The summertime is the ideal season to enjoy the crisp, citrus flavor of lemons. Imagine having a lemon tree of your own, available for harvesting whenever you like. Fortunately, lemon trees are among the easiest citrus plants to grow in your backyard. In a few months, you can be gathering your own lemons with a little preparation and perseverance.
Are you ready to start your lemon tree journey? Since non-organic lemons frequently have non-germinating seeds that will not sprout, start by obtaining an organic lemon seed. Fertile soil, a planting pot, and a seedling pot are also required. Make sure you have some plastic on hand and a place to work indoors with lots of sunlight. Let’s get started with the planting procedure now!
1. Preparing Potting Soil in a Separate Container
Add water to a large bucket of dirt and stir until the earth is moist. Using your hands or a trowel, thoroughly mix the dirt being careful not to oversaturate it, since this might lead to the seeds becoming rotted. To promote the growth of seeds, use soil that drains properly. Lemon trees need water, but they don’t grow well if they are submerged in it all the time.
If possible, use pasteurized soil mix to eliminate bacteria that could harm the seeds. Choose a soil blend comprising vermiculite, perlite, peat, and organic fertilizer. This will provide proper drainage and essential nutrients for your seedlings.
2. Select a Pot with Drainage Holes
Choose a pot that works well for your lemon tree. It should be just the right size—roughly four inches wide and six inches deep—to accommodate one lemon plant.
As an alternative, you can fill a bigger pot with many seeds. Make sure the pots you select have openings for drainage. When growing a lemon tree in a pot, make sure it has drainage holes by drilling some yourself if the pot doesn’t have any.
3. Prepare Your Seeds
Gather the seeds from an organic lemon, as the seeds from non-organic lemons may not sprout. Use of too-small seeds should be avoided as they are unlikely to sprout. Instead, go for plump-looking seeds that are more likely to sprout.
To accommodate for probable non-sprouting seeds, plant five to ten lemon seeds at a time. Remember that lemon trees grown from seeds might not produce as much fruit or be as high-quality as their parent trees.
Before planting, wash the seeds to remove the slimy coating. Alternatively, suck on the seeds until the slimy covering disappears. These gel-like substances contain sugars that can cause the seeds to rot, so removing them is crucial before growing a lemon tree from seed.
Soak the lemon seeds in warm water overnight to facilitate faster sprouting.
4. Plant the Seeds
Planting the seeds is the next stage in the growth of a lemon tree. With an inch or two remaining from the rim, fill the pot with dirt. Make a hole that is 1/2 inch deep with a pencil or your finger. Place the lemon tree seeds into the hole with caution, making sure that the rounded part of the seed faces upward and the pointed tip faces down into the ground. The pointy portion will be where the roots emerge.
Cover the pot with breathable plastic to trap moisture and warmth. Place a plastic wrap over the pot and secure it with a rubber band. Create small holes in the plastic wrap using a toothpick or fork to allow the plant to breathe.
5. Place the Pot in a Warm Location
It’s essential to position the pot in a warm location. When growing a lemon tree indoors, find a warm spot near a window. However, direct sunlight is not necessary at this stage, as it may harm the young and delicate seedlings.
After about a week or two, you’ll witness sprouts emerging. Lemon plants thrive in temperatures between 68°F and 82.4°F.
6. Water the Soil When It’s Dry
The plastic cover will retain moisture in the pot, resulting in condensation that dampens the soil. However, if you reside in a particularly dry environment, this may not occur. In such cases, remember to water the plant regularly. Remove the plastic wrap when you notice the soil starting to dry, water the plant, and then cover the pot again.
Once the sprouts appear, remove the plastic cover and transfer the pot to a warm and sunny location. Keep the soil consistently moist but avoid excessive saturation.
7. Caring for the Seedlings
Allow the soil to partially dry before watering again once the seedlings develop leaves. However, ensure the soil remains moist without completely drying out.
When growing a lemon tree from seed, keep in mind that the plants require approximately eight hours of sunlight to thrive, while the seedlings need around 14 hours. Consider using a grow light to supplement sunlight and ensure sufficient illumination. These lights can be purchased from nurseries and local garden centers.
8. Transplanting Your Lemon Tree
When the sprout tails grow to about 3.15 inches, it is advisable to proceed with transplantation. For a quicker method, you may choose to transplant them when the tails measure roughly 1/2 inch. Prepare a shallow pit in moist, well-draining soil, and delicately position the potted lemon tree seedling into the pit. Gently pat the soil around the seedling afterward.
Remember that your seedlings will eventually exceed the capacity of their pots. Once they approach the age of one year, relocate them to a container with a diameter of approximately 6 inches. Over time, you may find it necessary to transfer them to an even broader pot, measuring about 8 inches in width and 16 inches in depth. Alternatively, you have the option to directly transplant the seedlings into the soil.
A helpful tip for transferring lemon trees cultivated from seeds is to inspect the underside of the pot. If you observe roots emerging through the drainage holes, it indicates that the plant requires a larger container.
