Are you thinking of growing lemon trees but don’t know if they will do well in New Hampshire?
To find out whether or not you can grow lemon trees in New Hampshire, read on below.
Can Lemon Trees Grow in New Hampshire?
Standard variety lemon trees are not recommended for growing outside in the state of New Hampshire. More often than not planting a lemon tree in NH is likely to end in failure.
The reason for this is simple- lemon trees aren’t very tolerant of cold temperatures, and they will not survive light frosts and winter seasons in New Hampshire. The state is within USDA growing zones 3 through 6, while most lemon tree varieties are grown in zones 9 to 11.
You can, however, grow lemon trees in New Hampshire if you’re willing to put them in a container. Your plant can seek shelter from freezing temperatures inside your home (and possibly in a sunny window) during winter.
Just make sure to choose a dwarf variety and remember to bring the plant outside in summer. Lemon trees make a great ornamental piece in your house and add a splash of green anywhere you put them.
New Hampshire USDA Hardiness Zones
In order to understand why you won’t be able to grow a lemon tree in New Hampshire, you’ll need to look at lemon and New Hampshire’s zones.
New Hampshire is classified by the US Department of Agriculture as zones 3 to 6. The lemon tree or citrus limon is recommended for those who live in USDA zones 9 through 11. Therefore, the temperature and climate in New Hampshire are not well-suited for growing lemon trees.
Lemon trees are notorious for dying quickly when they experience drops in temperatures- at 20 to 26 degrees F (or minus 3 to minus 6 degrees C), these plants will show cold damage in their leaves and stems. Lemons become inactive or dormant when the weather reaches 55 degrees F, and they’ll start dropping fruits and buds at 26 to 28 degrees F.
As a reference, most of New Hampshire experience extreme cold during winter, with constant frosts and freezing temperatures that are very unsuitable for lemon trees. Your best bet is to go with a dwarf lemon tree variety and care for it indoors (under the right conditions).
How to Grow Lemon Trees in Pots
Lemon trees, particularly the dwarf species, can thrive indoors and in suitably-sized containers. First, you’ll need to place the plant near a window that gets plenty of sunlight throughout the day, as lemons like to stay under full sun. These plants can grow in any medium, but loamy and well-drained soil is the best medium for them.
You’ll want to give your potted lemon tree plenty of water during its first year- once a week or more if the weather is hot.
The plant thrives in once-a-year fertilizing or when you feed it lots of compost and organic matter. You can let it out during the summer season and bring the lemon tree inside during winter.
Related Article: Lemon Tree Dropping Leaves