When do lemons bloom? A guide to the seasonality and harvesting of Sicilian lemons

The soul of Sicily, together with oranges, the lemon is a plant defined as “generous” since it gives its fruits for most of the year. But in particular, what is the cycle of this plant, and when does the lemon bloom? In this article, you will find a guide to blooming, harvesting, and lemon season.

The seasonality of lemons: an endless cycle

It is no coincidence that the lemon is a constant presence in kitchens and in particular in the Mediterranean gastronomic tradition. In fact, unlike other citrus fruits, the lemon is a so-called “remontant”, a characteristic that allows this plant to flower and bear fruit several times a year.

The lemon season is therefore a cycle that never stops, unlike seasonal trees such as orange. Also thanks to the climate, in particular the Sicilian one, which acts as the engine of this continuous cycle path that occurs in different seasons with fruits characterized by specific peculiarities.

When does lemon bloom? The fragrant magic of orange blossom

To tell this journey, we can start with flowers, that is to say orange blossom. The name alone is already capable of sending the mind and senses back to the intoxicating scent of this typical citrus flowering. As far as lemon blossom is concerned, it is possible to encounter plants on which flowers and fruits are found at the same time: but in detail, when does the lemon bloom?

The main flowering: the awakening of spring

When it comes to lemon blossom, the main period is certainly spring between the months of March and April. This is the most abundant flowering, capable of releasing the most intense scent and which will give life to the most full-bodied winter harvest.

Secondary blooms and the charm of “re-bloomers”

Of equal importance, however, are also the blooms in June and September, which will respectively give lemon varieties such as bianchetto and verdello. It is precisely in these secondary blooms that nature redoubles its effort, so as to guarantee fruits even during the summer and not only in winter.

When do lemons ripen? The transition from green to yellow

Even in the case of lemons, the ripening process is a slow and delicate mechanism that can take 6 to 9 months. Unlike other fruits, color is not the only indicator of whether the lemon has ripened. But to explain how and when lemons ripen, it is important to start from the principle and the main protagonist: temperature.

The role of temperature range

As anticipated, the climate plays a fundamental role in the cycle of plants, especially citrus plants. In particular, it is the temperature that plays an important role in the case of lemons. An example? It is precisely the alternation between the cold of the night and the sunny heat of the morning that allows the lemon to be given its characteristic yellow color.

The iconic color of this fruit is therefore determined by the temperature difference between day and night. In fact, in the absence of this temperature range, as happens during the summer, the skin tends to remain green even if the fruit is ripe.

Green Lemons vs Yellow Lemons: When Are They Ripe?

The lemon is the fruit that aims to upset the rules and, in the case of this citrus fruit, the green color is not an indication of an unripe fruit, at least as far as summer is concerned. In fact, summer lemons tend to be green but very rich in juice and with a perfect level of acidity. It is therefore essential never to be fooled by the color to understand if the fruit is ripe or not.

Lemon harvest: the calendar of Tenuta Donna Fina

After talking about flowering and ripening, it’s time to move on to the lemon harvest. At Tenuta Donna Fina, the harvest time never has a specific date, but takes place manually after a phase of skilful daily observation by our team.

The winter period: the peak of production

As for most of the production, the harvest takes place in the months from November to May with the availability of the products from December until the first summer period. It is the season of the classic lemon, with a bright yellow, rough and thick peel. The taste is fresh and strong and the citrus fruit is rich in vitamin C, essential oils and juice, as well as being characterized by a unique aroma.

The summer harvest: the fresh treasure of the sun

As anticipated in the paragraph dedicated to when the lemon blooms, in addition to the main flowering, the lemon season also includes a summer harvest that takes place in the months of June and September, typical of the Verdello lemon, an essential ingredient of summer recipes. Available from June to September, it has a bright green skin that can turn yellow as it ripens, while the flesh is light yellow and has a sour and aromatic taste.

As for the calendar of Tenuta Donna Fina, from October and December it is also possible to find the Primo Fiore variety of lemons, the result of the first flowering of the year of lemons, with a smooth and thin skin and a delicate and less pungent taste.

Finally, in the same period as the Primo Fiore lemon, Lime is also available in Tenuta Donna Fina, a fruit that is often confused as a variety of lemon even if it is not part of the same family. Characterized by a smooth, thin and bright green skin, it has a sour and very intense taste.

Why respecting the lemon season is a quality choice

At Tenuta Donna Fina we are strongly convinced that there is no better expert on the plant cycle than nature itself. For this reason, we let our products reach maturity naturally and without external forcing.

The result is the difference in the quality of our seasonal lemons compared to those imported or forced to ripen. This is because, a lemon harvested at the right time has more essential oils in the peel and more citric acid in the juice, keeping both the benefits of lemon and the typical properties of lemon peel intact. And it is thanks to this approach, which does not involve treatments with waxes or other chemicals on the fruits, that the peel of our citrus fruits is 100% edible.

And the contribution of nature is not limited exclusively to ripening times: in fact, a fundamental role for the maturation of our products and their unique taste is played by the climate and volcanic soil typical of the Etna area, where our fields are located.

On the subject of quality, it should be specified that we harvest our products on the same day of shipment, every Monday and Wednesday, in order to ensure that the fruits reach customers within 48/72 hours still fresh and fragrant.

Discover all our products: visit our online shop and find your favorites!