THE TYPES OF COMMERCIAL LEMONS
POPULAR IN VENTURA COUNTY

EUREKAS

Eurekas, generally speaking, are less vigorous than Lisbons, have fewer thorns, grow less rankly, and bear smoother, more delicately textured fruit. They are generally shorter-lived than Lisbons All tend toward Sieve Tube Necrosis (STN) (a dying of the phloem tubes at the bud union) and so decline with age. Eurekas on C. macrophylla rootstock are exceptionally precocious and productive but C. macrophylla also develops STN and can have a productive life as short as 12 years.

Allen. This seedling line is the most popular of our Eureka varieties. It bears very well, has high quality fruit and seems as healthy as any of the Eurekas. Allen has the best longevity on C. macrophylla rootstock. Bud Source: Tree No. 24 of the south row of the Thille Test Block in Santa Paula.

Allen Old Line. Some old surviving trees of the original Allen were Òcleaned upÓ of inherent viruses and diseases and propagated for planting in the 1990s. Though the fruit quality is excellent, the trees seem slower to come into production and may lag in overall yields compared to the Allen nucellar seedling line above.

Frost Neucellar Another fine Eureka that has fine quality and size on older trees. Its best longevity is on rootstocks other than C. macrophylla.

Cook. and UCLA Fine selections that have not been requested for many years.

LISBONS

Lisbons are generally more vigorous than Eurekas; thornier, more rank in their growth, bear equally fine crops, and bear coarser fruit. The trees tend to live longer than the Eurekas. Most, with the exception of the Frost Lisbon, are not prone toward Sieve Tube Necrosis.

Limco 8A. Our most popular lemon selection. This is an old line strain derived from Limoneira Olivelands 8A-36-2. It is a vigorous, fruitful line preferred above all others by the Limoneira Company. The tree is smaller than other Lisbons and considered more manageable. The tree is more open growing than the Strongs and Prior and exposes outside fruit to the wind. It is not particularly free of thorns, nor is the fruit of the highest quality. It is free of serious diseases, however, and fruits early and abundantly.

Dr. Strong, Old Line. This tree also does well in these locations. Traditionally, it is planted more in the inland and interior zones. The fruit tends to be better shaped and larger than the fruit of the Limco 8A. It begins bearing somewhat later in the life of the tree. It also is a very popular Lisbon. The buds are derived from fine 40-year old trees on the Glen Good ranch, Santa Paula. The tree formerly had exocortis but current bud source trees are free from the disease.

Strong, Seedling (Hardison #1). This is a seedling strain grown from an Old Line Strong. The tree is more vigorous than the Strong Old Line. It is thorny. There has been less experience with this line but, so far, it has borne good crops of large, pretty good looking lemons. Original seedlings were from seeds of old line Strong trees growing on the Glen Good Ranch. Domingo Hardison planted the seeds.

Prior. This tree has seen a resurgence of interest because its large fine fruit. This is a very vigorous old line strain relatively free of disease; nearly thornless as the tree matures, and does best and bears its good crops in the intermediate and interior zones. The lemon is very smooth and has the classic pointed lemon shape; the very finest of the Lisbons. Again, it tends to come into bearing a little later in its tree life than Limco 8A. Its lack of popularity is due to the following:

  1. Its tendency to be too vegetative on the coast;
  2. It comes into bearing a little later than the Limco 8A:
  3. The tree is more vigorous than the Limco 8A or Strong, requiring more pruning.

OTHER LEMON TYPES

Meyer Lemon. The tree is smaller than a true lemon, is thornless and tends to ever- bloom and have fruit over an extended season. The tree is widely used as a backyard lemon tree. The fruit that may be a lemon hybrid is thin-skinned, dark colored and less acid than a Eureka or Lisbon. The commercial niche is in farmerÕs markets and direct sales. It is precluded from handling in traditional lemon packing lines due to its lack of storability and shipability Pink Variegated Eureka. The tree is attractive because both leaves and fruit are striped yellow and pink. The fruits flesh is slightly pink though not enough for real pink lemonade. A few commercial trial trees have been planted but they have had problems holding a significant set of fruit. Older trees at Lindcove field station bear abundantly. Seedless Lisbon. The tree is not distinguished from other Lisbons but the fruit is seedless if kept away from other pollinizers.

Brokaw Nursery, Inc.
P.O. Box 4818
Saticoy, CA 93007-0818 U.S.A.
(805) 647-2262    Fax (805) 647-6493


 

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Copyright Brokaw Nursery, Inc.1999