Indoor Citrus Trees

A Meyer Lemon Tree is compact enough for container growth indoors (or out in warmer months). Grow lemons on the patio and enjoy the sight and scent of indoor winter blooms with this container-sized Lemon tree. Compact enough even for urban balconies and limited-space gardens, Meyer Lemon will begin bearing large, juicy, thick-skinned fruit at an early age and just keep producing them.

Buy Your Very Own Meyer Lemon Tree For Less Than $20 ... Click Here

Even if there were no fruit at all, this evergreen would be attractive enough to grow as an ornamental. The leaves are lush and glossy, the small white flowers (arising indoors in late winter, just when the house needs some color and scent!) are intensely fragrant, and the habit is upright and well-branched. Depending on the size of the container and pruning you give it, this tree could reach 8 feet high and 10 feet wide, but can also be kept much smaller with pruning.

The lemons are the real prize of Meyer, however. They arise in clusters of about 6 after the blooms pass. Then you should thin them immediately to about 2 or 3 per cluster, unless you want more plentiful - but much smaller fruits. The fruit is very juicy, with an extra-thick skin that's great for zesting. Not just ornamental, these are delicious lemons you will find yourself slicing, zesting, and squeezing all year long.

Give this tree plenty of sunshine and water indoors and out. When you bring it inside for the winter, place it before your sunniest window and rotate it frequently to get sunlight to all the leaves. It will reward you with a whole season of beauty before it's time to take it outdoors again for the warm weather!

If you're considering buying an indoor fruit tree for your home, here's our favorite, most trusted, and reasonably priced source (just click on the banner for the best price):




You'll find all sorts of interesting dwarf citrus trees, including lemon, lime, orange, and even pineapple & pomegranate!

We are very pleased to announce the addition of two new varieties of indoor citrus trees ... the indoor kumquat tree and the indoor clementine tree!

Indoor Kumquat Trees

If you're unfamiliar with kumquats, once you taste them you'll likely fall in love with their fresh, sweet taste! Kumquats are unusual in that their rind, or skin, is edible. Yes, you can eat the skin! In fact, the skin is the sweetest part of the fruit and is often used to make candies.

The indoor kumquat tree (pictured) is very prolific and will yield fruit almost all year around. Like most indoor fruit trees, it will appreciate some times outdoors on a sunny patio during the warm summer months, although this is not required.

The fragrance of this tree is particularly attractive, as is its foliage. The indoor kumquat tree will serve as a natural room freshener ... much better than any from a spray bottle!

Indoor Clementine Tree

Clementines are becoming more and more popular due to their great taste and healthy benefits. Slightly smaller than an orange, they have the added benefit of being practically seedless ...

Kids also love them becuase they are super easy to peel! The skin practically falls off, yielding the sweet, juicy fruit.

The indoor clementine tree will top off at about three feet and is remarkably pest and disease free.

If you enjoy the health benefits of fresh olives but hate paying high prices in the grocery store, you'll love this beautiful indoor olive tree, which is perfect for a sunny room inside your home ...

You'll be amazed at how prolific this little tree is ... even a smaller variety will produce over 20 pounds of olives per year! You'll get maximum fruit production from this tree if you place it outdoors for a few months during the warmer months. This hardy specimen is self pollinating and extremely trouble free ... it makes a great addition to any living space!

If you've discovered the joy of growing an indoor fruit tree, you're likely very pleased with their low maintenance. Just about anyone can grow these citrus trees in just about any living space. Their fragrant blossoms and sweet delicious fruit make them a welcome addition to any home.

Here's 5 tips for making sure your indoor fruit tree is healthy, vibrant, and productive:

1. If you need to add soil to your tree container, never use soil from the yard or anywhere outside. Get a soil mixture with perlite mixed in. You can buy this mix online or at most garden centers. The soil mixture should be an airy potting soil, and you should add soil up to the line on the trunk where discoloration from the dirt used by the nursery ends. Leave enough space at the top of the pot to water thoroughly.

2. These trees like regular watering. For the most part, every week to 10 days is plenty. When the soil is no longer damp, go ahead and water. Be thorough but don't drench the soil. As for light exposure, a western or southern exposure is best.

3. Not only do indoor citrus trees like water, they like to be fed as well. Once a month, fertilize them with a specially formulated fertilizer made for indoor citrus varieties. If you don't want to buy a specialized fertilizer, no worries. The key ingredients are zine, iron, and manganese. Most good quality multipurpose fertilizers contain these ingredients.

4. Most humans hate humidity, but as you might imagine, indoor citrus trees love it. If your living space is dry, particularly in the colder months, add moisture with a humidifier, or mist them frequently. Another good idea is to place your tree container in a tray filled with pebbles and water added to the top of the pebbles. Note of caution: Don't put your tree directly in front of a drafty vent.

5. When it gets warm outside, give your tree some TLC and let it live outside on a patio or balcony. The outdoor sun will do your tree good, but acclimate it to full sunlight gradually. We usually place our trees in a shady area for a few days first.

Other Tips

After you've owned your tree for a while, you'll notice it will produce quite a number of blossoms. Not all of these blossoms will produce fruit, but you can help encourage fruit production. Take a soft small paintbrush and brush the stamens of open blossoms from blossom to blossom. Basically, you're helping the pollination process.

Lastly, for pests, spray your tree with an organic soap spray or horticultural oil. Your most common pest will likely be spider mites, white flies or aphids. Misting the tree daily with water helps to discourage pest infestations and helps keep the tree dust free.

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People frequently want to grow some type of fruit tree in a container, usually because of poor soil, improper climate or lack of sufficient space as is often the case around apartments and condominiums. Fortunately, a wide variety of fruit trees can be grown in containers with success.

One of the principal reasons for growing fruit trees in containers is portability. Thus, tropical and subtropical fruits can be grown in containers in areas where freezes might occur. The size and mobility of the containers allows the plants to be moved indoors during periods of predicated freezing temperatures. Many fruits can be successfully grown in containers: Meyer lemons (my favorite), key limes, dwarf oranges, kumquats, avocados, dwarf bananas, papaya, guava, blackberry, dwarf grapefruit, blueberry and fig are among the best suited for growing indoors and out in a small space. Most will produce some fruit if given proper care. The list is by no means complete, as most fruit trees could be grown in containers if the size of the container were not a problem. [The wider availability of many types of dwarf fruit trees also greatly increases the choices that container gardeners have.]

Containers may be plastic, metal, clay, ceramic, wood or any others normally available at nurseries and garden supply stores. Used whisky barrels cut in half are excellent or wooden boxes may be built to order. The container should have adequate holes at the bottom for drainage of excess water.

Potting
The drainage holes of the container may be covered with pieces of screen mesh to prevent the soil from washing out. A layer of gravel 1-2 in. (2-5 cm) should be placed in the bottom of the container to facilitate drainage.

Any commercial potting soil should be suitable for growing fruit trees. However, a mixture of 1 part sand, 1 part peat and 1 part bark, perlite or vermiculite will also serve quite well. The potting medium should be loose enough to permit adequate but not excessive drainage.

Examine the root system of the plant. If it is pot-bound or has experienced severe root crowding in its previous container, judiciously prune some of the larger roots and loosen others to facilitate root proliferation in the new container.

The container should be partially filled with soil (large containers should be filled at the site they are expected to remain). Place the plant in the partially filled container of soil to its correct planting depth which is the depth at which the plant was previously grown. The final soil surface should be 1-4 in. (2-10 cm) below the rim of the container, in direct proportion to container size, to allow for watering.

Complete filling the container and firm the soil around the plant. Water thoroughly but do not fertilize until new growth commences. An attractive mulch of bark, gravel or other material can be added to improve the appearance of the container.

Light
Most fruit crops grow best in full sunlight, but some will do well in partial shade. However, plants grow in direct proportion to the amount of light received, if other conditions are optimum, so container grown fruit trees should be placed where they will receive maximum sunlight.

It is important that rapid changes in light exposure be avoided, i.e. plants growing in partial shade should not be suddenly exposed to complete, direct sunlight. Any plants that are to be grown indoors part of the year should be acclimated by gradually reducing the light to which they are exposed for 2-3 weeks before moving them inside and vice versa for plants being moved outdoors. Such acclimation is not necessary for plants that are to be moved indoors for few days during freezes.

Temperature
Tropical and subtropical fruit trees cannot tolerate freezing temperatures for very long. Some will be killed back to the soil by mild freezes while only small twigs will be killed on others. Some root damage can occur because the root system is not as well insulated from cold in a container as it would be in the ground.

Cold hardiness depends on the plant, the care it receives and many other factors. Protection from severe cold is essential for all tropical and subtropical fruits growing in containers. Plants may be covered temporarily with blankets, paper or other material as protection against hard freezes, but such material should be removed each morning to allow the plants to take full advantage of incoming solar radiation. Plants moved indoors during cold spells should be placed away from drafts caused by doors and heating ducts.

Water
Most container grown plants that do not thrive are usually in poor condition due to faulty watering practices, usually overwatering. Plants growing in containers should be watered only as needed. The frequency of watering depends upon such variables as type and size of plant, type and size of container, temperature, humidity, potting medium and other factors. For most plants, the upper surface of the soil should be allowed to become dry to the touch before watering. Then water thoroughly by slowly filling the container. Good drainage of excess water from the container is essential.

The soil in plastic, metal and ceramic containers generally stays wet longer than it does in wood or clay containers, which allow water to evaporate through the sides. Cool weather generally slows plant growth and this reduces the plant's need for moisture, so watering should be less frequent during cool weather.

Fertilizer
Good nutrition is essential to the success of container-grown fruit trees, but excess fertilizer can result in overgrowth, poor fruit and possible dieback due to salt accumulation. Water-soluble fertilizers are widely available and should be used according to label directions. If mature foliage is deep green in color, adequate fertilizer is being used.

Many fertilizers can be used successfully, provided they are complete and balanced. The fertilizer should contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in balanced proportions and should include lesser amounts or traces of magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc and copper. The ingredients and quantities of each nutrient contained are listed on the fertilizer label.

Salt accumulation may sometimes be a problem and is often indicated by a white crust on the soil or container and may be due to excess fertilization and/or water containing considerable soluble salts. Should this occur, the container should be thoroughly leached by slowly running water through the container for several minutes. This will carry excess salts down through the soil and out the drainage holes.

Pruning
With few exceptions, fruit trees will develop and maintain their natural shape with little or no training or pruning. They will occasionally become "leggy" when grown indoors or in poor light for too long. Leggy branches should be partially cut back to force branching and bushiness.

Frequently, the top will grow rather large and begin to exceed the capability of the root system. Consequently, some leaf shed and twig dieback will often occur. Such plants should be pruned back heavily to rejuvenate them. When plants area heavily pruned, less fertilizer and water will be necessary to compensate for the reduced plant size.

Fruitfulness
Most fruit crops will produce fruit in containers, given time, good care and adequate size and age. However, naturally large fruit trees will require larger containers to bear much fruit, as the amount of fruit produced is proportional to the plant's size, so large yields should not be expected. Many fruit plants need to be large in order to fruit at all, so their size can quickly become limiting in containers. Some fruit crops also require the presence of pollenizer cultivars and pollinating insects. Flowers can be pollinated by hand if needed.

Be sure to visit our comprehensive indoor fruit tree site:
www.indoorcitrustrees.com

The keys to successful container growing are:

1. Select the right size pot with adequate drainage holes (we recommend a 16+ inch pot)

2. Use a soil mix that is lightweight and drains well.

3. Develop a watering schedule so the tree stays on the dry side of moist.

4. Provide 6 - 8 hours of direct sunlight (or a grow light) per day.

5. Plant the tree so the root collar is above the soil line and the top of the root crown is barely below the soil. Do not cover the trunk with soil at all.

Who doesn't love strawberries and blueberries?

They're sweet, delicious, and especially healthy to eat ... and easy to grow. The only problem is ... birds and small critters just LOVE munching on these berries, often just a day or so before you're ready to pick them!

Fortunately, that problem is now solved with the newest introduction to indoor fruiting plants, the indoor strawberry plant. This prolific little plant grows beautifully in containers and thrives indoors near a sunny window or window sill. Best of all, it produces pounds and pounds of teacup sized straweberries all year around!

Similarly, indoor blueberry bushes offer the same type of yield while protecting the fruit from poaching by birds and wildlife. Exceptionally easy to care for, about all you need to do for these plants is provide ample sunlight and water per the growing instructions ...

Both the indoor strawberry and indoor blueberry plants top off at slightly less than 2 feet in height, with a similar size spread, making them not only useful for your family but an attractive houseplant that is a great conversation starter!

Meyer Lemon Bars

Crust:

1 cup butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups flour

Pat into 9x13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Filling:

4 eggs (lightly beaten)
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice
Grated rind of 2 lemons

Pour over hot crust and return to oven for 20-25 minutes. When cool dust with powdered sugar and cut into bars.

Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette

3 Meyer lemons
1 teaspoon champagne vinegar
1 teaspoon white balsamic vinegar
½ teaspoon finely minced fresh rosemary
3 shallots, finely minced
1 Tablespoon mild honey
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1-cup olive oil

Finely grate the zest from the lemons; set aside. Juice the lemons (you need ½ cup). Combine the ½ cup lemon juice and the vinegars. Add the herbs, shallots, honey, lemon zest and the salt and pepper to taste. Whisk in the oil.

Several important insect pests affect fruit grown in the home garden. Good quality, satisfactory fruit cannot be grown without good pest control and tree care. If you wish to grow your own fruit, you must be willing to learn the important pests and the methods to control them and then be willing to expend the time and effort to do the job right. This information will help you to understand the main pests that affect fruit trees and the methods to produce good quality fruit.

Before fruit trees are planted, home fruit growers should be aware of the time and work they entail and must be willing to care for them properly. The following cultural methods will reduce many pest problems without using pesticides.

Sanitation includes pruning and cleaning up twigs and branches and fruit that drops to the ground. Proper watering and fertilization helps maintain tree health and reduce stress. Good weed control beneath fruit trees (when trees may be outdoors during the summer) reduces habitat for cutworms, whiteflies, aphids and other pests.

Some of the most common pests are: moths, aphids, ants, leafhoppers, red spider mites, twig borers and fruit flies. Misting your trees with water daily can help prevent an infestation, plus your trees will thank you for the added humidity! If you see any insects, especially under leaves or stems, spray your tree with an organic soap spray. Always wash fruit off thoroughly before eating.

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Spiders, lady beetles, lacewings, and preying mantis are some of the beneficial insects you may see around your citrus tree when its outdoors in the summer. These bugs tend to eat the "bad guys" so they are good for your garden.

Do you like to cook with limes or use them as a garnish for your favorite drinks? Now you can grow limes of your very own with a fragrant and handsome indoor lime tree. Here are five tips to help you grow a lime tree indoors ...

Indoor lime trees are one of many varieties of indoor fruit trees, which as the name implies are developed specifically to grow indoors. For the most part, these trees are very hardy and easy care. They adapt well to almost any environment and are ideal for beginning and expert gardeners alike.

We have successfully grown numerous varieties of indoor citrus trees for years, and you can too. Not only is there a real sense of satisfaction from growing your own fruit, but these trees add a touch of the tropics to any living space. Their fresh, clean scent acts as a natural air freshener for any room in your home.

Here are five quick tips to help you with growing lime trees indoors:

Buy From A Reputable Source

Most indoor citrus trees are not expensive, so don't over pay. Thirty dollars or so is the most you should expect to pay, except in the case of certain ornamental bonsai fruit trees.

When it is shipped to you, your tree should be established, meaning about a year old and planted sturdily in a container.

Choose The Proper Location

The biggest key to success is providing your tree adequate sunlight. We recommend a southern or western exposure. Afternoon sun is best but don't worry if your location only provides morning sun. As long as your tree gets on average six hours of sun per day it will be fine.

Do Not Over Water

Before watering, the soil in the container should be on the dry side of moist. Depending on the humidity level in your home, this usually means weekly watering. These trees go through a rest period in the colder months, so water less frequently during winter. Wait until the soil is almost completely dry before watering. Because your home is probably drier in winter, a weekly watering schedule all year around is a good rule of thumb.

Mist The Tree

Mist your lime tree with a spray bottle using tepid water a couple of times per week. These are tropical plants so they enjoy humidity. A simple misting not only provides humidity but also wards off any pests that may cling to the plant, like fruit flies.

Summer Is Moving Season

While it is not mandatory, your lime tree will enjoy spending a few months outdoors in the summer. A patio or balcony works well and it will have more direct exposure to the sun. Another benefit is your tree will be naturally pollinated by bees and other insects if it is outdoors.

Summary

Growing lime trees indoors is a rewarding, low maintenance gardening project that is ideal for any level of gardener. By following these simple care tips, you can expect several pounds of limes per year. Further, these trees add a wonderful scent to any living area in your home.

We've enjoyed a great yield from our indoor Bearss lime tree - click the banner below for more information and our special price:

Fig Trees are members of the Ficus family and thrive in warm climates, but there are special dwarf varieties that do quite well with a combination of indoor and outdoor settings ...

Dwarf Fig Trees are low-maintenance and grow quickly in containers. They love to be misted daily to provide the humid environment of their Mediterranean origin. It takes on average two years for the trees to produce fruit. The delicious fruit is sweet and plum-sized, ideal for eating, baking, or making preserves.

Dwarf Fig Trees do well in containers indoors, and then enjoy being outdoors during the summer months. Do not overwater the trees since they especially dislike sitting in run-off water which can cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop, and the fruit can split open. Watering once every 7 - 10 days should be sufficient.

Blooming will not occur if the light level is too low so make sure your dwarf fig tree gets plenty of light - ideally 6 hours a day.

This is a recipe for "real" Key Lime pie. Real Key lime pie is not green and it does not have a soft "pudding" texture. The pie gets its true pale yellow color from the egg yolks that predominate the ingredient list. And the texture is a "firm custard". Be careful that you don't over-bake the pie or it will be "rubbery". For best results use fresh Key Limes, not bottled juice. The traditional preparation does not put any meringue on the top of the pie. This is a very simple recipe and only takes a few minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to bake.

Serves: 8
I N G R E D I E N T S
Crust
16 graham crackers, crushed
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cube (1/4 lb) margarine or butter

I N S T R U C T I O N S
Mix the ingredients and press them into a 9" pie plate. Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 10 - 12 minutes until lightly browned. Place on a rack to cool.

_________________________

I N G R E D I E N T S
Pie
4 large or extra large egg yolks
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup fresh key lime juice (approximately 12 Key limes)
2 teaspoons grated lime peel, green portion only

Whipping Cream For Garnish (Optional)
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

I N S T R U C T I O N S
Use an electric mixer and beat the egg yolks until they are thick and turn to a light yellow, don't over mix. Turn the mixer off and add the sweetened condensed milk. Turn speed to low and mix in half of the lime juice. Once the juice is incorporated add the other half of the juice and the zest, continue to mix until blended (just a few seconds). Pour the mixture into the pie shell and bake at 350F for 12 minutes to set the yolks and kill any salmonella in the egg

SERVING
If you are using the whipping cream garnish, prepare the cream. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

Pomegranate Guacamole

2 large ripe avocados
1/2 large onion, grated
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 fresh chilies, serranos, seeded
2 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves
1 freshly squeezed lime
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pomegranate juice
3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds

Finely chop the onion, garlic, chilies serranos, and coriander leaves. Place in bowl and add lime juice and salt, set aside. Peel and pit the avocados and place in a bowl. Mash with fork slowly adding the tablespoon of pomegranate juice. Add onion and garlic mixture and fold together to make a course pulp. Gently fold in pomegranate seeds. Serve with warm tortillas, tostadas, or corn chips.

Serves 6

Try these new varieties of dwarf fruit trees. All are ideally grown indoors in a sunny location during cold months, then bring outside during warm months. Easy to grow and very satisfying!!

Citrus Three In One

If you can't decide which tree or trees you want, try this variety. It produces lemons, oranges, and tangerines all on one tree! It tops off at four feet and the fruit is full sized.

Grapefruit

The grapefruit from this tree is slightly smaller, with a pinkish flesh. The fruit is seedless and less tart than traditional grapefruit.

Dwarf Banana

This fast growing specimen will grow five to six feet tall and produce six inch bananas within two years. The tree has big, deep green textured leaves which really adds an element of the tropics to your home.

Pineapple

This drought resistant small tree bears pineapples that are more fleshy, without the woody center of store bought pineapples.

Papaya

An exotic looking specimen that grows only three feet tall, the dwarf papaya tree is a fast grower that produces fruit within a year.

Summary

More and more options are available for those who want to grow their own fruit indoors. These hardy indoor fruit trees are ideal for any living space and will thrive with only minimal care. Further, they are quite inexpensive, with most varieties costing less than $20.

Perfect for beginning and expert gardeners alike, Indoor Fruit Trees are the perfect addition to any living space. Their gentle fragrant scent serves as a natural air freshener and adds a touch of the tropics to any living space.

4 boneless, chicken breast halves (about one pound), cut into bite-sized pieces
½ cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
½ cup fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons finely grated mandarin zest (3 mandarins)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 mandarins
2 cups watercress leaves
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
¼ cup toasted coconut or chopped almonds (optional)

Mix yogurt, ginger, ¼ cup of mint leaves, mandarin zest, cumin, black pepper in a bowl. Cut 1 mandarin in half, squeeze juice half of it into yogurt mixture and mix. Add chicken and turn in marinade. Evenly cover, and set aside for 1 hour or refrigerate for up to 12 hours.

Put remaining mint leaves and watercress in a bowl and squeeze in juice from remaining mandarin half. Turn greens to distribute juice. Peel remaining mandarins, removing all white pith, divide into sections and cut each section in half. Add to bowl of greens. In a skillet over medium heat, warm vegetable oil. Using slotted spoon, add chicken to skillet. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour off collected juices from skillet and return to heat. Continue to cook until meat turns lightly golden, another minute or two. Add chicken to greens and fruit. Toss to mix well. If desired, sprinkle coconut or almonds over top. Serves 3 or 4.

- From 'Citrus,' by Ethel and Georgeanne Brennan;
courtesy of Four Winds Growers.

With a little patience and the proper environment, you can grow fruit indoors. A variety of dwarf fruit trees are available, including orange, lemon, lime, nectarine, banana, kiwi, apple and avocado. Though you can start some of these trees from seed, flowering and fruiting are more likely to result from a cutting or from grafted stock. In addition, self-pollinating varieties are easier to grow than cross-pollinators, which require another variety of the same type of tree nearby to furnish pollen.

Adequate (bright) light is essential for growing fruit indoors. Keep the soil of fruit trees evenly moist, especially in spring and summer. Turn plants to provide even light, and mist their leaves occasionally. To ensure proper care, always read the growing instructions that come with a purchased tree.

Here are a few favorite varieties and tips about their culture requirements:

Kumquat:

The Nagami kumquat, or Hong Kong kumquat (Fortunella hinsii), makes an excellent houseplant.
Blooms in summer and fall; oval orange-colored edible fruit ripens in late winter through spring.
Keep in a spot that gets at least a half-day of direct sun. Fertilize monthly year-round. Greatest environmental danger is from air conditioning and artificial heat.

Citrus:

More challenging as houseplants, but not impossible.
Recommended varieties include Tahitian lime (seedless, juicy), Ponderosa lemon, Christmas tangerine.

Need full sun for as many hours as possible. Keep soil evenly moist in spring and summer, drier in fall and winter. Avoid extremes of wet, dry, hot and cold. Requires 50 percent humidity.

Fig:

Edible fruit from early summer to fall.
Use a rich potting mix; keep soil slightly moist. Fertilize four times a year.

Pomegranate:

A good variety to try is Nana dwarf (Punica granatum), which produces orange-red ornamental fruit from July to November; also good as bonsai.
Place in a sunny window, keep soil moist, fertilize bi-monthly.

We recently discovered how easy and rewarding it is to grow tomatoes indoors. In the Midwest, we are only able to plant tomatoes in late May then finally reap a harvest in July - August. Then the sensitive plants usually die in September - a very short-lived season! Growing them indoors can be done year around - and think of the benefits: Fresh, hand-picked fruit even in the winter months. Enjoy salads, bruschetta, homemade pasta sauce, and all of your favorite recipes. No need to pay the high prices at the grocery stores when you can grow the easy care plants yourself.

Buy a good quality, affordable Indoor Tomato Plant by clicking here.

Try our homemade salsa recipe below. A family favorite!

3 large tomatoes
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely minced
2 Serrano or jalapeño peppers, finely chopped
3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
1/8 teaspoon oregano, finely crushed
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 avocado, diced

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a glass bowl.

2. Serve immediately or refrigerate and serve within 4 or 5 hours.

Yield: 4 cups fresh salsa. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

As with most trees and shrubs, pruning is important for nice shape, good health, and overall productivity of dwarf citrus trees. Regular maintenance pruning to remove dead or diseased wood, or wood that is growing awkwardly, is also very important. But unlike pruning ornamental trees and shrubs, properly pruning dwarf citrus trees makes a difference between large, annual crops of excellent fruit, or intermittent crops of variable quality.

Because Dwarf Citrus trees are encouraged to bear lots of large fruits, pruning the trees will help develop a strong branch system capable of withstanding the annual load of ripe fruit. Prune middle branches on dwarf citrus trees to allow ample sunlight to reach into the middle of the tree, otherwise fruits will not ripen properly and will lack good color. Pruning also allows for good air circulation through the crown, and that prevents disease and discourages pests from making a home in your tree.

A dwarf citrus tree allowed to bear all the fruit it sets in the spring will produce lots of poor quality fruit, or it will produce well only every other year. For consistently good crops you MUST thin clusters of young fruit to a single fruit. Do this when the fruit is still small (marble to golf-ball size - depending on variety). Each fruit should be six inches or more from its neighbor. Such thorough fruit thinning is time consuming, but you will appreciate the effort and be rewarded with a better quality crop.

Citrus doesn't like soggy wet feet. Light, well-drained soil is the best. How often to water varies with soil porosity, size of tree, and temperature conditions.

* A wilted tree means too little water

* A tree with yellow leaves or folded leaves can indicate too much water ( or needs fertilizer )

If the tree is outdoors for the warm months, check it once or twice a week and water when the soil is dry.

When indoors, water your tree once a week - approx. 1/4 gallon of water.

Did you know you can grow oranges indoors? Dwarf orange trees are smaller varieties of traditional citrus trees that produce an amazing amount of fruit for their size. Let's take a closer look at dwarf orange trees, including the best ways to care for them ...

Dwarf orange trees are one of several varieties of indoor fruit trees that are specifically designed to grow in containers indoors. Some of the other popular types are Meyer lemon, lime, pomegranate, tangerine, and even pineapple! Within the orange family, several types are available, like navel, blood oranges, and traditional juice oranges.

More About Dwarf Orange Trees

First of all, you can find these trees at specialty online gardening retailers. Be sure to buy from a trusted, recommended source because you want to get a tree that is healthy and established. Your tree will be shipped to you in a container that should be suitable for several years.

With proper care, your tree should bear fruit within a year. We'll talk about care tips in a moment, but these trees are very hardy. Even beginning gardeners have great success with indoor citrus trees, prompting them to get hooked on gardening as a hobby.

Click the banner for our special price (less than $20!) on dwarf orange trees:



At full maturity, a dwarf orange tree will reach about four feet in height. The oranges themselves will be similar to what you find in a grocery store in terms of size. Generally, they will be sweeter and juicier due to the smaller size of the tree, because the full energy of the growth system is devoted to producing fruit.

Even when the tree is not bearing fruit, it will make a wonderful addition to any room in your home. They have a pleasant, almost tropical scent. The leaves are a glossy green and white flowers will bloom as well. Our dwarf orange tree serves as a natural air freshener, and yours will too!

Care Tips

As mentioned, these trees are very hardy and easy to care for, but there are a few tips you'll need to know. First, place the container in an area that gets plenty of sunlight. This is key. To thrive, it will need about six hours of sun per day. A western or southern exposure works best, but any sunny area will do.

Next, water the tree when the soil is almost completely dry. You will find that in most cases you will need to water once per week. In the interim, mist it with tepid water from a spray bottle. Indoor citrus trees like humidity, and misting them not only provides more humidity for them, but it prevents nuisance pests, like fruit flies.

Finally, if possible, place your tree outdoors on a patio or balcony during the warm summer months and into the early fall. Bring it inside again when temperatures start to drop near 40 degrees at night. While it is not a requirement to place your tree outside, we find it helps growth and fruit production. Further, the tree will become naturally pollinated by bees and other insects.

Summary

With just a little care, you too can grow oranges indoors with your very own dwarf orange tree. This variety is one of many indoor citrus trees available from online specialty retailers.

Be sure to follow the simple care tips, like providing adequate sunlight, misting, and weekly watering. Your tree should last for years to come!

Calamondin Jelly

1 cup ground calmondin orange and juice
3 cups water, or 2 cups water and 1 cup pineapple juice
4 cups sugar

Boil ground calamondin, juice and liquid for 10 minutes. Add the sugar and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until it turns into jelly, about 20 minutes.