How to Ripen Lemons

Lemons and other citrus plants ripen on the tree; once you pick a lemon, it will no longer ripen. If you purchase lemons from a supermarket, they should already be ripe and they may even last several weeks before going bad. If you picked an under-ripe lemon, you may have some success with leaving it in a bright location until it turns yellow, but you won't be able to make the lemon taste sweeter. This article will give you tips on what you can do to help your lemons ripen on your tree. It will also give you tips on what to look for when choosing lemons.

Steps

Ripening Lemons on the Counter

1. Know that lemons will never truly ripen once you take them off the tree. They may turn more yellow and grow softer, but they will not necessarily become sweeter or juicier. If you get an under-ripe lemon and leave it on your counter, it may turn more yellow but it will still taste bitter.
2. Try placing an under-ripe lemon in a bright location in your kitchen. The ideal place would be on your kitchen counter, away from direct sunlight. After a few days, the lemon will turn more yellow. Keep in mind, however, that this will not actually ripen the lemon on the inside; the lemon may still taste bitter and under-ripe even though it is yellow. It will, however, still work well as a garnish if you want to add some color to a dish or drink.
3. Understand that color is not a good indicator of ripeness. A greenish lemon does not necessarily mean that it is not yet ripe. You can still have a ripe lemon, even if it looks a little green.^[1] This is because lemons ripen from the inside out. The flesh ripens first, then the skin.^[2] If you find yourself with an under-ripe lemon, try cutting it open anyway and tasting it. You could also follow the steps listed in this method for determining whether or not a lemon is ripe.
4. Don't let an under-ripe lemon go to waste. Instead, consider using it to clean, or as an air fresher.
   • You can make an effective rust and tarnish busting scrub by mixing salt and lemon juice into a paste.
   • Add a few slices of lemon into a pot of simmering water. You can also add a few other fragrant herbs to compliment the lemon, such as rosemary.

Ripening Lemons on the Tree

1. Know what your tree requires to be healthy and bear healthy fruit. Is your tree bearing fruit, but they are not ripening? Lemon trees need plenty of sunlight and lots of water. They also need to be pruned to allow for better air circulation. Without these, the fruit won't ripen. This section will give you some tips on how to get your tree's fruit to ripen. It will also tell you when you can expect the lemons to ripen.
2. Be aware that lemons may take a while to ripen. Plan to pick lemons at least four months after the flowers bloom.^[3] Some lemons may take up to nine months to ripen. Once a lemon is ripe, however, it can stay on the tree for several weeks.^[4]
   • Lemon trees need to mature before they can bear ripe fruit. Some lemon trees may bear fruit sooner, but the fruit won't be ripe. In general, lemon trees produce ripe fruit after they are three years old.^[5] If your tree is bearing fruit, but they never ripen, check the tree's age.
   • Expect lemons to be ripe between late November and mid-January. Try to harvest your crop before mid-January, or you will risk hampering the following year's harvest.^[6]
3. Make sure that the tree is planted in a warm, sunny location. Not only does the tree need sunlight to grow, but the fruit need sunlight to turn yellow. If you are growing your tree indoors, consider keeping next to a window, ideally a south-facing one. Lemon trees need six to eight hours of sunlight each day.^[7] Lemon trees also need warmth, and grow best when temperatures average at 70°F (21°C) during the day and 55°F (13°C) at night. Keep in mind that they will usually go into dormancy when temperatures fall below 55 F. (13 C.)^[8]
4. Make sure that the soil is well-drained. Lemon trees love water, but they do not like to stand in it. Make sure that the soil is well-drained. You can also plant the tree on a slight mount. This will prevent water logging.^[9]
5. Check the pH of the soil. If the lemons have been green for a long time, it could be a sign that the tree is not healthy. Check the pH using a pH testing kit, which you can purchase from your local nursery or gardening shop. Lemon trees need a soil that has a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.^[10]
6. Water the tree well, but allow the soil to dry before you water it again.^[11] Plan on letting the first 4 to 6 inches (10.16 to 15.24 centimeters) of soil dry out first before you water the tree again. Avoid over-watering the tree, and do not let it sit in water. This could encourage rot, mold, and disease.^[12]
7. Feed the tree regularly with plant food. Choose a plant food made specifically for citrus trees, as it will have all the necessary nutrients. Lemon trees use up a lot of energy to grow and to produce leaves, flowers, and fruit. An under-nourished lemon tree won't have the energy to produce healthy fruit, which could prevent the tree from ripening.
   • Lemon trees need a lot of nitrogen to grow. The fertilizer should contain more nitrogen than phosphorus or potassium.^[13]
8. Know that indoor trees also need to be pollinated. Lemon trees growing outside get pollinated by birds and insects. A tree growing in your home won't have that opportunity, and it may not produce ripe fruit, if any at all. To pollinate your indoor lemon tree, use a Q-tip to move pollen from one flower to the next one.^[14]
9. Check for disease. If your tree's lemons just aren't ripening, you might want to check your tree for other signs of stress or disease. Check the tree for any signs of dead leaves or branches. Also, check the leaves for any signs of fungus or mold; they usually appear as black or white blotches. Another sign of disease is yellow blotches on the leaves.

Knowing When a Lemon is Ripe

1. Try to pick a ripe lemon the first time around. Because lemons don't really ripen once they are picked, it's best to pick the right lemon from the start. This section will give you a few tips on what to look for when selecting lemons. Once you know what to look for, you will be less-likely to choose and be stuck with an under-ripe lemon.
2. Look for a lemon that has a bright, yellow color. Keep in mind, however, that lemons ripen from the inside. This means that the lemon's skin will be the last part to ripen. You can still have a lemon that is ripe and juicy on the inside, and greenish on the outside.^[15]
   • Myer lemons will have a deeper yellow color; some might be more orange.
3. Choose a lemon that is heavy for its size. This means that the lemon is filled with a lot of juice. Most lemons will be between 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to 7.62 centimeters) long.^[16][17]
4. Check the firmness. The ideal lemon should be firm, yet somewhat tender. A lemon that is too hard will be either under-ripe or shriveled inside.^[18]
   • Myer lemons have a thinner skin than regular lemons. They are ripe when they are soft. If you can push the skin of the lemon in more than ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) it may be over-ripe.^[19]
5. Look for lemons that have a smooth or glossy texture. Lemons that have too much of a bumpy texture will be under-ripe or not juicy enough. Another thing to look for is a waxy shine on the surface of the lemon.^[20]
   • Watch out for wrinkling. This is a sign your lemon is overripe.
6. Know how to pick lemons off of trees. If you are harvesting lemons from a tree, you might want to put on a pair of gardening gloves; lemon trees often have thorns that can scratch you if you are not careful. Find a ripe fruit and grasp it in your hand. Gently twist it.^[21] The lemon should come off easily If it doesn't come off easily, then it probably is not ripe yet.
7. Taste the lemon to test whether or not it is truly ripe. If you are looking to harvest a bunch of lemons, but aren't sure whether or not they are ripe, you can always cut one in half and taste it. Most lemons will have a sour, but not bitter, taste to them. Meyer lemons, however, will be a little more sweet and less sour.
   • Use a refractometer if you don’t want to test by taste, sight, or touch. Squeeze a drop of juice from the lemon onto the refractometer and look at the Brix scale. Pick lemons that have a sucrose level between 6 and 12, with 8 to 12 percent being the best.

Tips

• The longer you leave a lemon on the tree, the sweeter it will become. The sooner you pick it, the more sour it will be.^[22]

Sources and Citations

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