January brings frozen ground to my cottage garden, so I’m gardening inside today from the comfort of my window seat. From here I can keep an eye on my little Meyer lemon tree that sits before our sunny south window in its blue and white Chinese pot. Seven little lemons are ripening now, and more star shaped blossoms will be opening soon. How rewarding for the year-round gardener to tend a dwarf citrus tree indoors when it is storming outside and far too wet and windy to check on those winter lettuces and hardy herbs. 

The “Improved Meyer Lemon” (Citrus limon x C. sinensis) is actually a cross between orange and lemon. It bears wonderfully fragrant, white waxy blooms year round and its fruit has the thinnest skin, which is why it is seldom grown commercially. Sweeter than regular lemons, and with more depth of flavor due to an abundance of fragrant oils in the rind, Meyer lemons turn into the tastiest old-fashioned lemonade and prize-winning lemon pies. 

Dwarf citrus such as the Meyer lemon don’t ask for much in the way of care – give them plenty of light and a sunny southern exposure, keeping the temperature above 60F. Water only when the first two or three inches of topsoil feels dry to the touch, being mindful that the roots should not be allowed to dry out. Citrus needs at least six hours of sunlight to remain productive during the winter months so a full-spectrum fluorescent light may be needed as a supplement.

Professional growers recommend using the growlight from sunrise to sunset during dark winter days. Citrus will also benefit from being moved to an outside location on a sunny patio or deck during warmer months. To lessen the risk of shocking your potted tree with a sudden change in environment, locate it in partial shade for a few weeks to accustom it to the heat of the sun. Before bringing the tree back indoors in fall, move it from its sunny position to a sheltered outside location for a few weeks.

Citrus needs a 12-12-12 fertilizer, which supplies necessary iron, manganese and zinc. I concoct my own recipe: a weak solution of fish fertilizer amended with kelp meal, blood meal and alfalfa meal to approximate the 12-12-12 formula, usually applied monthly. But if you want to be accurate, most garden centers carry a citrus mix in pellet form that can be worked into the soil according to label directions. I also amend my little tree every few months with a teaspoon of Epsom salts dissolved in a cup or two of warm water. I soak my hands in this mixture and then pour it onto the soil. This loving attention deters yellowing leaves on the plant and soothes the gardener’s busy hands as well. Don’t forget to mist frequently with plain water to help control indoor plant pests and keep the leaves free of dust.  

To accompany the Meyer lemon, I’ve chosen a Rangpur lime (Citrus x limonia ‘Osbeck’). Challenging to grow indoors, I am nonetheless ordering it from Four Winds Growers in Fremont, California (www.fourwindsgrowers.com). Originally from India, the Rangpur lime is actually a kind of mandarin orange. It bears typical tangerine-like reddish-orange skinned fruits, but when unpeeled its orange pulp releases an unmistakable lime aroma. Because the juice is rather sour, I am told that Rangpurs make an excellent marmalade, superior to Seville oranges. And in addition, small whole fruits may be preserved or candied for gift-giving. Think of it as a conversation piece, and think of the cocktail possibilities! Rangpur lime mojito, anyone?

May I also recommend a true lime tree, the Kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix). Although very thorny (“hystrix” is Greek for porcupine), it is a must for Thai, Cambodian and other South Asian cuisine. Of particular interest to gardeners are the leaves of the Kaffir lime, as they grow uniquely, with each leaf coming out of the pointed end of the one behind. Crushing just a few leaves in your hand will produce an abundance of fragrant oil. Thinly sliced, the leaves are used to flavor many soups and curries. Although the pulp is inedible, the green bumpy rind can be zested and used sparingly in many exotic South Asian dishes. 

My indoor citrus grove must also have a Persian lime (Citrus latifolia ‘Bearss Seedless’). This reliable, easy to grow dwarf tree will reward you in the autumn with traditional looking green fruits for both cooking and bartending. Originating in California in 1895, this is the classic lime we all recognize, with yellowy-green pulp and a tangy lime flavor. But did you know that its leaves are edible and can be coated with melted chocolate? 

I purchased my Improved Meyer Lemon from Christianson’s Nursery in Mount Vernon, Washington. Why not plan a visit, which will take you very near to the charming town of La Conner for browsing the shops and lunch alongside the Channel? Christianson’s has a collection of indoor dwarf citrus in various sizes and price ranges. Go to their website for more information, including driving directions (www.christiansonsnursery.com).

In unpredictable winter weather it might be less stressful to order your citrus trees online or by telephone. A reliable grower is Raintree Nursery in Morton, Washington. They publish an extensive catalog listing a remarkable assortment of citrus, plus fruit trees, nut trees and berries of all kinds (www.raintreenursery.com). 

One of the joys of January is the ample time it affords gardeners for perusal of all manner of plant and seed catalogs in fireside comfort.

A sampling of the best: Johnny's Select Seeds

(www.johnnyseeds.com), Park Seed Company
 (www.parkseed.com), Seed Savers Exchange
 (www.seedsavers.org), Territorial Seed Company
(
www.territorial-seed.com
), Thompson & Morgan (www.tmseeds.com). My personal favorites are West Coast Seeds (www.westcoastseeds.com) in Ladner for heirloom vegetable seeds and Richters Herbs (www. Richters.com) for herb plants. I am heading to my window seat now with my West Coast Seeds catalog, pausing to check the soil dryness of the Meyer lemon before settling down to the difficult decision of which broccolis and beans to try next spring.