Villa Franca
Citrus limon
No image yet
Add cultivar photos from edit mode.
Description
Villa Franca is a true lemon of Sicilian origin sold in NZ by Flying Dragon Nursery as a cold-hardy variety and by Wairere Nursery (including a variegated form). Flying Dragon describes large juicy fruit with sharp classic lemon flavour and very few seeds, a dense leafy canopy that shades fruit against wind and sunburn, and better cold tolerance than most true lemons so it succeeds beyond the warmer north. Ripens April to July. Naturally vigorous and bushy, a little thorny while young. Preferred for winter lemon-and-honey drinks, marmalade and preserved lemons.
Characteristics
Fruit Size
Large
Peel Colour
Yellow
Flesh Colour
Pale yellow
Harvest Timing (NZ)
Early
Seediness
Few Seeds
Growth Habit
Vigorous
Thorny
Notes
Sicilian origin; cold-hardy true lemon; dense canopy protects fruit; ripens April-July; thorny when young.; Also reported: Pale smooth skin detail from nursery descriptions.; Positioning note: the zingy-flavour choice for growers who like real sharp acid.
Fruit Use
Culinary
Flavour Profile
Sharp, classic true-lemon flavour, very juicy
Storage Life
Good