NATIONAL PLANT A LEMON TREE DAY; MAY 18

Plant a Lemon Tree Day takes place every third Saturday in May. This year, it will be celebrated on May 18. The day encourages people to plant lemon trees in their gardens and spread awareness about this immensely beneficial fruit. Lemon trees are not only renowned for their tangy citrus fruits; they can also serve as a social link for members of a locality or community. Since the trees can produce far more fruit than any one family can consume, a thriving lemon tree in a public location allows everyone to stop by and pick a lemon as they desire. Moreover, its shade is a fantastic place for locals to gather and bond with one another.

HISTORY OF PLANT A LEMON TREE DAY

Plant a Lemon Tree Day was established to give lemon trees prominence everywhere. The exact origin and the founder of this day still remain unknown. Historians claim that lemons first grew in northern Burma, China, and Assam, in northeast India. Lemons are known to have been cultivated in Egypt and Iran since 700 A.D. and it is believed that they were introduced to southern Italy around 200 A.D. Scientists have estimated that the first citrus fruits started to grow around seven million years ago, and over the centuries, started producing the fruit we call ‘lemon’ today. A genomic study states that this citrus fruit is a result of a genetic cross between citron and sour oranges.

Archeologists estimate that lemons arrived in Europe through southern Italy in the second century A.D. However, the trees were not widely cultivated, which made them rare and valuable. In ancient Rome, lemons were so scarce that they were considered a luxury that only the elite could afford. In 1747, physician James Lind discovered that the juice of citrus fruits could cure scurvy, a common issue with sailors back then. Further studies by scientists indicated that lemons had high vitamin C content along with many vital nutrients. Furthermore, compounds such as vitamins A, B, and other important minerals that are found in lemon juice, are also highly beneficial.

In the early days, lemons were commonly used in perfumery. People also used lemons for flavoring foods, bleaching cotton printings, and for medicinal purposes. A lemon is a delicious and nutritious fruit that’s good for your health, has an invigorating aroma, and that breaks down grime easily.