How does the old saying go—When life gives you lemons on your honeymoon, make limoncello?
Although we came home from Italy with one less suitcase, we had 24 more lemon seeds than we did before we left. And the ever industrious Mr. Wonderful carefully planted them in a series of sprout starter boxes.
We're hoping eventually we may end up with some trees that grow cranium-sized lemons like the ones along the Amalfi coast.
Apparently a lot (or maybe all?) of citrus trees require grafting. So Mr. W purchased 100 (the smallest order he could make) stems of a hearty rootstock to serve as the grafting points for his little lemon babies. Our back patio currently looks like this:
Yes, they're in paper popcorn containers from Smart & Final. Yes, it's sort of like some strange Willy Wonka Barbie Wonderland back there.
Particularly when you see that the other side of the back steps looks like this. This is the lemon tree nursery where all the little babies are still developing. In Solo cups...like they grew at a frat party. Hopefully there's no keg beer hiding in the bottom of those things.
Mr. W is hopeful that we can grow lots of little starter trees in pots and then dig them up when we move to the vineyard one day. Who says vineyards only make wine? Maybe we'll invent some new limoncello-wine hybrid. Or maybe we'll just make really killer lemonade for our guests...
"... like they grew at a frat party" made me laugh out loud. This idea of getting the lemons from the Amalfi Coast. He's BRILLIANT. If they all die, let me know. I'm always looking for an excuse to return to Italy.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool! What a great idea, and what fun! It's always good to see a little part of a dream already happening. And if you have lemons that are huge and wonderful and can also play beer pong, I'm coming to live in your guest room.
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Nilsa and I'm allergic to red wine. Please bring those lemon trees to the vineyard so I have something to drink! Grazie!
ReplyDeleteI like this idea of the hybrid. You two are so industrious!
ReplyDeleteDon't let me anywhere near 'em. I'm sure my black thumb would kill them on sight!
ReplyDeleteWith the abundance of root starters you have, maybe we will need a couple of more if we can decide what to do with them.
ReplyDeleteOops! Where did amp come from! It's Mom & Dad
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed that Mr. W is not more eco-friendly. Solo cups? I'm going to buy him some reusable grafting/seedling cups for his first Father's Day, even though that did afford you the frat party commentary,
ReplyDelete