Oranges and Lemons

For a number of years we have grown an orangier (small orange tree ) and a citronnier (lemon tree) in pots. In winter they stay in the conservatory, but as the weather grows milder they go outside. Conditions are not always right, but when they are, they fruit well. I am delighted to report that the orangier is bearing lots of tiny fruit which have been ripening over the spring. Very soon, many will be ready to harvest. Although these tiny oranges may look like small clementines , their flesh is bitter. You may wonder what's to be done with them.

One of the many things I like about citrus trees is the fact that one can see flowers and fruit on the tree at the same time. This is the case with our lemon tree which has a number of lemons ripening as well as a lot of blossom. Fruit can take up to 12 months to fully ripen. Citrus trees are self pollinating, although this one has attracted the carpenter bees.

Back in the nineteen seventies and eighties, many people dreamed of a life of self sufficiency. We even used this book to guide us (see below.)Whilst we strove to achieve this goal, we never managed. Still, it is always pleasing to produce a dish that has local origins. What's more, to know that our citrus fruit has not been treated with chemicals is an extra bonus. Spring has come, and after a miserable winter we are beginning to look outwards once more. Visitors will arrive to share a meal with us on Easter Sunday. We hope to make this very special , for the main dishes will have their origins in this forest and will not have seen the inside of a shop. (More about this later) .