Citrus bergamia, the bergamot lemon tree
Citrus bergamia
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9b (-3.9°C ≤ T° < -1.1°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Genus
- Citrus
- Species
- Bergamot Citrus bergamia
Other names:Citrus x limon Bergamot, Citrus bergamia 'Bergamot'
Who would have thought that the common ingredient in Eau de Cologne and Earl Grey tea comes from southern Italy? Both contain the essence produced by the fruit of Citrus bergamia, a hybrid between lemon tree (Citrus x limon) and bitter Orange (Citrus × aurantium f. Aurantium). This highly fragrant tree is grown almost exclusively in Calabria.
How to recognize Citrus bergamia?
Citrus bergamia is a bushy shrub. It grows to a height of four meters and a spread of 1.5 m.
The slender, brown-barked trunk bears highly branched branches. The branches are slightly thorny, as in the lemon tree.
The tough, dark-green, glossy leaves give off a citrus scent when crumpled.
The white flowers are also highly fragrant. They appear at the tips of branches in spring.
In summer, the flowers give rise to round or pear-shaped fruits. But you have to wait until winter, when the rough, fragrant bark turns from green to yellow, to harvest them.
Citrus bergamia is non-toxic. The fruit is edible, and the zest is used in cooking, particularly to accompany seafood. However, contact with the oil secreted by the foliage can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Remember to wear gloves when pruning your shrub.
Our care tips
Maintaining a Citrus bergamia is not difficult. Above all, you need to protect it from frost in winter and provide it with the nutrients it needs to grow. With the right potting soil and regular fertilizing, you'll soon be enjoying your own citrus fruits.
Citrus bergamia citrus trees need regular watering all year round. During hot spells, water early in the morning or in the evening. Water evaporates less quickly, and your shrub benefits from it for longer.
Watering
Before watering, make sure the substrate is two or three centimetres dry by dipping your fingers into the soil. If this is the case, moisten the root ball with non-calcareous water at room temperature.
To avoid drowning the roots, don't leave stagnant water in the dish.
Repotting
Every year in the spring, repot your Citrus bergamia to give it more space.
When roots are sticking out of the pot or visible on the surface, it's time to repot!
To prepare your Citrus bergamia for repotting, soak the root ball. Then gently loosen the root ball.
Choose a terracotta pot or a wooden planter. Both materials promote water evaporation and reduce the risks associated with excessive watering. Make sure the container has drainage holes to allow water to drain.
Place a layer of clay pellets or gravel at the bottom to aid drainage.
Fill the rest with a rich substrate, such as a special citrus potting mix or general-purpose potting mix. You can make your own mix using:
- one-third potting mix;
- one-third garden soil;
- pozzolan.
Place your shrub in the center. The top of the root ball should be two centimeters below the rim of the pot. Fill in with substrate and firm it down to remove air pockets. When planting, be sure not to bury the root collar.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Citrus bergamia, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
Citrus bergamia are greedy plants. They need to be fertilized. Feed yours with a special liquid or granulated citrus fertilizer.
Cleaning
The dust that accumulates on foliage hinders photosynthesis and the growth of your Bergamot. You can remove it with a damp cloth or clean sponge.
Harvest
Harvesting takes place when the fruit has taken on its final color and can be easily detached from the branch.
Prune
Size is not essential. It only helps to control shape and development and improves fruiting. When pruning, always use clean, sharp pruning shears.
Citrus trees flower and fruit on the year's wood. To maintain the compact, rounded shape of your shrub, remove dead branches and shoots growing along the trunk. You can also aerate the center by removing some shoots that have already borne fruit in previous years.
If you want to improve your harvest, you can also carry out a fruiting pruning operation: one month after the appearance of a new shoot, prune it back to a height of 20 centimetres.
Pinch
Pinch your Citrus bergamia during its growing season.
Pinch to encourage branching. When new leaves appear, pinch them between your fingers. Snip the leaf with your fingernails.
Planting
When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.
Find them a place sheltered from the wind and isolated from other plants. Citrus plants have shallow roots and don't like to share their space.
Dig a hole 70 centimetres wide and 1 metre in diameter. While you're at it, soak the root ball.
Plant the plant in the middle, with the top of the rootball level with the ground. Take care not to bury the collar.
Citrus bergamia plants thrive in light, well-drained, rich soil. When filling in, add potting soil or citrus soil to your garden soil. Tamp and water.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Substrate
- Humus soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsIn tubs
- Categories
- TreeShrubFruit treeFlowery
- Tags
- Edible fruitFloweryCold-sensitive
- Origin
- Southern Europe
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9b (-3.9°C ≤ T° < -1.1°C)
- Leaf color
- Dark green
- Flower color
- White
- Fruit colors
- Light greenYellow
Discover plants from the same family
Lemon tree
Citrus x limon
Clementine
Citrus x clementina
Mandarin
Citrus reticulata
Orange
Citrus sinensis
Find out more
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