It’s that time of year again. The tree that makes the huge lemons is producing fruit. When I first saw these lemons I thought they were grapefruit, and big ones at that. But, my neighbor explained that they are lemons and not only are they big, they have a peel that is edible. The flavor of these lemons is a lot like the yellow ones we are used to in the US. The size though, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I haven’t been able to find out what type they are but I’m glad they have a fair number of seeds. I planted some in the past and now I have a nice looking young tree in my yard, and a few more in a pot on my patio.
The tree is on a little dirt road just outside our neighborhood, inside someone’s back yard. Half of it is hanging over the wall on the outside though and no one seems to be using any of the fruit. I’m concerned about the vine covering the tree too. I’m not sure if it would be right for me to remove it, to be tending someone else’s tree but it can’t be good for the tree. Maybe I’ll pull off a little every time I go by, or maybe now that it is the rainless dry season it will die off by itself.
One of the benefits of biking around here is finding hidden gems like this lemon tree. I have also found a number of cashew trees that make nice fruit, and the mangoes are starting to flower and promise fruit in a few months. It’s fun picking up fruit along the road, and usually there is enough to share with my friends and neighbors too.
The Panama Adventure 
A lot easier making lemonade.
LikeLike
Yes indeed! It doesn’t take many to get a lot of juice.
LikeLike
Huge lemons! Thanks for posting.
LikeLike
They sure are!
LikeLike
What is covering the Lemon tree is called Mata Palo and will eventually cover and kill the tree.
You can cut the main stems to try and get it to wither and die. Or you can just try to remove it ?
Good luck on saving the tree ! It is certainly worth it. I have never seen such oarge lemons.
LikeLike
Ahh, thanks for the info!
I think the main stems are in the homeowner’s backyard, but I am going to try to do what I can to pull off the vines on the part of the tree outside the wall. If all else fails, I’m happy to have some young trees I grew from seed, and I know where there is another of those trees in the neighborhood too. But, I agree, it would be a shame to lose this tree so I’ll do what I can.
LikeLike
I HATE when the mangoes start to flower. I am SO allergic to the pollen. If there was some way to turn snot into money I’d be a millionaire many times over.
LikeLike
Oh NO! There are mangoes everywhere, and enough different types that there are flowers for quite a while. Dang, that is not an allergy to have in Panama. Hopefully there aren’t many trees near your new house and that will help a bit?
LikeLike
Pollen floats on the air and, as you know, the “dry” season is also the “windy” season so there’s no escape.
LikeLike
My goodness, those are huge! Your neighbor probably doesn’t mind if you tend it and may even bless you for it. It is wonderful for you to be able to pick fruit whenever and where ever you may be. Have a very Merry Christmas!
LikeLike
I don’t know those neighbors but they obviously don’t care for the tree, at least not the part that is on the other side of the wall so I think I am going to try to take off some of the vine every time I go by.
Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you too 🙂
LikeLike
Those vines are probably parasitic and will slowly choke the tree out. Best to try and tame it while you can although once it is established it is a chore. We love these lemons also there are some up in the hill above Destiladeros that seemingly don’t belong to anyone. They do make great lemonade! I see a stop on the way to the beach in my future. Seasons blessings to you and Joel amiga!
LikeLike
That’s what i figured. If nothing else the vines keep the light from the tree which can’t be good. I pulled some down today but they tend to break, so I’ll have to go back with some sort of tool to get to the higher vines. What do they say? It’s better to ask for forgiveness afterward than permission before? I’ll do what I can for the tree and if anyone complains, which I doubt, I’ll ask for forgiveness. 😀
LikeLike
You mention they taste similar to the ones here, does the fruit look the same inside too? What does the the peel taste like?
LikeLike
They look like a grapefruit. I wrote a post last year that has a pic of one cut in two. https://blog.thepanamaadventure.com/2014/01/19/gigantic-lemons/ The peel tastes like lemon peel but without the bitterness, quite a bit more mellow than regular lemons.
LikeLike
How long before you will get fruit on the tree once it is planted? Will it take a few yrs to produce? Lucky you, I would love to have a tree like that.
LikeLike
I don’t know, but I imagine it will need a few years.
LikeLike