Do you remember the children's book The Little Engine that Could? It was originally published in the 1920's by Arnold Munk under his pen name Watty Piper. It is the story of a small engine that pulls a long train over a mountain to get Christmas presents to children, after larger trains failed, and teaches children about optimism and perseverance. The engine keeps puffing "I think I can, I think I can."
Well at Struan Farm we have The Little Lemon that Could. Several years ago I planted a Yenben lemon tree outside the back gate at the Homestead, near our phoetinia hedge. Terrible soil here, and I must admit that citrus generally doesn't do well because of our heavy frosts. This variety is meant to be frost hardy, or so advised NZ cook Jo Seagar when I attended one of her cooking classes at her school in Oxford, outside of Christchurch. I thought I'd give Yenben a try in Piopio. If they grow in Christchurch, where it snows, why not in Piopio?
This poor little tree has taken awhile to acclimate to Piopio, but guess what? We have some real lemons for the first time this year! The tree has been frosted and has had its roots attacked by rabbits. I've sprayed it with Liquid Frost Cloth from Country Trading to protect it from frosts after frost cloth, much poo-pooed by John, blew off in heavy winds. I've fed and watered it regularly. I've put on mulch cloth to try to deter those rabbits, and dumped extra soil when they dug around its roots. I kept saying to myself I think I can, I think I can. We did not accept defeat, this little lemon tree and Karen.
And this has worked, TA DA! The Little Lemon that Could felt the love and fruited. Can't wait to pick that first special lemon, and I see at least three more almost ready.
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