In 2013, I planted 3 lemon trees in my front yard, to ensure that one day I would have enough lemons one day to make lots of lemonade. Recently I was surprised by an abundance like I had never before seen from my 2 trees in the backyard. We collected baskets and baskets of lemons.

Lemonade is easy–sugar, water, and lemon juice. It mixes better if you first make a sugar syrup on the stove. This takes time to cool, so if you want your lemonade cold, you’ll need to plan ahead.

 

 

Makes one pitcher:

 

Syrup:

1 1/3 cups sugar

1 cup water

Boil sugar and water together until sugar is completely dissolved.

 

8 cups (2 quarts) cold water

1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice

 

Stir together syrup, cold water, and lemon juice.

 

The number of lemons it takes to produce 1 1/2 cups of lemon juice depends on the size and type of lemons that you are using. I grow Meyer lemons, and they often grow to be huge. They are also much juicer than the Eureka lemons you find at the store, as well as a bit more frost-tolerant.

It takes anywhere from 4 to 8 lemons to produce enough juice for a batch of lemonade.