Two years ago, I bought a tiny lemon tree with about 10 leaves on it from a grocery store here in Minnesota.
And I know what you're probably thinking... "Stephanie, you can't grow lemon trees in Minnesota. It's way too cold."

And you're right—it's much harder to grow citrus in cold climates. We're in zone 4b, which means long, brutal winters, while lemon trees thrive in zones 9-11. But I was determined.

I thought keeping the tree indoors would be enough to help it survive. That first summer, even in full sunshine, it barely grew. Then winter hit, and it dropped down to one sad little leaf. My husband almost threw it in the trash, telling me I was wasting my time trying to do the impossible—growing a lemon tree indoors in Minnesota.

If someone tells you something is impossible, find a way to prove them wrong.

The tree needed more sunlight and nourishment. And honestly? So did I.

Last summer, I watered her more, even though everything I read said to let the soil dry out between waterings. I gave her full sun outside, and slowly, she started to thrive.

When the first frost loomed in October, I brought her inside, tucking her between a sheer curtain and a blackout curtain with a white backing to reflect as much light as possible. And then—SHE STARTED BUDDING!

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By Christmas, she had seven blooms. I was stunned. But then, one by one, the flowers fell off. And so did the tiny lemons left behind.

I felt hopeless. She could bloom, but she couldn't hold onto her fruit.

So I dug deeper into some horticulture articles. I amended the soil with 2 different organic fertilizers, cleaned her leaves with neem oil, and kept tending to her.

And then? More flowers came. This time, the fruit stayed behind.

This little lemon tree taught me that we can grow and thrive in unexpected places and against the odds—we just might need a little extra care, a little extra light, and a little extra water.

My largest fruit is about the size of my thumbnail right now, but I'll keep speaking words of encouragement to her. I will not give up on her.

Many people don't realize that lemons are a winter fruit.

While they bloom year-round and are grown year round, varietals like Meyer lemons are most abundant in winter in spring in the U.S.

It's a big reason why we see so many readers flock to our lemon recipes this time of year.

So in case you're craving something lemony... I've got you covered!

Here are a few of my favorite lemon dessert recipes:

🍋 Lemon Mascarpone Pound Cake​

🍋 Lemon Curd​

🍋 Lemon White Chocolate Cheesecake Bars​

🍋 Lemon Bundt Cake with Lemon Syrup​

🍋 Lemon Bars​

🍋 Lemon Cupcakes​

🍋 Lemon Muffins with Lemon Drizzle​

🍋 Perfect Lemon Tea Cake​

🍋 Ultimate Classic Lemon Tart​

🍋 Lemon White Chocolate Chip Cookies​

P.S. Try this incredibly easy Lemon Cilantro Pasta paired with fish or chicken. It's one of my favorite dinners and gets rave reviews from guests too!