Well now, if ya got yourself some Meyer lemons growin’ and ya wonderin’ when they’ll be ready to pick, let me tell ya, it ain’t gonna happen overnight. These lemons, they don’t rush. On average, it’ll take ‘bout six to seven months for them little fruits to ripen up real nice. Now, don’t go pullin’ ‘em off the tree just ‘cause they look a bit yellow or somethin’. Nah, ya gotta wait ‘til their skin turns a nice, deep yellow, kinda like the color of an egg yolk. If they ain’t lookin’ like that, you best leave ‘em be for a little longer.
Now, I know what you’re thinkin’. How come it takes so long for a lemon to ripen? Well, these Meyer lemons, they like to take their time growin’ strong and sweet. Generally, after they start growin’, it’ll take ‘em about six months to get all grown up and ready to pick. But, don’t go thinkin’ that the time’s set in stone, no sir. It can all change dependin’ on where ya live, what kinda weather you got, and how well yer soil’s treatin’ ‘em.
Temperature’s a big factor, y’know. Now, ya might notice, that in warm weather, your lemons might not ripen as quick as ya expect. They need a little chill in the air to get ‘em movin’ and ripenin’ properly. It’s the cooler weather that tells the lemons, “Hey, it’s time to turn that skin yellow!” If the weather stays too warm, them lemons might stay green longer than ya want. Ain’t that a shame?
But, if the weather does what it’s supposed to, and the soil’s just right, them Meyer lemons will be ripe and ready for pickin’ between November and March. So, you see, there’s a bit of a window to look out for. The colder months tend to be when they really come into their own.
Now, just ‘cause you got your lemon tree sittin’ pretty in your yard, that don’t mean you can rush the ripenin’ process. It’s best to let them lemons hang on the tree ‘til they’re ripe enough. Don’t go pullin’ them too early—if you do, they might be sour and tart instead of that sweet, juicy goodness they’re meant to be. The longer they stay on the tree, the sweeter they get. That’s just how it works, I reckon.
One thing to keep in mind is that these Meyer lemons are a little different from the regular ol’ lemons you see in the store. They got a bit more sweetness to ’em, but they still need time to ripen properly. If you’ve got ‘em growin’ in a pot or somethin’, they might ripen a little slower, too. It all depends on the care ya give ‘em.
Here’s a few things to keep in mind:
- The weather—cooler temps help them ripen faster, but warm weather might slow ‘em down.
- The soil—make sure it’s good, well-drained soil. That’ll help the lemons grow nice and strong.
- The age of the tree—if yer tree’s young, it might take a little longer to ripen.
- Patience—don’t rush ‘em! Let ‘em stay on the tree ‘til they’re good and ready.
So, in short, if you’re growin’ yourself some Meyer lemons, just be patient. Give ‘em the time they need, and before ya know it, you’ll have a whole bunch of sweet, juicy lemons ready to use in your kitchen. Whether you’re makin’ lemon pie, lemon bars, or just squeezin’ ‘em over a good ol’ glass of iced tea, you’ll be glad you waited for ‘em to ripen just right.
So there ya go, six to seven months, cooler weather, and a whole lotta patience—that’s what it takes for them Meyer lemons to ripen up nice and sweet. Just remember, don’t rush ‘em, and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best lemons you ever did taste.
Tags:[Meyer lemons, lemon ripening, how long to ripen Meyer lemons, growing Meyer lemons, ripening fruit, citrus ripening, gardening tips, lemon tree care, harvest Meyer lemons]