Lemon is the best fruit for summer. During that season, growing your own lemon tree can be a fun thing. Right? But are you wondering how to grow a lemon tree from seeds? It may sound like a daunting task, but it’s quite simple. Believe me, all you need is a fresh lemon, some potting soil, a container, and a sunny spot.
Got confused? 🤔
Well, relax. I’ll tell you in detail how to grow lemon tree from seeds and care for it as it develops. You’ll be amazed by the beauty and fragrance of your own lemon tree.
Let’s get started, folks!🍋
Contents
Can You Grow Lemon Tree From Seeds?
The short answer is yes, you can grow a lemon tree from seed. But it may take a long time and not produce the same fruit as the parent plant. Most lemon trees are hybrids, which means their seeds may not produce true offspring. The seedling may have different characteristics, such as growth habit, color, flavor, and disease resistance. So, it may also take longer to bear fruit, up to 10 years or more. Therefore, if you want to grow a lemon tree for its fruit, it is better to purchase a grafted tree from a nursery. However, if you want to grow a lemon tree for its ornamental value, you can try growing it from seed.
As you keep on reading, you will get your answers related to planting lemon seeds.
How to Plant a Lemon Seeds?
Now you know, very well, that you can grow a lemon tree from seeds easily. But, to execute the procedure, you need to know the basic steps to plant lemon seeds. If you are interested in growing a lemon tree from seed, then this step to step follow guide will help you to plant correctly.
1. Select a Lemon
Oh, yes! Selecting ripe and healthy-looking lemons is an important task, that needs to be fulfilled. This is because if you choose a non-organic lemon, it will have seeds that are treated with chemicals. It will not give you a healthy lemon tree. So, after selecting a healthy organic lemon, you need to cut it in half and squeeze the juice.
2. Remove the Seeds
After squeezing a healthy lemon, the next step is to remove the seeds, and, rinse it well with cold water. Make sure to remove any seeds that are small or damaged, as they will create issues while you will germinate lemon seeds in water. Next, you need to take a bowl and soak healthy seeds in water for around 24 hours. By doing so, it will soften the hard seed coat, and improve the germination rate.
3. Plant the Seeds
Take a small pot with good drainage holes, and fill it with a home-based potting mix. Or commercial mix, which is specially designed for citrus trees. While filling the pot, make sure you leave about an inch of space from the top. Then water the soil until it is moist enough, but should not be a soggy one.
After soil filling, it’s time to place one seed in the center of the pot, cover it well with soil, then gently press it down. You can repeat this method with other lemon seeds in larger pots. But, remember to place each pot 2 inches apart from each other. This is because it will help to increase your chance of getting healthy seedlings.
4. Choose a Warm Location
Once you are done with planting lemon seeds, it’s time to keep the pot in a warm and sunny spot. The ideal temperature for your lemon seeds is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep one thing in mind, to check the soil timely, and do not let it dry out completely, but that doesn’t mean you will leave the soil wet. As waterlogged, or dryness can kill the seed.
In the next few weeks or months, you will notice seeds sprout. Well sprouting of seeds solely depends upon the seed quality and care conditions. If more than one seed sprouts, cut off the weaker ones at the soil level. But, do not pull them out, as this can damage the roots of the remaining seedling.
5. Transplant the Seedlings
Last but not least, once the seedling has outgrown its pot, you can transplant it to a larger one with a fresh potting mix. The new pot should be wider than the older one and have good drainage holes. Now, carefully remove the seedlings from their old pot and cut matted or circling roots that are damaged. Gently transplant them to a new, wider pot, water them well, and add more soil if needed.
Here, you are done with the transplant procedure of the seedling. Now just place it in a preferable atmosphere for better growth of a lemon tree from seeds. Furthermore, you can also pinch off any flowers or fruits that appear in the first year after transplanting because it will drain the energy from the plant.
Read More:
- Vegetable gardening tips for beginners
- How to winterize sprinkler system in winter?
- How to plant onion bulbs in the ground?
Types of Lemons
Well, there are many types of lemons in the world, each with its characteristics and usage. Some of the most common types of lemons are:
| Type of Lemons | Origin | Appearance | Flavor | Usage |
| Variegated Lemon | Mutation of the Eureka Lemon | They are striped with lemon yellow and lime green lines. | Sweet flavor as compared to other lemons | Can be used for ornamentals, desserts, salad, and beverages |
| Eureka Lemon | Seedling from Italy | It has thick skin with a bright yellow color | It has a classic lemon flavor of sour and tangy one | Used for garnishing, making juices, and sauces |
| Meyer Lemon | They are native to China | Thin skin with a deep yellow color | Slightly sweet flavor | For making lemonade, cocktails, and, baking |
| Lisbon Lemon | It is of Portuguese origin | It has an oval shape smooth skin lemon with a pale yellow color appearance | Acidic juicy taste | Same taste as Eureka lemons |
How to Repot Lemon Trees?
Since now, we have been clear that you can grow lemon trees from seeds easily. Plus, you also know very well how to plant lemon seeds. Right? In this following section, we will explore easy steps to repotting a lemon tree, it will help you to improve its health and growth. So, here, we have jotted down easier steps for your reference:
- You must choose a pot that is only 2–3 inches wider than the root ball. This is because lemon trees do not like their roots to be cramped. So, the pot should have plenty of drainage holes and be made of a material that does not overheat. Such as ceramic or terracotta.
- Next, use a potting mix that is specially designed for citrus trees. Or you can make your own by combining one part peat moss, one part compost, and one part coarse sand. Remember that the soil should be slightly acidic, well-draining, and rich in organic matter.
- We recommend you water the tree thoroughly before you start the repotting procedure. This will help the roots to slide out of the old pot more easily and reduce the stress on the tree.
- Now, carefully remove the tree from its old pot and gently loosen any matted or circling roots. For that, you can use a sterile knife to cut through any roots that are too tight or damaged.
- Fill the new pot halfway with the potting mix and place the tree in the center. Then you need to adjust the height of the soil so that the root ball sits a couple of inches below the rim of the pot. It is advisable to fill in the gaps around the roots with more soil and press it down firmly.
- Water the tree well and let the excess water drain out, you may need to add more soil. Then place the pot in a sunny and sheltered spot and monitor the moisture level of the soil.
- Lastly, remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches, and shape the canopy to your liking.
By following these steps, you can successfully repot your lemon tree
FAQs
Is it healthy to eat lemon seeds?
Yes, lemon seeds are safe and healthy to eat. They contain fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C, and limonoids, which might have anti-cancer properties. However, it is recommended to not eat too many lemon seeds at once, as they may cause digestive discomfort. You should also avoid eating lemon seeds if you have a citrus allergy or a digestive disorder.
How do you harvest lemon seeds?
To harvest lemon seeds, you need to cut a ripe lemon in half and gently remove the seeds using a spoon or your fingers. The next step is to rinse the seeds under cold water to remove any pulp or flesh. You can either plant the seeds right away, or, store them in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Where can a lemon tree be grown in the U.S.?
Lemon trees can be grown in the U.S. in regions with warm and sunny climates. Such as California, Arizona, Florida, Texas, and some parts of the Gulf Coast. These states are the main lemon-producing areas in the country, with California being the largest producer.
How long does it take to get lemons after planting a seed?
The average time for a lemon tree to grow from seed to bear fruit is five years. But it can vary depending on the variety, the growing conditions, and the care given to the tree.
Hello, I’m Rose Lehman, the content writer of cozynest. I have been a gardener for over 5 years, and I have a certificate in master gardening from the Oregon State University Extension Service. I enjoy writing about all aspects of gardening, from the basics to the advanced, and from the practical to the creative. I also love to explore different types of gardens, cultures, and styles, and share them with our readers. My goal is to inspire and inform our audience, and help them grow their own cozynest.
