Grow Lemons Where You Think You Can't

by Steven Biggs

Grow and harvest fresh lemons, even in a temperate climate.


In Grow Lemons Where You Think You Can’t, bestselling author Steven Biggs shares his tips, techniques, and anecdotes for growing these fruitful and fragrant ornamental trees in garden zones where they don’t usually survive.


Covering everything from lemon varieties, to location and watering, to pruning and shaping, to overwintering, dealing with pests, and more—and including insights from fellow citrus enthusiasts in Canada, the USA, and the UK—this book will give you the confidence you need to grow and harvest fresh lemons wherever you live.


If you like Steven’s book Grow Figs Where You Think You Can’t, you’ll love Grow Lemons Where You Think You Can’t.


Here’s what people said about Grow Figs Where You Think You Can’t:

“Biggs reveals a barrow full of figgy facts like these in his delightful little paperback…” — Toronto Star, July 2012, Garden Columnist Sonia Day


“Interested in fig culture? Here’s the book you need. In this simple and friendly guide, find tips, techniques and anecdotes, as well as expert advice.” — Le Devoir, September 2013, Garden Columnist Lise Gobeille


“One of six Canadian books that will change the way you garden—and eat.” — Globe and Mail, August 2012, Sherry Firing


“The book is terrific! Smart, informative and funny. It attenuates my ‘fig anxiety’ with all your practical advice.” — Sarah G. Toronto, Ontario


About Steven Biggs

Steven Biggs has worked in horticulture and agriculture for more than 25 years. After studying horticulture at the University of Guelph, he worked in greenhouse and nursery production, plant propagation, biological controls, horticultural supplies, and farm marketing. Steven writes practical and fun gardening books. He is the author of Gardening with Emma, Grow Lemons Where You Think You Can’t, Grow Gardeners: Kid-Tested Gardening with Children, Grow Figs Where You Think You Can't, No Guff Vegetable Gardening, and No Nonsense Vegetable Gardening.

149 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2019

Reviews

[Calciferocious · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2018 a very generous and skillful gardener friend "gifted" me three baby citrus trees. Despite my aversion to keeping fiddly plants, I have somehow kept them alive since then, but every winter they get bugs and drop all their leaves and it's just a terrible scene until I can put them back out on the deck in the spring.

So I picked up this book for the 5-page section on overwintering in temperate zones. The whole thing is very readable and not very long, kind of an extended blog post. There are many very short chapters and large photos. No section goes into a lot of detail but it does cover the basics of cultivation, from potting and soil mixes to a few recommended varieties. I was a little surprised that the recipes section only had two recipes that need more than a small amount of lemon juice or zest... I was expecting suggestions for using up a bounty crop when a bunch of fruits are ready at the same time. Seems like the best bet is sorbet! At any rate I did get the general information I needed, if not in a lot of depth, and I'm looking forward to sticking the trees in the basement for the winter and seeing if they fare a little better.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been looking for a good all around citrus book and this is the one that gets recommended. For the most part it is informative and helpful. I was looking for information on hand pollinating container plants that bloom indoors. This has absolutely nothing on pollination at all, which is big thing to leave out.

Also this book has the ugliest cover I've ever seen on a gardening book. I cringe everytime I look at it.