I have 2 Lemon trees and 1 Lime tree grown in containers, approx 6-7 yrs old and 3ft high.

Question

They overwinter in my dining room in front of French windows. I have had fruits of both Lemon trees but only 1or 2 limes. The last two yrs, no fruits at all — a few flowers, but they then seem to fall off. The leaves especially on the Lemon tree, are now much larger in the last yrs than they had been before, some the size of my palm.
Can you please help? Are they too old? How long do they live in England? I live in Liverpool.
I was told that they don’t like disturbance & like the roots visible not covered in citrus soil. I repotted them about four years ago. It seemed to go well. We had some fruit the year after; the following year I had seven lemons & two limes. All full size & good to use. Last two years, problems. Removed small caterpillars when seen, & remove leaves with obvious larvae in them. They now appear to be producing oversized leaves & few flowers that then fall off. The containers are 15 inches square & 13 inches high, the top of the soil is about 4/5 inches below the top of the plastic container. They are still very green & look healthy, just no fruit, & top leaves larger than before. I feed them with winter/ summer powder feed in their water.

Answer 1

I think you could use larger pots. Something the size of a whiskey barrel. You can buy rollers to set the pots on to move them about easily. They need consistent moisture and fertilization. A timed release fertilizer works well with the addition of phosphorus to encourage fruiting. If you see any suckers growing from the base of the trees, they should be removed immediately.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/lemons/lemon-tree-not-fruiting.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/lime/potted-lime-trees.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/lemons/growing-lemon-trees-containers.htm