Fragrant spring flowers give way to fruits shaped like flattened lemons, tangy and tart at first bite but finishing on a soft, sweet note. Yuzu (Citrus x junos) is the hardiest citrus by far, taking cold down to 5°F (-15°C): give it full sun, and its slow growth and narrow habit will fit even a tiny garden.
| Botanical name | Citrus x junos |
|---|---|
| Common names | yuzu, Japanese lemon |
| Family | Rutaceae (Rue family) |
| Type | fruit tree |
| Height | 12 to 25 feet (4 to 8 m) |
| Breadth | 6 to 13 feet (2 to 4 metres) |
| Soil | any type, not chalky, well drained |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Flowering | spring |
| Harvest | autumn |
Though it isn’t yet famous in our parts, yuzu is a tree that comes from Asia. More specifically, it is native to Japan, where it is an important part of local food recipes. Its fruits indeed taste like no other: in the same bite, you get a tangy tart feel that ends on a soft, sweet note. Though it isn’t impossible, growing a Citrus x junos nonetheless requires particular care. But it’s clearly worth the time and effort!
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Unlike most other citrus, yuzu is hardy and easily adapts to our own climates.
In spring, its flowers release a very fragrant scent and turn into fruits shaped like flattened lemons which have an amazing unique taste.
The lush green leaves are leathery and resist the cold well. Young stems tend to have lots of sharp spikes. Not necessarily a good idea if you have reckless children or pets!
Last of all, its slow growth and narrow bearing will enable it to grow even in a tiny garden.
Yuzu asks for very little, but what it asks for comes at set moments of the year. Here is the whole cycle, from planting to winter protection, in one place.
| Stage | Season | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Planting, mild climates | Early autumn or spring | Either season suits where winters stay mild |
| Planting, cold winters | Spring | Wait for spring where winters are harsh |
| Flowering | Spring | Strongly fragrant blooms set flattened, lemon-like fruit |
| Feeding potted trees | Early spring, late summer, autumn | Special citrus fertiliser given in several doses |
| Cuttings | Late summer | Taken on semi-soft wood |
| Harvest | Autumn | Pick once the fruits are nice and yellow |
| Winter protection | Early winter to late winter | Fleece outdoors, or pots brought under cover |
Read this as a rough calendar and adjust it to how mild or harsh your own winters are.
As for all the other citrus, yuzu is a tree that requires lots of sun to thrive. Pay particular care to where you plant it.
As for the soil, Citrus x junos has the following requirements:
The best time to plant depends on where you live:
Depending on what your goals are and the size of your garden, you can choose whether to plant it directly in the ground or grow it in a pot instead.
One of the greatest advantages of the yuzu tree is its hardiness, which allows it to survive the cold down to 5°F (-15°C). It’s the hardiest citrus by far. Note, however, that in areas where winters get really cold, it’s best to shelter your tree from the cold somewhat, with winterizing fleece, or by bringing it indoors to a lean-in or greenhouse if it’s planted in a container.
>> Winterizing Citrus: checklist to prepare for winter
Possibly the most demanding option, since you have to make sure all yuzu soil requirements are met. Thus, you’ll have to check the pH of your soil. Hopefully, it’s already a bit acidic naturally, because changing it is difficult.
It’s easier to amend the soil to comply with the other parameters: for instance, lighten up the soil by adding sand and soil mix into it. Soil mix usually contains enough organic matter for the tree’s needs.
Once you’ve prepared and amended the soil, move on to the next step: planting. For that, simply:
It’s often easier to go for this type of planting because you can really control for all the environmental needs of your yuzu plant. The only drawback is that you’ll have to repot the the tree after a little while. Luckily, this slow-growing tree will give you a few years to relax before having to repot again.
To plant your yuzu in a pot, you must:
Smart tip : for planting in pots, add vermiculite (or perlite) to the substrate. This type of material has several advantages: it helps evacuate water and, at the same time, retain moisture for thre tree.
After planting, yuzu is a tree that requires certain types of care. Most important among these is watering, especially if you live in a region where the summer gets dry or where it gets really dry in summer. Consequently, the substrate for sowing must always remain moist, without getting soggy. Favor moderate but regular watering sessions.
To reduce water loss, one good tactic is to spread a layer of natural mulch (pine bark, lawn trimmings, etc.), which will, in time, double as a supply of organic matter as it breaks down.
If you’ve planted your tree in a pot, you’ll have to fertilize the substrate with a special citrus fertilizer. Provide this fertilizer in several doses:
There are three ways to get new yuzu specimens from your existing one:
More often than not, your yuzu tree will resist most diseases. However, pests are another story all together. Let’s list several of them out here:
Yuzu fruit harvest begins in fall, when the fruits are nice and yellow: this is the sign they’re ripe.
To best savor the taste and benefit from its health benefits, we recommend only picking the fruits just before you eat them. Once harvested, though, they can still keep for a few weeks in a cool spot.
Snip each yuzu off with secateurs, leaving a short stub of stalk attached, since tugging the fruit free tears the peel and lets rot set in.
Wear thick gloves and long sleeves: the spines on yuzu branches are long and vicious.
Yuzu picked while still green is sharper and more herbaceous in aroma, a form often used in Japanese cooking, whereas fully ripened yellow yuzu tastes rounder and mellower.
Both the juice and the grated zest freeze well, so fruit that gets bruised or drops can still be saved rather than thrown out.
Yuzu is a generous tree, and its fruits have many different uses.
The most important portion of this Japanese citrus is its bark: a few slivers of it are enough to completely transform and enhance the flavor of your dish. The strong, powerful taste of its flesh make it hard to eat directly. Luckily, you can easily extract its juice (without the pulp) to add it to sauces and fruit cocktails.
This might come as something unexpected: the scent of yuzu fruit peels is so strong that you can use it to perfume bathwater (add when water is hot/warm).
In winter, also gather a few peel shavings in a clay bowl and place it atop a heater or radiator for an enchanting natural air freshener. Perfect to spread a warm, exotic scent throughout the house!
