurseries in Moscow and other cities throughout Russia. They reproduce by semi-lignified cuttings, air layers or seeds. Since it is a southern subtropical plant, it is extremely demanding for heat, light, moisture and nutrition.

Lemon is hard to tolerate direct sunlight, so keep them on the south window, shading it in the summer. In winter, it is necessary to provide the plant with additional illumination for the speedy ripening of fruits and active growth, using only fluorescent lamps.

The temperature in the room should be at least 19-23C, since lemon is a thermophilic plant. Drafts should be avoided. In winter, the plant is watered with slightly warmed water, up to 30C, since hypothermia of the earthen coma reduces the activity of the root system, as a result of which the supply of water and nutrients to the leaves is delayed.

Air humidity in the room must be maintained at 65-73%.Regular spraying of the deciduous part of the plant allows you to avoid evaporation of excess moisture from the leaves and save them from premature fall. Under the crown, next to the pot, in winter, place a container with water and ventilate the room. To ripen large and tasty lemons, you need to regularly moisten the stem with warm water.

Care features

Indoor lemon reacts strongly to the moisture of an earthen coma, lack of nutrition and ambient temperature. With excessively dry soil and low air humidity, Pavlovsk lemons actively shed their leaves, stop bearing fruit, slow down their growth and development. It is necessary to water the plant regularly, but not more often than twice a week, checking the moisture content of the earthen coma by touch. In addition, it is imperative to apply various complex fertilizers and minerals, especially during the growing season.

In order not to weaken the young tree and accelerate further development, it is necessary to remove the flowers for the first 2-3 years after planting, preventing the fruit from setting. Then you can leave 3-4 flowers, and then only thin out nearby flowers and remove underdeveloped ones. A small number of fruits should be left, preferably located on short branches closer to the base.

Video "Pavlovsky lemon - growing at home"

How to avoid common mistakes in care, create conditions for stable fruiting, provide the plant with the necessary minerals and protect it from diseases and pests, this video tells in detail.