Citrus medica Maxima

An impressive variety whose fruits can reach 3–4 kg. It is the record-holder among citrus plants. It is a vigorous, upright-growing variety with large, deep green leaves. The easiest way to propagate it is from a fruiting branch cutting. If we can obtain a cutting from a fruit-bearing plant, it can even develop roots in a glass of water.

Important! Only take fruiting branch cuttings from a plant that has already produced fruit, because if the parent plant has not yet produced fruit, the small rooted cutting may take 10–15 years to start bearing fruit. (This applies to all citrus varieties.)

It can grow up to 140 cm in a year, and even a one-year-old cutting may already produce fruit. It should be tied to a bamboo stake. There is no need to remove the fruit from a young plant, as it will naturally only grow as much fruit as it can support, meaning its first fruits may weigh around half a kilogram.

It is best trained as a pergola or trellis plant, as it has a spreading, trailing growth habit. It is difficult to grow it into a tree; it is better maintained as a bush, in a trellis form or trained in a circular shape. This is how it produces the largest (maxima) fruits.

In winter, overwinter it in a bright, unheated room at around 0–9°C. It tolerates cold very well and does not drop its leaves.

Pruning is necessary to achieve an attractive shape, as with all citrus plants. It is worth doing this in February or March, before repotting. The plant is naturally vigorous, so it can be pruned as desired. It is not advisable to let it become too dense, as its leaves can reach 30 cm in length.