How Long Does a Lemon Take to Ripen?
Healthy lemon trees produce an abundance of fruit, so be sure that you are taking good care of your tree at all times. From the time a small, green lemon appears on your tree, it will generally take several months to ripen depending on the variety.
When to Harvest a Lemon
Lemons are ready to pick as soon as they are yellow or yellow-green in appearance and firm. The fruit will be 2 to 3 inches (5-7.5 cm.) in size. It’s better to wait until they are the right size and not worry so much about the color than to wait for them to be completely yellow. Lemons that are ready to be picked also have a slightly glossy appearance. Lemon picking is better too early than too late. If lemons are greenish-yellow, they will more than likely ripen off of the tree. If they are squishy, you’ve waited too long.
How to Pick Lemons
Picking lemons from a tree isn’t difficult as long as you’re careful not to damage the tree. Take the entire fruit in your hand and twist it gently until it breaks free from the tree. You can also use clean and sharp hand nippers if it is easier. Lemon picking isn’t difficult once you know a little about when to harvest a lemon, making this an easy undertaking for even the most novice of gardeners.
