Lemon tree outside for winter?

[Mysterian]

It's getting a bit big to get in the conservatory every winter. How well will it fare in the garden? North Hampshire, fairly sheltered south facing wall is available. Fleece? A polythene mini greenhouse?

Anybody try theirs outside?

I've had mine in an unheated greenhouse. It doesn't flower. I don't think yours will survive outside.

If it's getting too big is there any reason you can't prune it to a size you can manage?

Depends how mild the winter is. If it's going to be frosty, it will need fleece at the least.

I agree with the pruning idea.

I too am in north Hants, but mine are still small enough to be on an indoor windowsill over winter. Previous iterations have died after a few years. I have a loquat outside,but it's not been in great health over the summer, either, so I won't be surprised if it doesn't make it.

Windowsill is out. With pot it's about 4 foot high and barely fits through the door AFTER pruning. Lemons the size of coconuts. (Husked).

At the moment I'm thinking about building a "greenhouse" around it for the winter next year. Wooden frame and bubble wrap.

A porch?

I left mine outside a couple of snowy winters ago. It didn’t die and the foliage still looked good but never flowered again.

Brought my new one inside and it’s doing amazingly, new baby lemons pretty much every week.

I wouldn’t risk it outside.

It didn’t die and the foliage still looked good but never flowered again. That's useful to know! If mine doesn't flower this year, I'll throw it out and start again with another pip.