Hi there, Firstly, I would like to apologize for my lack of knowledge. Your patience and collective advice is what I desperately seek. I have a small (5ft tall) Meyer Lemon, which I keep outdoors in the summer and which I bring in after it gets too cold for it in the fall. It currently is bearing two lemons which started to grow mid summer whilst outdoors. A few days ago it started to flower. The whole room is immersed in the heavenly scent! My confusion is this: Doesn't a flower need to be cross pollinated ex. by wind, bees or manually, for it to fruit? How about the issue of the tree itself Male or Female? My question is this: Since the tree is indoors, hence no bees, would I be correct in taking the initiative by cross pollinating manually with a Q-tip? From flower to flower (of the same tree) would work?? Or must I have another tree of opposite sex? If so, Does it need to be the same tree type? Wow, I think I sound like some kind of Botanical Pimp Dady:) I take this opportunity to thank you all for your kind attention and await any response. Alister Montreal
Citrus flowers are bisexual - both male and female parts are present. Pollination is not necessary in many citrus varieties including Meyer lemon as fruit set can be achieved parthenocarpically. However pollination, either with self or with other varieties, may result in increased fruit set though such fruit will have seeds unlike those resulting from parthenocarpy.
