Orange Bergamot

For growing in pots

The bergamot tree is a very demanding tree, which only flourishes in a very temperate climate.

The fruit of this tree is a citrus fruit that resembles an orange with greenish skin and turns yellow when ripe. It has the shape and size of an orange, but is very different in its taste and scent. It is a citrus fruit with rather acidic and bitter flesh, which makes this fruit a poor candidate for being eaten raw. On the other hand, it is the perfume contained in its peel, and to a lesser extent its juice, which makes bergamot a very interesting ingredient.

The flowers of the bergamot tree are pretty little white star-shaped inflorescences, which are made up of 5 petals and which give off a very pleasant sweet smell. It is around the month of April that the bergamot trees are adorned with hundreds of these little stars, so many signs of the fruits to come. You should also know that the leaves and flowers of bergamot tree secrete essential oil.

Self-fertile 

The potted citrus fruit can spend the summer outdoors. It needs sun and warmth. Before winter, it must be brought in under a frost-free shelter. Choose a location with sufficient light, for example a garage with a window, or an unheated veranda. The temperature should be between 5 and 10°C. Citrus trees do not live well in an apartment in winter because the temperature is too high. Ventilation is also very important.