Citrus made easy for growers, nurseries, and distributors

Santa Teresa lemon trees offer commercial advantages over Eureka and Lisbon through a longer harvest season, higher juice and oil quality, and stronger fragrance, making them especially valuable for premium markets and processing like limoncello. They bear more consistently, adapt well to varied climates, and carry Italian heritage that commands higher market value. Additionally, their improved tolerance to mal secco provides resilience not seen in standard Eureka or Lisbon plantings.

The best rootstock for Santa Teresa lemons depends on whether the goal is premium fruit quality, high yields, or adaptability to soil and climate.

• Carrizo citrange is widely chosen because it balances vigor, productivity, and soil tolerance, making it reliable for most orchards.

• C-35 citrange produces a slightly smaller tree with good disease resistance and is often preferred where higher-density plantings are planned or where management efficiency is a priority.

• Volkameriana lemon gives very vigorous growth and excellent yield potential, especially in weaker soils, but the tradeoff can be a modest reduction in juice or rind quality.

• Sour orange has traditionally been used in some areas but is risky because of its susceptibility to tristeza virus, so it is only considered in regions where that disease is not present.

A grower aiming for premium fruit and steady orchard performance will usually choose Carrizo or C-35, while one focused on maximum tonnage from challenging soils may lean toward Volkameriana.

Santa Teresa lemon trees typically begin producing their first small crops within two to three years after planting, depending on the vigor of the rootstock and the quality of orchard management. By the fourth to fifth year, yields generally become commercially significant, allowing growers to begin harvesting quantities that justify market sales. Full, stable production is usually reached between the sixth and eighth year, when the canopy has filled its space and the tree is cycling reliably.

Once mature, Santa Teresa lemons can crop multiple times a year, which gives orchards the advantage of extended harvest windows compared to more seasonal varieties like Eureka or Lisbon. With good cultural practices and proper irrigation, a well-managed orchard should remain in peak production for two decades or more.

Santa Teresa lemons follow the fruiting pattern of the Femminello group, which is known for its ability to set and carry crops nearly year-round. In commercial settings, the main harvest comes in winter through early spring, when fruit quality is highest and juice content is at its peak. Unlike Eureka or Lisbon, which are more seasonally defined, Santa Teresa maintains a longer and more flexible picking window. Trees often produce three distinct flushes: the principal winter crop, a secondary spring-to-summer crop, and a smaller late-summer set that can extend availability into autumn. This gives growers the ability to spread harvests over many months, ensuring a steadier supply to market.

Fruit characteristics include medium size, smooth rind, high juice content, and a strong aromatic profile with elevated essential oil levels in the peel. These traits make Santa Teresa lemons highly suitable not only for fresh sales but also for processing into beverages and specialty products like limoncello. In well-managed orchards, commercial picking can therefore take place across most of the year, with peak yields aligning to the cooler season when the fruit develops its best acidity and aroma.

Commercial growers of Santa Teresa lemons need to monitor the same key pests and diseases that affect most lemon orchards, with some specific concerns due to its Femminello heritage.

The most common insect threats include citrus leafminer, which damages young flush and can reduce tree vigor; citrus thrips, which scar fruit and affect market quality; and various scale insects such as California red scale and soft scales, which weaken trees and can transmit disease. Aphids and mealybugs may also appear, particularly in orchards with lush growth or excessive nitrogen use. In some regions, the Asian citrus psyllid poses the most serious concern because of its role in spreading Huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating disease with no cure.

Fungal and bacterial diseases also require attention. Phytophthora root rot and gummosis can be problematic in poorly drained soils, making rootstock choice and irrigation management essential. Alternaria brown spots can affect foliage and young fruit, though it is more severe on mandarins than on lemons. Mal secco, a vascular disease of lemons that it’s especially important to watch for in Mediterranean regions, was one of the reasons Santa Teresa was selected, since it shows improved tolerance compared to standard Femminello clones, though vigilance is still required. Greasy spots and anthracnose may also appear in humid conditions.

Overall, commercial orchards should prioritize integrated pest management, careful irrigation and fertilization practices to reduce stress, and regular scouting to detect early infestations. Particular emphasis should be placed on monitoring for psyllids and tristeza in regions where they occur, since both can threaten the long-term viability of lemon plantings.