Lemon Botanical Name: Citrus x limon (Rutaceae)
General Description/History: - Same genus as orange, lime, grapefruit and mandarin - Oval fruit with a marked point at one end - Yellow skin - Acid, juicy, pale yellow flesh The lemon is small, bushy tree standing only 2.5 - 4.5 metres, with irregular spreading branches. The flowers are white, scented and will flower most of the year. When selecting lemons choose fruit that is glossy, yellow and firm. Those that are heavy for their size are indicative of good juice content. Lemons are perfect for many dishes. They can be used in desserts e.g. lemon meringue/lemon pudding, as well as drinks, salad dressings and jams. If fruit is to be used in jellies or jams the Lisbon variety must be used. Lemon traditionally accompanies fish and other seafood and is a perfect garnish. As a garnish, lemons can be cut into wedges, cartwheels, boats and stars. As a guide to juice content, one medium lemon equals 3 tablespoons of juice and 3 teaspoons from grated peel. Lemon trees grow more irregularly than other citrus trees and respond more favourably to pruning. The lemon tree requires annual pruning to maintain production of large, high quality fruit. Pruning should always be moderate as heavy pruning reduces the crop. Some pruning is done by hand but increasingly it is done by mechanical hedgers. Lemon trees are sensitive to excessive heat, frost, dry soil, low soil oxygen and air pollution. The genus citrus consists of fruit such as orange, lime, citron and grapefruit. The various species of the genus citrus are believed to be native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and the Malay Archipelago. However, disagreement continues as to the exact area of origin and how the lemon spread to Europe. The Romans referred to lemons in mosaic tile floors dating back to the second century A.D. No citrus fruits are native to the Western Hemisphere. In 1493, Columbus brought citrus seeds to Haiti where he established the settlement of Isabella. At the same time, the Portuguese introduced citrus fruits including lemons into Brazil by the Portuguese. The word lemon is thought to be derived from the ancient word “neem” meaning, “sour tree”.
Varieties: Please click pictures to see seasonality
Yen Ben	Eureka	Lisbon
Meyer	Lemonade
Growing Areas: QLD - Emerald, Gatton, Gayndah, Grantham, Mundubbera, Sunshine Coast NSW - Gosford, Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, Riverina, Sunraysia, Windsor VIC - Melbourne, Murray Valley, Sunraysia SA Adelaide Hills, Riverland WA - Perth Hills, South West NT - Darwin
Preparation Videos: Zesting citrus fruit
Nutritional Value: Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C, B6 and dietary fibre. 65kJ/100g.
Storage/Handling: 15°C and 85-95% relative humidity. Consumer Storage: Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Recipes: Banana, Carrot and Sultana Loaf Old-Fashioned Lemonade Steamed Fish with Zucchini Ribbon Salad Spring Garden Salad with Tuna Apple Tarte Tatin Pumpkin and Green Bean Salad with Lemon Yogurt Dressing Quick Mango Relish Asparagus & Chicken Salad Fennel al Gratin Easy Marinated Artichoke Hearts Quick Baked Apple with Ice Cream Poached Peaches with Tangy Raspberry Sauce Low-Fat Yoghurt Mousse with Fruits Baked Apples and Stewed Rhubarb Semi-dried Tomato Avocado Antipasto Mango Semifreddo Apple and Lentil Salad Corn on the Cob Strawberry Fruit Salad with Banana and Kiwi Green Bean, Egg and Walnut Salad with a Basil Dressing Wholemeal Apple and Date Loaf Potato and Pea Salad
Interesting Facts and Myths? Oranges, lemons, watermelons, and tomatoes are berries. Lemon trees bloom throughout the year, and fruit is picked 6 or more times a year, with an average commercial tree yielding 500 to 600 lemons per year. Lemonade was a favourite drink of the Chinese Emperors. Third century Romans believed that the lemon was an antidote for all poisons.