How to grow a lemon from a seed – germination and planting at home

A lemon tree is a unique addition to your home decor and a fragrant fruit for your table. Growing a lemon from seed is not difficult; the key is to follow the instructions and provide the plant with the necessary conditions. With consistent care, you can harvest your first crop as early as four years after planting. Seeds are the preferred method for propagating lemons, as they are the fastest and most effective.

Characteristics of a home lemon tree

The lemon tree is native to China and India. Indoors, it grows up to 3 meters tall. The citrus fruit has a thin, green stem that becomes woody over time. The leaves are small, elongated, and dark green with a glossy surface. Small white inflorescences appear on the plant, located in the leaf axils. Lemon buds form almost year-round, with their active growth period occurring in the spring.

After a month, buds appear, which open after the same amount of time. The tree blooms for only a few days. The buds emit a pleasant, sweet aroma. The formation and growth of buds is influenced by ambient temperature, so even the slightest fluctuations can trigger leaf drop and flowering. The color of the blossoms depends on the tree species.

The plant's fruits are a rich yellow color, and when grown indoors, they can grow even larger than store-bought ones—up to 70 grams in weight—and contain seeds inside. The shape of the fruit varies depending on the species.

The fruit contains a large amount of phytoncides, which are released into the air and have an antimicrobial effect. Furthermore, the vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as certain minerals and macronutrients, have a positive effect on human health. The high fiber and pectin content of the fruit pulp helps relieve constipation.

Preparing seeds and soil

To get a healthy, fruit-bearing tree, it is necessary to select the right seeds and prepare the substrate.

Ideally, only seeds from freshly picked fruits are used for planting. However, given that some fruits have been sitting on shelves for a long time, it's important to select the freshest ones. The largest seeds are selected from the fruits. Experienced gardeners recommend preparing not just one, but a dozen seeds at a time to increase the chances of germination.

The main requirements for a substrate are easy permeability of air and water, and looseness. It's also important to prepare a substrate with neutral pH, as citrus plants dislike acidic or alkaline soils.

To prepare the substrate, use leaf mold, garden soil, sod soil, sand, peat soil, compost, and humus. Sand should make up one-tenth of the total substrate. To improve the soil's nutritional value, add more leaf mold.

Before use, the substrate is steamed in an oven at 80 degrees Celsius for several hours to kill parasitic larvae and fungal spores. After the soil has cooled, it is ready for planting.

Vermiculite, an artificial component that absorbs water well, can also be added to the soil. Perlite can be added to improve soil porosity, and dolomite is useful for reducing acidity.

How to grow lemons from seeds at home

Growing lemons in our familiar home environment is a labor-intensive and challenging task, but it can turn into a pleasant hobby if you follow the recommendations and advice of experienced gardeners.

Planting seeds

Once the seeds have been selected, they should be immediately planted in a container. This can be a cup or a small pot with drainage holes. Experienced specialists recommend treating them with a growth stimulant to promote better rooting and rapid germination. Sodium humate is a good choice as a biological stimulant.

The seeds are soaked in the solution overnight, then in warm water with a drop of Zircon (1 drop per glass of water) for 10 hours. These preparations not only accelerate growth but also promote disease resistance. For planting, select a dozen seeds and plant them in the prepared substrate to a depth of 2 cm. The top layer of soil is loosened slightly by hand.

Plant one seed in each container. Young plants will begin to emerge after 3-4 weeks. Several shoots may emerge from a single seed, so choose the strongest one.

Selection and transplantation of seedlings

Seedlings are selected after 4-5 months, when they have grown to a certain size. Only the best seedlings are selected for replanting and further cultivation. Experts recommend further cultivation of young plants that have retained the most leaves and that rarely shed.

Actions for more active fruiting

To ensure fruiting, a tree needs to be provided with essential organic matter. Therefore, it's essential to fertilize the plant during the active growth phase. Stimovit, available at specialty stores, can be used to stimulate growth. Only by following proper care will active fruiting be stimulated.

Tree care

It is precisely careful care and constant maintenance of the necessary conditions that are considered a guarantee of active growth and fruiting of the plant.

Watering

Lemon trees require moderate watering. In summer, water three times a week, while in winter, watering is reduced to twice a week. Avoid allowing standing water or constantly damp soil in the pot, as this can lead to root rot.

Use only filtered water for watering, as tap water is too hard and can harm the lemon tree. In addition to watering, the tree's leaves should be wiped or sprayed with warm water weekly. If the tree's pot is kept on a windowsill near a radiator during the winter, it should be watered more frequently.

Transfer

When repotting, choose a pot that's not too large to avoid root rot. Place a few centimeters of drainage at the bottom of the pot. Then add a thin layer of heat-treated river sand.

Next, add enough soil to completely cover the lemon's root system. The tree is covered with soil up to its neck. Fluff the top layer of soil with your hands. After repotting, water the plant with clean water to nourish the roots.

Top dressing

Experts recommend using mineral and nitrogen fertilizers. The amount of nitrogen fertilizer should be several times greater. Fertilization is necessary during the period of active growth, that is, 5 months after planting.

In addition to commercial fertilizers, you can also use traditional methods. For example, to replenish nitrogen balance, finely grind quinoa and add it to the substrate. Phosphorus and potassium can be obtained from wood ash, added to irrigation water at a rate of 1 teaspoon per liter.

Bone glue can help compensate for phosphorus deficiency. To prepare, dilute the glue with 2 liters of water, boil it, and water the plant with the viscous liquid. Coffee grounds or used tea leaves can also be used as mineral fertilizer.

Do I need to prune and graft?

To increase fruiting, side shoots are pinched immediately. To ensure a dense crown, the top of the plant should be pruned before the active growth phase, which encourages lateral growth. To prevent the crown from becoming too dense, branches should not be allowed to grow into the crown.

Experts also recommend using the girdling method. To do this, copper wire is wrapped around the trunk and several branches. The wire should dig into the trunk slightly. This promotes deformation and the accumulation of substances that stimulate fruiting. After six months, the ring is removed, and its place is coated with garden pitch and wrapped with a thin strip of polyethylene.

Additionally, to obtain a harvest, lemon trees need to be grafted. Grafting can be done once the young tree's trunk reaches 5 cm in diameter.

To do this, first moisten the trunk and make a shallow T-shaped cut 5 cm above the ground. The vertical line should be 10 mm, and the horizontal line 25 mm. The edges formed by the vertical line are carefully folded outward.

On a fruiting tree, a bud is cut from a branch, capturing a thin layer of bark. The cut piece is inserted into a pre-made cut on the trunk, ensuring a tight fit. The grafting site is tightly wrapped with special tape, leaving the bud exposed.

To increase the chances of success, you can graft two buds. After the grafted part takes root, the crown of the young plant is pruned 5 cm above the graft site.

Diseases and pests, treatment methods

The most common pests found on indoor trees are spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs. The presence of these parasites causes the plant to dry out, the leaves to fall off, and the tree to die, as the insects feed on the sap.

To cure the plant, first remove the parasites with a cotton swab soaked in anabasine sulfate. The plant is treated with this solution again a week later. If the parasites are numerous, treat the tree with celandine, tobacco, Ditox, or Fitoverm.

The most common diseases include fungus and gummosis. They are caused by improper care. These diseases can cause the death of the plant if not treated promptly.

First, cut off the damaged parts, and treat the remaining parts with copper sulfate. You can also use Rannet. To moisten the plant, wipe it with a cloth soaked in warm water. To maintain the lemon, add fertilizer to the soil.

Frequently asked questions about growing

The most common questions that arise are about how to grow the plant correctly.

Lemon trees are grown on windowsills to produce delicious fruits and decorate the home's interior. Growing the plant is easy if you follow all the rules and recommendations, and you can harvest your first crop in just 4-5 years.