Lemon variety Lisbon

Lemon Lisbon is a widespread industrial crop in many countries that occupies large agricultural areas. It is not considered a variety for indoor cultivation, although it is quite common in amateur collections. It belongs to the group of so-called real (non-hybrid) lemons.

Origin

Many sources point to the American ancestry of this citrus, and this is justified, but only partially. The name itself tells us that something is wrong here: America, and suddenly Lisbon (Lisbon)?

The fact is that, like almost all varieties of citrus fruits, this variety came to the American continent from Europe. More precisely, from Portugal. The lemon was shipped in the port of Lisbon, and in those days it was customary to call the plants by the name where they came from.

The historic move took place, presumably in 1824. At home, in Portugal, this citrus was called 'Gallego'. But Americans love to change everything in their own way, so California breeders called the guest from Europe Lisbon. In any case, it was included in the Massachusetts catalog in 1843 under this name.

The Americans really did a lot of work on the Portuguese variety. In particular, several clones of it were created, which are very common in the world, for example, 'Frost' and 'Monroe Lisbon'.

Interesting! Not every climate turned out to be 'to the liking' of this tree. So, it turned out that in India, its yield is significantly reduced, and life expectancy is reduced.

Description of the variety

Lisbon has shown itself to be one of the most drought-resistant varieties, in addition, it is able to withstand temperatures that are quite low for lemons. It is fruitful, the fruits are highly transportable. These qualities made it an interesting industrial culture. Almost a third of the lemons in our supermarkets are of this variety.

Crown characteristic... The tree is powerful, large, fast-growing. For indoor breeding this is a disadvantage, for industrial plantations it is an advantage. Strong branches are densely covered with thorns, the crown itself looks dense, due to the abundant foliage. The leaves are predominantly wide, lanceolate, always with a sharp tip. They have a strong, pleasant scent that many people compare to citrus shampoo. A dense 'cap' of dense, leathery leaves allows the tree to successfully resist not only low temperatures, but also increased heat, strong dry winds.

Flowering features... Lisbon is a remontant variety, capable of blooming several times a year. Flowering begins quickly, already in the fourth, sometimes even in the third year of life. Unlike many other lemons, the flowers are pure white, devoid of the characteristic anthocyanin hue. Flowers on branches are located mainly singly, or in small inflorescences. As a rule, ripening bright yellow fruits can be seen next to them, which gives this variety a special decorative effect.

Fruit... Along with the already mentioned resistance to weather conditions, it was the taste of the fruit that made Lisbon famous. Experts consider its taste to be one of the very best in the 'lemon community'. The pulp has a strong, accentuated acidity, at the same time, it is pleasant, tender, rich in juice. There are usually 10 lobules inside the fruit, covered with a thin film, almost indistinguishable in the mouth. There are no seeds inside at all, or there are very few of them.

The shape of the fruit is from oval to elliptical, the color is deep yellow. A small sharp nipple is always visible at the tip. It seems to be bent, pressed into the fruit on one side. This is an important sign of our hero, by which it is easy to recognize him.The surface of the fruit is slightly oily to the touch, has a slightly noticeable tuberosity. The peel is thin, easily separated from the pulp.

Interesting! For this tree, it is characteristic that the fruits are placed mainly inside the dense crown, and not on the periphery. This protects the fruit from both scorching heat and low temperatures. After all, Lisbon is harvested twice a year: in February and in late spring.

Fruit weight usually ranges from 120 to 160 grams, but occasionally specimens up to half a kilogram are found. An adult tree can ripen about 150 fruits per season, although at home, of course, this figure is an order of magnitude lower.

Summing up

In indoor citrus growing, Lisbon lemon can be used if you have enough room for its spreading crown. It is best if it was not a window sill, but a spacious hall, a large office, a bright corridor. In addition, this culture requires a large amount of light and the presence of a cool wintering area. If these essential conditions are met, the tree will give the owners a generous harvest of delicious, aromatic fruits.