How to grow lemons at home?

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Some indoor plant lovers have adapted to growing citrus trees on the windowsill. Lemon is especially popular. Growing lemon at home will not take a lot of energy from the owner.

Growing lemon can be done at home

Lemongrass are native to southern countries with warm and humid climates. Therefore, the main task of the grower is to ensure similar microclimatic conditions in the house or apartment.

Why is lemon grown at home?

There are several advantages to breeding lemon crops at home. The main one is the fragrant healthy fruits that the plant produces annually. In addition, placing a lemon on a windowsill can be an interior decoration.

You can grow lemon at home in a pot or tub. The pot is more suitable for dwarf plant varieties, the tub is useful if a large tree is grown from a stone. With a sufficient amount of heat, moisture and light, indoor lemon can reach one and a half meters in height and produce up to 150 fruits per season. It is very difficult to achieve such results, but taking into account all the features of care, it can still be done.

Another advantage of growing lemon is the beautiful appearance of the tree. He has a dense and always green crown. During the flowering period, the plant throws out beautiful flowers. They are often covered with mighty green leaves. The only exception is the Ponderosa lemon, whose branches are thin and resemble a spreading bush. Despite the external weakness, the twigs can withstand up to 50 fruits. This decorative tree can be grown on a windowsill, since it does not take up much space.

Lemon bush can produce up to 50 fruits

General features of growing lemon at home

Lemon is a thermophilic tree. Lack of heat affects the fact that the plant grows poorly, gets sick or dies. If you decide to put a pot on the window, then you must:

1. Choose south or east side. The plant should receive a lot of sunlight.
2. On sunny days, the tree is placed in the shade, and on cloudy days, it is illuminated with fluorescent lamps.
3. In the summer, take the plant out to the balcony or loggia. There it receives more oxygen and solar energy. And only by the fall it is brought back to its original place. In winter, you should monitor the temperature indicator, which should not fall below 10 degrees.

Special attention should be paid to the quality of the soil and the pot.The fact is that lemons have an individual nutritional system. They get water not through ordinary hairs on the roots, but through fungi in the soil. The connection of the house plant with the mycelium of the fungi is sensitive to external factors. It can be easily disturbed by a lack of oxygen, improper watering and sudden changes in temperature.

Before growing a lemon tree, you should take care of a suitable soil. Plant lemons in loose soil types that are pH neutral. It is best to plant citrus in ready-made soil purchased from a specialized store. If the indoor lemon is placed in a self-made substrate, it is important to take into account the proportions of humus, turf and sand. The soil with meadow turf, leafy soil, humus and sand is also popular.

Mistakes in care lead to the fact that the lemon tree at home dies from aridity or excess moisture, poor living conditions or pests.

Lemon prefers the sunny side of the room

Planting lemon

For small plants, a clay pot is suitable, for large plants it is better to use a wooden tub, which is considered the best option for placing citrus fruits. Natural material allows oxygen to pass better to the lemon roots. Before placing the planting material in the pot, it should be inspected for damage. The planting process itself is simple:

1. The root collar is buried 5 cm deep.
2. The container is filled with soil almost to the very top. Better if there is a space of 1-1.5 cm between the edge of the pot and the soil.
3. After planting, the seedling is sprayed with water and watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.

The planted tree is left on the windowsill. A young plant needs a lot of light and warmth. On hot days, it is better to create partial shade, which will save you from burns. It is not worth changing the place for the pot, the lemon does not like moving. Occasionally, you can turn the tree with darkened leaves towards the sun for even heat.

Lemon seedlings are sprayed with water after planting

Growing lemon from seed

If you decide to germinate a varietal lemon from the seed, you should know the peculiarities of its cultivation. This process takes much longer than planting seedlings. To find out how long it takes for the seeds to germinate, you need to take into account the following features:

1. The sprout breaks out of the soil 2 weeks after planting. Sometimes it takes more time (up to one month).
2. Citrus buds require greenhouse conditions, so the pot with a bone is covered with a cut plastic bottle or wrapped in plastic wrap. Inside such a cap, the humidity is several times higher than in open space, and the transparency of the bottle allows the ascending sprouts to receive sunlight. In a homemade greenhouse, watering should not be overused. The soil already gives off moisture to the allotted space of the greenhouse, so it should only be sprayed.
3. When a small stalk has broken through, it is taught to indoor conditions by removing the greenhouse cap for 1-2 hours a day.
4. Transplanting into a large pot occurs only when 4 leaves appear on the sprout.

Growing lemon in a greenhouse will also work for mature seedlings. With the correct organization of climatic conditions, you can do without it. It is also not worth rushing with feeding.

Until the citrus root system is fully formed, any external additives will be perceived by the tree as a poison. It is best to do top dressing in the spring or summer, but not earlier than three months from planting.

Growing a lemon from a seed will take quite a long time.

Lemon watering

Growing a lemon at home is not an easy task, often a lemon does not survive for several months. And one of the reasons for this is improper watering. Providing proper home care is essential for the plant to grow healthy and strong. How to properly water

1. Provide moderate watering with settled water once a day.You can water it once twice a day (you need to monitor the condition of the soil).
2. Water the lemon 2 times a week in winter.
3. Drain the accumulated water in the sump immediately after watering. Plant roots can rot from excess moisture.
4. Sprinkle lemon leaves daily with warm water. It is especially important to do this in winter, when the air becomes dry from the operation of heating systems.

Experienced growers advise beginners to find a moisture balance: avoid overflow and lack of moisture. With a lack of it, the leaves of any kind of lemon begin to turn yellow. If watering is not done in a timely manner, the microza and the plant die. If yellowed leaves are detected, the lemon should be sprayed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

We must not forget about the benefits of a warm shower. Like everything standing motionless in a dwelling, a lemon is covered with a layer of dust and dirt. It should be washed off as dust interferes with the process of photosynthesis. Bathing of the plant is carried out no more than 1 time per month.

Dust should be regularly washed off lemon leaves.

Lemon fertilization

Recommendations on how to care for a lemon also apply to plant nutrition. Citrus fruits are sensitive to fertilizers. The preparations must be constantly changing, because when using one fertilizer, the pH of the soil can change to an acidic or alkaline side. In such soil, lemon does not ripen, it grows for a long time, gets sick and dies. To avoid this, you should:

1. Choose only mineral formulations for fertilization.
2. Apply fertilizers from March to October at intervals of 2-3 weeks. For young plants, it is enough to carry out the procedure once a month and a half.
3. Combine top dressing with watering in the summer.
4. In spring and autumn, feed the plant only after watering. Fertilizer is applied at least 2 hours after the soil is moistened.
5. In winter, fertilize once.

Unlike complex mineral fertilizers, not all organic substances are suitable for lemon. The most effective solution is a weak solution of manure with water (1/6) and an extract from wood ash. A special infusion of birch and quinoa leaves is popular.

Some citrus fruit owners are faced with the problem of flowering. When flowers do not appear on the crown among the ripening leaves, this indicates poor feeding. Why does the plant react this way? The fact is that the lemon does not have enough strength to bear fruit. And a change in fertilizer will help him cope with this problem.

From quinoa, you can prepare an infusion for fertilizing lemon

The importance of pruning

The need for pruning is due to decorative and sanitary features. Its shape and scheme most often depend on the purpose of growing the tree. Small ornamental plants do not need sprawling large branches, so they are cut as much as possible, making the crown compact. For citrus fruits that bear fruit, the rule of balancing branches and shoots applies. The most common pruning method is pinching.

It begins after the lemon has reached the age of one year, with preliminary pruning of the main shoot. It is best to leave 30 cm in length. This is necessary so that the lateral buds on the tree begin to sprout.

Only after the lemon gets stronger and gives new branches, they should be pinched. 3-4 leaves remain on each branch. This pruning method allows the tree to grow strong, able to hold and ripen fully.

It is important to prune old dead branches. The lemon spends its powers on them, but it will not work to revive them. Therefore, it is better to rid the lemon of the extra load. Those shoots that grow inside the crown also lend themselves to pruning. They most often prevent neighboring branches from developing and getting enough sunlight.

Lemon harvest

Enjoy the ripe lemon fruit grown on your own balcony or windowsill only with the correct formation of the blooms. Weak immature plants can throw out a large number of flowers in the second year of life. You cannot leave them.The structure of the tree cannot withstand a heavy load, and the lemon will die, giving all its strength to the fruit. To grow a large crop, you should:

1. In the second year of the lemon's life, leave 2 flowers on the whole tree or completely remove the inflorescences.
2. During flowering, carefully monitor the health of the tree, protect it from drafts and carry out all the features of caring for it.
3. Know the rule of forming inflorescences - there should be 10 leaves for 1 fruit. All other ovaries are removed.

Lemon harvest can be expected 4-5 years after planting.

Do not expect high fertility rates from a houseplant. The tree grows and develops very slowly. Any human error can delay the appearance of blooms. You should constantly monitor the condition of the lemon and feed, cut and water it in a timely manner.

Some citrus fruit owners get their first good fruits within 4-5 years. Their number rarely exceeds 5–8 pieces. A larger harvest will have to wait longer. The tree reaches its maturity only by the age of 8–10 years, and at home, the lemon lives up to 40–45 years.

Transplant features

Some citrus owners are faced with the problem of the rapid death of the plant. If its cause depends on watering and fertilization, then the tree suffers from an incorrectly selected pot. Too much capacity causes root rot. It is better to use pots commensurate with the root of the plant and replant the tree only when it becomes cramped. It is best to increase the space gradually, while controlling the growth of the tree's roots.

We must not forget about the proper access of oxygen to the roots. It is better to install the pot on a pallet with a gap so that air can penetrate into the ground. Place a lining of stones or wood under the bottom of the pot.

After transplanting, the citrus is returned to the same place where it stood before. Any change in the environment is bad for the health of the plant. It can hurt and even die. If you want to turn the tree with the darkened side towards the sun, then you should change the angle by no more than 10 degrees. Only in this way will the lemon grow strong and healthy.

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Lemon - a tree of the genus Citrus, everyone knows its fruit. The homeland of this plant is China, India and the Pacific tropical islands.

Lemon was first introduced by the Arabs to the Middle East, North Africa, Spain and Italy.

Is it possible to grow a lemon from a seed at home?

People know about the benefits of lemon firsthand. Lemon is an excellent remedy for many ailments.... It strengthens the immune system, normalizes hormones, improves vision, and stimulates the digestive tract.

It is used for colds, as it contains a huge amount of vitamin C and many people just like the sour, aromatic taste.

It is possible to grow lemon at home. If you cut a lemon, you can see a lot of seeds. It is quite possible to grow a full-fledged lemon tree from these seeds.

To a man who decided to plant a lemon at home, it is important to consider the following rules:

• the fruit should be yellow, the most ripe, since if the lemon is green, then due to the fact that it is not ripe, the germs of sprouts in the seeds of such a lemon may not sprout;
• for planting, it is important to choose several large seeds - from 10 to 15 pieces, so that later you can choose a beautiful and actively growing seedling;
• it is important to choose a suitable variety that will grow well at home.

For cultivation, you must choose the right variety of lemon, the fruit must be ripe, the seeds are large

Suitable variety for a house or apartment: Pavlovsky, Meyer and others

There are many varieties. Below are some of them that are suitable for growing in a house or apartment:

1. Pavlovsky - differs from other varieties in its large fruits, which can reach 500 grams, has a sweetish taste, and the tree of this variety is quite large - more than 2 meters. This variety is distinguished by fragrant leaves. The scent is so sharp and strong that the whole house will be filled with it.
2. Meyer - a hybrid of lemon with grapefruit, has a sweet and sour taste, a small tree with a rich harvest, the size of one lemon can reach 150 grams, blooms in bunches, there is a seasonal dormant period.
3. Ponderosa - a hybrid of lemon with grapefruit, has a bitter taste, as well as the presence of a large number of seeds. Pleases that it constantly blooms. According to the people who grow this type of lemon, it is a very grateful plant and quite unpretentious.
4. Genoa - an average tree, gives a large yield already for 4-5 years of life. Fruits with delicate pulp, have a sour, aromatic taste. You can also eat the rind. This variety is considered not whimsical. For 2-3 years, the seedling is already blooming.
5. Anniversary - a medium-sized tree, considered a variety that gives a rich harvest, the fruit is distinguished by its thick skin. Very suitable for growing in a house or apartment.

After the stage of choosing a variety has been passed, it is necessary to proceed to the very planting of the seeds in the pot.

Varieties that are suitable for growing in a house or apartment: Pavlovsky, Meyer, Genoa, Yubileiny, Ponderoza

How to plant plant seeds: highlights

Some active citrus growers with a wealth of experience it is advised to free the bone from the upper husk, which in their opinion allows you to get seedlings in the shortest possible time.

This must be done very carefully, since any damage to the seed can lead to the fact that the germination of the seed does not occur.

But you can plant bones without the above procedure.

Lemon seeds must be wet before planting... It is advisable to soak them for a day in water or in a solution of sodium humate. You can buy this growth stimulant at any botanical store.

But even if the seeds were planted without soaking, and as soon as they were removed from the lemon, they will most likely sprout.

Next, you need to find a suitable small, shallow pot or glass, pour earth into it. There should be holes in the bottom of the pots... They are important so that excess moisture, due to which the roots of the sprouts may die, flows down.

Make holes in the bottom of the pot, fill with small pebbles, soil

Put 1.5-2 cm of expanded clay, small pebbles or very coarse sand on the bottom of the pot. Planting soil can be purchased at the store, but you can prepare yourself. To do this, you need to mix garden soil, sand, humus and a little charcoal.

It is better to plant bones to a depth of no more than 1.5-2 cm... It is important to moisten the soil before planting. It should not be dry, but excessive moisture is also undesirable.

The pot can be covered with plastic wrap. The air temperature in the room where the seed pot is located should be above + 18 ℃.

Spray the soil once every 2-3 days... If the ground has become completely dry, then you can water it a little. After the first shoots appear, the film must be removed.

It is better to rearrange the pot with sprouts in a bright place and water with settled or rain water, at room temperature.

The first shoots will sprout no earlier than 3-4 weeks after planting.

According to experienced citrus growers, the best time to plant lemon is late winter, early spring... Since the increasing daylight hours will only benefit the young sprouts that have appeared.

Will the indoor lemon tree bear fruit?

Many people think that growing a lemon from a seed is a thankless job. Since it will take 5, 7, or even all 15 years to wait for fruits from such a lemon, and its fruits will be small in size.

For, in order not to wait for decades when the lemon tree begins to bear fruit, it must be grafted... This can be done in two ways during the warm season (summer or warm spring):

1. Into the cleft - the preferred type of grafting. It is necessary to take a stalk of a cultivated fruiting lemon. A branch is cut on the seedling, and the remaining stem of the seedling is split. A "wedge" is sharpened on the cutting of a fruiting lemon, which is then introduced into the split in the stem. Next, you need to tie the vaccine with electrical tape. 2-4 buds are left on the cutting of a fruiting lemon, everything else is cut off. The inoculation is covered with a plastic bag. When the vaccine has healed, the bag can be removed.

Lemon grafting - by budding or splitting - is necessary for early fruiting

1. Oculated - the shoots are cut off from the seedling, a "stump" 10 cm high remains from the tree. Next, they take a sprig of cultivated fruit-bearing lemon. Under each leaf of the twig is the so-called "dormant bud". A slice must be made in front of this kidney. Next, cut off the leaf plate, but leave its petiole. Cut the bark on the "stump" of the seedling and insert the petiole with the cut down. Tie the vaccination site with electrical tape. The stalk of the cut leaf plate will serve as an indicator. If the petiole falls off after 2-3 days, then we can assume that the vaccination was successful, but if it dries up, then the vaccination has failed and must be repeated.

I wonder what grown lemon from seed adapts to home conditions faster and better, it is less picky than grafted and grafted seedlings.

Why lemon grown from seed does not bear fruit:

Optimal growing conditions, care after planting

It is advisable to be very attentive to a lemon that has risen in a pot. When on lemon seedlings 3-4 leaves will appear, they are transplanted into separate pots.

It is recommended to replant young lemon trees up to 2 times a year. It is advisable to do this very carefully so as not to damage the root system.

Typically, lemon can react to both extreme heat and sunlight, as well as cold and strong winds. Therefore, when changing the location of the lemon pot, it is advisable to keep this in mind.

And the best solution would be not to change the place of "residence" of the lemon. The best place for a lemon would be the south or southwest side of the apartment. In terms of temperature, lemon can tolerate temperatures from + 14 ℃ to + 27 ℃.

The best place for a lemon would be the south or southwest side of the apartment.

Lemon create conditions without sudden temperature jumpssince they can kill him. It is desirable to maintain a moderate air humidity of 60-70%.

Water the plant best with rainwater at room temperature. In hot summer, it is better to do this 2 times a day. And on cloudy and cold days, it is important to add lighting to lemon with LED or fluorescent lamps.

Feed in summer a seedling can be a solution of humus and liquid mineral fertilizers.

Lemons, like all houseplants susceptible to disease and pest attacks... Therefore, they need careful care, and it is also recommended to carefully examine the plant every day in order to detect the appearance of this or that pest as early as possible and take the necessary measures in time.

Courting and Protecting: The Main Enemies of Citrus

Lemon gets sick if you do not follow the rules of care. If the tree is watered a little, it will dry out. If the soil in the pot is oversaturated with moisture, then yellow leaves will appear on the lemon, and this will be a sign that the roots of the tree are beginning to rot.

Also the appearance of yellow spots on the foliage, after which the leaves dry and fall off, indicate that the wood lacks iron.

Drying leaf ends say that the tree needs phosphorus. And the lack of potassium and manganese leads to wrinkling of the leaves and falling off of the ovary.

Knowing how to grow a tree is not enough; it is important to be able to care for it. If a pest is seen on the plant, it is necessary to figure out what kind of parasite it is and urgently take measures to combat it.

Below are some common parasites that can attack a home-grown lemon:

1. Mealybugs, popularly known as "hairy lice" - on a tree they can be recognized by a white bloom. They prefer dry conditions, they are afraid of moisture. A good prevention of this parasite is to regularly rinse all the lemon leaves.
2. Shield - small shiny droplets appear on the leaves, sticky to the touch. Leaves dry and fall off. Soapy or garlic water is used against this pest. Soapy water is prepared as follows: 2 tablespoons of liquid soap are dissolved in 1 liter of water. The resulting mixture is treated with the affected tree. An hour after the procedure, they are washed under the shower. It is desirable to repeat the treatment after 2 days.
3. Spider mite - small, light dots on the sheet plate. The leaves are curling up. A cobweb is visualized on their back. If this parasite is found on the lemon, it is necessary to treat the tree with sulfur. For prevention purposes, the lemon is washed under running water, paying more attention to the underside of the leaf plates of the tree. Spraying with a solution of water and laundry soap helps to fight the mite well.

Common parasites that can attack home-grown lemon: mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites

Prevention measures

There are several simple preventive measures that will prevent the attack of parasites or damage to the tree by diseases:

• give a lemon tree a hot shower... The plant will not suffer from this, and unnoticed parasites will be neutralized and washed away;
• spray the leaves (especially from the bottom side);
• wipe the lemon leaves once a week with soapy water (it is better to use laundry soap).

"Fitosporin" is considered a good remedy for many diseases and pests. It is non-toxic and odorless. It is also good for prevention.

The lemon tree is not geranium, it needs proper care and it is very difficult for a beginner to figure out what, how and when to do it.

With the effort and study of the rules for caring for lemon, you can get a pleasant result. Home-grown lemon will delight not only with its aroma, but also with delicious fruits.

Growing lemon from seed:

Hello dear readers!

I would like to present you another article from the cycle "Garden on the windowsill". In this article, we will talk about growing lemons at home.

Homemade lemons - universal healers, the richest suppliers of vitamins. This evergreen tree with fleshy leaves can decorate any interior and will become a source of pride for the owner. The process of growing lemon itself is one of the most exciting activities in floriculture. What is it useful for?

• A generous, uninterrupted supply of the most valuable vitamins to your table.
• Unique air ionizer in the house. Leaves lemon at home emit useful volatile phytoncides, which refresh the microclimate, fill the air with the healing aroma of essential oils.

All the secrets of the home doctor

In fact, a lemon is a hybrid. A mixture of bitter orange and citron. Its official name is Citrus Limon. With proper care, this tree can provide your household with up to 50 fruits annually (the fruit bearing depends on the plant variety).

Let's make a reservation right away, in order to get a fruiting lemon at home, we need not only to grow it from the seed, but also to graft it. You can use already grafted, young seedlings, but it is expensive and not so interesting. Therefore, we stock up on patience and nurse our fragrant pet on our own. In the house they take root best of all, such varieties of homemade lemons as:

• Meyer. Short stature. Fruits with a more sour taste, they can be eaten unripe.
• Pavlovsky. The height of a lemon can reach 2 m.Large fruits with thin skin, very fragrant. Most adapted to home conditions. Reproduces well by cuttings.
• Novogruzinsky. The fruits have a strong, delicate aroma, practically have no seeds. Can bear fruit all year round. The trunk has many spikes.
• Genoa. Small in stature, this lemon is very fruitful at home, it bears juicy, tasty fruits.

How to grow a lemon from a seed

Seed selection is one of the main conditions for the emergence of a strong, healthy lemon at home. We select the largest seeds from the lemon fruit in the amount of 10-15 (to ensure that you get a seedling). You do not need to dry them (this will slow down germination). The bones must be soaked in epine (dissolve 4 drops in 100 ml of water).

• Epin. Immunomodulator of plants, regulator of their growth. It can be purchased at any hardware store.

After a 24-hour stay in the healing solution, we transplant the bones into the ground. The soil can be purchased ready-made (for citrus fruits). Or do it yourself.

Land for a young lemon

• sheet land 1 part;
• turf land 2 parts;
• humus (compost) 1 part;
• clean, washed sand 1 part.

We carefully sift the mixture to remove unnecessary impurities and lumps. In order for lemon seeds to take on well at home, you need to plant them in small plastic containers (you can take cups). Remember to punch holes in their bottom for drainage.

Place the seeds in the loosened soil about 2 cm and put them in a warm place. No need to water (the roots can rot in a humid environment). It is better to make a "mini-greenhouse" for future young lemons (cover them with glass jars, or wrap the glasses with plastic wrap).

Growing lemon at the first stage should take place in a warm room, where the temperature should not fall below + 18 ° C. After 3 months you will enjoy the first shoots. When the leaves appear, the baby is ready for transplantation.

Adult lemon at home

Pot

It is best to purchase a clay pot. Clay is a moisture regulator. If the soil is excessively moistened, the clay will absorb excess moisture, and if there is a shortage, it will willingly give it to the plant. Drain the bottom of the pot.

• Drainage layer. A small layer of material that can quickly drain off excess water when watering. It fits at the bottom of the pot. As a drainage layer, you can use small clay shards or pieces of red brick, expanded clay, coarse, coarse sand, pebbles, even crumbs of foam or wine cork.

To make the lemon feel more comfortable at home, cover the drainage with an additional 2 cm layer of moss, peat or dried manure.

Land for an adult plant

• humus (compost) 1 part;
• sod land 3 parts;
• sheet land 1 part;
• sand 1 part.

Immediately after planting, place the young lemon sprout on the windowsill of the north or west window (there is the least amount of sun). A week later, the tree is ready to start living on a warm south-facing window. Such a small preliminary hardening will help to strengthen the health of the plant, make it stronger.

How to properly grow lemon at home

Operation	Season	What Lemon Loves	Advice	Notes (edit)
air temperature	spring Summer	normal room temperature	south window (lemon is very sensitive to climate change)	the best temperature for flowering, fruit setting from + 15 ° to + 18 ° С
	autumn winter	from + 8 ° to + 14 ° С	transfer the lemon to a light, insulated balcony, or enclose the windowsill with plexiglass	after a dormant period, gradually accustom the lemon to the temperature rise
Light	spring Summer	bright diffused light	in the morning, evening hours - directed sun rays, in the afternoon (from 12 to 16) light partial shade	some lemons like the heat (Meyer's lemon), other lemons can do with artificial lighting
	autumn winter	full lighting	at t ° from + 5 ° to + 14 ° С additional lighting is not needed, if t ° is above + 16 ° С additional lighting is required	you can supplement the lemon at home with fluorescent lamps (white, blue spectrum)
Watering	spring Summer	plentiful drink	the soil should have time to dry in the upper third of the pot by the next watering	watering lemon at home is best with settled tap water
	autumn winter	rare, moderate watering	watering depends on the temperature of the air in the room, make sure that the soil does not dry out completely	in winter, provide breathing for the roots - loosen the soil more often so that the water does not stagnate
Air humidity	spring Summer	humid climate	sprinkle lemon at home regularly during the warm season	suitable humidity 60-70% (if rainy), if the weather is dry, hot - humidity not less than 50%
	autumn winter	moderate humidity	if the tree is in a residential area, spray it also in winter	in the heating season, the humidity will be ideal at 20-30%

Lemon nutrition

At the beginning of summer (its first half), feed it with fertilizers. They will increase the sugar content of future fruits and reduce their bitterness. Fertilize lemon at home only apply to moist soil once a month in winter. From March to October, feed the lemon three times a month. Complex fertilizers will suit him.

• Lemon is very afraid of chlorine! Even a small part of it can destroy a tree. Make sure that chlorine is not included in the fertilizer.

Lemon transplant

Homemade lemons need to be transplanted once a year. But the transplant cannot be done if the earthen lump is not braided by the rhizomes of the plant. In this case, simply replace the drainage and topsoil of the tree.

Fruiting trees need to change their place of residence every 3 years. Usually this procedure is done in February-March. When replanting lemon at home, be careful with the earthen lump - do not damage it. The plant may not tolerate trauma to its root system.

You can add birch or alder coals to the new soil (a glass on a bucket of earth), it will also be useful to add pine bark (put 1 cm of bark on the bottom and fill it with a liter of water) and vermiculite in the same proportion.

• Vermiculite. Layered, environmentally friendly mineral, protects plant roots from fungal diseases. Vermiculite should be slightly moistened before use.

If the lemon has long lived in the same pot, then you need to mulch it (add fresh soil or compost on top). Provided, of course, that the soil sank and caked. The top soil layer must also be changed when a whitish salt deposit appears.

We are waiting for the long-awaited fruits

Homemade lemon (grown from seed) usually begins to bear fruit 5-8 years after planting. Do you want to enjoy its first juicy fruits after a year? To do this, we need to inoculate him. There are two most convenient methods of grafting. Prepare in advance:

• garden knife (you can take a razor);
• elastic tape (scotch tape, electrical tape);
• garden var (you can use oil paint, which is smeared with fresh plant cuts).

Budding method (budding)

You can do lemon peeling at home at any time. On the bark of the tree with a knife we ​​make a neat T-shaped incision (length 3, width 1 cm). It will be ideal if you purchase an eyepiece knife for these purposes. With it, you can gently bend the bark in the place where we will place the kidney.

Pre-cut the bud itself from the cutting. Gently take it by the petiole of the leaf and place it in the incision. Return the bent bark to its previous state. Secure the graft area with elastic tape. But leave the kidney visible. And cover this place with pitch (so that no water gets in). After three weeks, the result will appear - the petiole will disappear. Remove the bandage, remove the var. Your lemon will bear fruit in its second year.

Splitting method (grafting)

You can plant lemon at home by cuttings only in April and May. The tree must not be more than 3 years old and have a trunk diameter of about 2 cm.We need a 10 cm shoot of a healthy annual plant, taken from its upper section. Remove all leaves from the cutting and wrap it in a damp cloth, wrap it with plastic wrap on top. Keep it this way for 3 days. You can put the stalk in the refrigerator, then it will last longer.

Water the lemon tree itself abundantly 3 days before grafting. At home, it is better to plant the tree in the split in the center. Cut off the crown of the lemon 10 cm from the ground and split the stem to a depth of 3 cm. At the base of the cutting, make two oblique cuts and insert it into the split. Wrap this place with tape, secure with a pitch. The grafted lemon should be in high humidity conditions, protect it from direct sunlight.

Indoor lemon, grown with your own hands, will give the owner a lot of pleasant moments, starting with the appearance of the first young sprouts and ending with the first fruits. With its appearance in the house, you will forget what colds, vitamin deficiency and stress are.

Good luck to you and your lemon tree!

See you soon, dear readers!

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Today I want to tell you in detail how to grow a lemon from a seed at home. Yes, not just a lemon, but a real tree with fragrant and healthy fruits. Last year I wrote about growing tangerine from seed and in the comments there was a request to tell about lemon. There are some points to consider in order to drink tea with your lemons after a few years.

Growing lemon from seed at home

Lemon is an evergreen bush with glossy, fleshy leaves. On them and on the branches of the bush there are many pores that emit essential oils and phytoncides - this is a wonderful lemon scent we all know.

A lemon grows at home as a small tree, but it can be up to three meters. It has small thorns on the branches, the leaves are dark green. Lemon has beautiful small flowers - pink-red or purple on top and white on the inside.

Lemon flower

It's just that you won't surprise anyone with a lemon tree now, but a tree with fruits is not so common. But this is a completely feasible task for everyone.

Landing

Let's start from the very beginning. You need to choose the right seeds for planting and prepare the ground. We choose a beautiful, even, ripe lemon fruit. We choose the best from it - large seeds. And we plant in a wet state - there is no need to dry, otherwise they will sprout for a long time or will not germinate at all.

Before planting, you can treat the seeds with any biostimulant for quick germination and the formation of good roots in the future. To do this, prepare a solution according to the instructions for the preparation - and soak the seeds overnight.

It is necessary to prepare containers for sowing and good soil. You can buy seedling pots at the store or use yogurt or sour cream cups for this, cut off plastic bottles. At the bottom you need to make holes and put drainage. It can be shards from pots, nut shells, pebbles, a layer of vermiculite up to 1.5 cm.

Plant a lot of lemon seeds at once - a couple of dozen at once. Firstly, not everyone will grow, and secondly, you will have the opportunity to choose the best ones for further cultivation, and finally, not everyone can tolerate the vaccination well.

Maybe it will seem to someone that the information about the holes in the cups, about the need for drainage is known to everyone and there is no need to write about it in such detail. But I remember myself as a novice gardener and I did not always know all the intricacies of planting and care. And the plants died.

Now you need to prepare loose, fertile soil. Planting lemons in commercial citrus soil or making your own is no problem. We mix humus, leafy earth in equal amounts and add peat and sand for ease. We moisten the earth and lay out the bones in pots. We plant the seeds to a depth of about 2 cm.

The temperature for germination of lemon pits must be at least 18 ° C.To create the best conditions for the lemons to germinate and develop, cover them with cut-off plastic bottles. Or just cover the seed cups with foil and put them in a warm place. This will create the conditions for a greenhouse for lemons.

Lemons under plastic bottles - mini greenhouse No need to fill the seeds after sowing - they can suffocate and mold. It is better not to water at all, but simply spray the ground with a spray bottle. Water only when the ground begins to crack. And after the emergence of lemon shoots, it is also better to observe the low watering regime so that the roots do not rot.

Growing lemon from seed at home

Sprouts appear in an apartment in different ways. It can take from two weeks to a month. Until the appearance of 4 leaves, we keep young seedlings in mini-greenhouses. We gradually accustom the seedlings to room air - we spray them more often. Then we rearrange the pot in a bright place, but without direct sunlight, otherwise the young sprout will die.

Do not forget about watering, in the sense that do not get carried away. Water the seedlings only after the soil is dry. The first shoots and small seedlings of lemon

Helpful hints:

1. Use water at room temperature. Rain and melt water is good for irrigation - just not cold.
2. A small lemon is not fed in the first months. In spring and summer, you need to water with biofertilizer. But always remember that underfeeding is better than overfeeding.
3. Don't forget that the lemon tree is a moody and demanding plant when grown indoors. It likes constant temperature or humidity. Abrupt changes in climate and care will immediately reflect a deterioration in the health of the lemon.
4. Hot, dry climate, exposure to direct sunlight, drafts and cooling of the air, wind - these factors can lead to the loss of all leaves and death of the plant.
5. By autumn, watering is completely reduced, only after the earth dries up is the earth lump moistened. Be sure to make sure that the water does not stagnate, and the excess flows freely. They are fed in the fall once a month.
6. Already in the first year of growth, the seedling begins to form its crown. Remove all deformed, inward growing weak branches.

Growing lemon at home in a pot

When there are 2-3 true leaves on the seedlings, the strongest are chosen and transplanted into pots. For lemon, it is best to grow only in clay pots. The diameter and depth increase as the tree grows. A few hours before transplanting, the pot must be soaked in water. Be sure to put a drainage layer on the bottom. You can cover the hole with a crock, with the convex side facing up. Pour small shards, pebbles, coarse sand, coal, expanded clay on top.

We fill in the soil the same as was prepared when planting lemon seeds. After transplanting, cover the seedlings with a jar or half a bottle again. We remove it only after the seedling has completely taken root. At the same time, new leaves will begin to grow.

How to choose the best seedlings for transplanting... Here are the main things to look out for:

• We look at the density of the crown. See the distance between the buds on the seedling - take with the smallest ones.
• The presence of needles. Less is better.
• The quality of the leaves. There are many of them, hold on tightly, do not fall off when touched.
• All weak, thin shoots with bad leaves are immediately rejected.

Lemon tree - care rules and growing problems

Growing lemons at home requires special care. If you follow all the rules, you can get flowering and fruiting plants.

• For lemon, additional lighting is needed - especially in early spring and autumn.
• A humid climate must be created in the room. To do this, spray the plant more often. Give him a shower, wash the leaves - lemons are tropical inhabitants and love high humidity.
• Frequent transplants are important for a young lemon. We prepare the earth, as for the first landing. Plants are necessarily transplanted with a clod of earth. A new pot is taken 5-7 cm more.Young - once a year, an adult plant can be transplanted every 2-3 years. The best time in summer is in June, and in winter we transplant in February.
• In the period from February to September, lemon grows more actively - therefore, you need to feed the bushes with biofertilizers at this time, alternating with mineral fertilizers. We feed only with liquid fertilizers. Let's not forget the rule: less is better than more.
• We form plants correctly. To make the tree more luxuriant and actively grow lateral shoots - pinch the top of the head. Better to do this in the first year of growth.
• For proper crown formation, the pot should be turned a quarter every week. In the future, a well-formed trunk will affect the quality of the fruit.
• If the lemon at home began to bloom in the first year, then you need to cut off all the flowers - do not regret it. Lemon spend all its energy on flowers and then wither away. Lemon can be allowed to bloom when the plant has at least 15 leaves per flower!

Will seed-grown lemon bear fruit

Full-fledged fruit plants grow from the seeds, but they begin to bear fruit late. Seedlings grown from seeds are more adaptable to home conditions. They are more hardy than cuttings.

In order for the lemon to start bearing its first fruits early, you can graft it with other citrus fruits. For example: tangerine, grapefruit. The optimal time for this operation is early summer or spring.

Another important factor is the formation of the crown. As I already wrote, in the first year they pinch the top of the head - more precisely, when the seedling grows to 20 cm.Then branches of the second order begin to grow, they are pinched when they grow 18 cm.Further, the process is repeated until the branches of the 4th order appear - the first flowers and fruits appear on them ...

Fruiting lemon at home

And yet, before flowering, the lemon needs to rest. To do this, in the winter, put it in a cool place for several months. And in the spring, put it in a warm, bright place.

Types of indoor lemon

Many varieties can be grown at home - these are Pavlovsky, Maikop, Eureka, Genoa, Meyer, Novogruzinsky. The most productive is Maykop. Genoa and Eureka varieties are not tall and can grow even on a warm windowsill.

Lemon variety Pavlovsky

Pavlovsky lemon

This is an old variety of folk selection. Bred in the village of Pavlovo more than 100 years ago. The variety is very unpretentious, well adapted to home conditions - dry air and insufficient lighting.

Pavlovsky lemon grows up to 2 meters. The crown is round. It can give from 20 to 40 fruits per year. Begins to bear fruit for 4 years.

Meyer lemon variety

Meyer lemon variety

It appeared in Russia in 1929. It became widespread in Europe, as it gave rich harvests in the open field. It is considered a natural hybrid of lemon and orange.

Lemon Chinese

Lemon Chinese

This is a short tree - usually about a meter. Differs in high productivity. Begins to bear fruit early - for 2-3 years. Fruits are early ripening, blooms on old and young shoots, blooms early.

Shades poorly - must be grown on the south and southwest windows. It tolerates heat well, but during the dormant period, the leaves need coolness and moisture.

Lemon variety Jubilee

Lemon variety Jubilee

Unpretentious, productive, decorative variety. Grows up to 1.5 meters. It blooms very profusely - it looks like a white ball from the abundance of flowers. Fruits weighing 500 grams with a thick, yellow skin. Begins to bear fruit in the 2nd year of life. Shade-tolerant, grows quickly and adapts well to different conditions. The fruits are tied in any conditions.

Genoa lemon variety

Genoa lemon variety

This variety can be from 1 to 3 meters long, without thorns. Begins to bear fruit at 4-5 years. Usually about 50 fruits are harvested per year. On an adult tree, up to 100 pieces. It blooms several times a year, genoa lemons are medium-sized up to 100-120 gr. Differs in high palatability of fruits.

Lemon variety Maikop

Lemon variety Maikop

The variety is common for growing at home, as it is very unpretentious and fruitful. It tolerates cold well. The mass of lemons is 120-160 gr., 200-300 fruits are harvested per year. Trees at the age of 30 give 700 fruits a year. Branches without thorns.

Lemon variety Novogruzinsky

Lemon variety Novogruziskiy

Tall tree up to 3 meters. Begins to bear fruit for 4-5 years. The fruits are very aromatic, with a thin crust, without seeds. With good care, it produces up to 200 fruits per year.

How to plant lemon at home

The best way is the graft vaccination. I suggest watching a video on how to carry out this operation.

Indoor lemon pests and diseases

The most common pests of lemons at home are scale insects, aphids, spider mites, and scale insects. All of them suck sap from plants, leading to curvature of shoots, drying of leaves.

With all pests, there are general rules for the fight to save the lemon:

• Brush off insects from twigs with a soft toothbrush. It can be removed from the leaves with a cotton swab. We wet the instruments in a soapy solution of anabasine sulfate.
• After a day, we wash off the solution from the plant. After a week, we repeat the treatment.
• In case of severe pest damage, we process the bushes with infusions of onions, garlic, celandine, tobacco. Or we use drugs Aktellik, Fitoverm (biological product). Use chemicals very carefully at home - these are strong poisons.

  Lemon disease

The main diseases of all citrus fruits at home are sooty fungus and gommosis. From the fungus, the leaves become covered with a gray coating, in which their nutrition is disturbed. And with homoz, gum appears at the sites of damage to the bark - the branches and leaves gradually dry out.

Actions for diseases:

1. We clean the bark or the place of the disease - we process it with vitriol (copper).
2. We cover it with RanNet (or garden varnish).
3. Wipe the leaves with the fungus with a wet cloth.
4. We feed with fertilizers to maintain the strength of the plant to fight the disease.

How and in what quantities to use drugs for plant treatment or pest control can always be read on the packaging of each drug. You will find a large number of them in any specialty store.

Growing lemon in a greenhouse

As stated earlier, the lemon tree loves:

• Strong but diffused light
• Good root breathing
• Constant freezing temperatures all year round

All these conditions can be observed in the best way in conditions: greenhouses, loggias or balconies with glazing, in a greenhouse or conservatory.

Growing lemons and other citrus fruits in a greenhouse has its own characteristics. You can plant lemons directly in the ground or in pots. For cultivation in soil, the greenhouse must be heated.

Let's take a closer look at the requirements for the greenhouse in which the lemon will grow:

1. A prerequisite is that even in severe frosts, the temperature should not fall below + 6 ° С, but preferably + 10 ° С.
2. A lot of ambient light is needed. In the autumn-winter period, additional lighting should be applied, and in the spring and summer, on the contrary, shade from direct sunlight.
3. Remember that lemons do not tolerate stagnant air, with high humidity, you need to ventilate the greenhouse. But don't create drafts!

In an apartment, the most suitable place for planting and growing lemon is a glazed and insulated balcony or loggia.

Otherwise, the cultivation and care of plants is completely the same as described in the article.

Lemon in the greenhouse

I will repeat the main points that are important for obtaining full-fledged seedlings:

• Choosing beautiful fruits
• We sow freshly harvested wet seeds - do not dry!
• Water gently as the soil dries
• We cover the pots with foil or bottles - we create a mini-greenhouse.
• When applying fertilizers, remember the rule: it is better to underfeed than overfeed.
• We form and transplant young lemons on time

Plant and grow lemons with pleasure!

This is where I end. How to grow a lemon from a seed is now no secret for you.If you have any questions or comments - write in the comments.

Best regards, Sophia Guseva.

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• Growing a tangerine from a bone
• Marigolds - planting and care. Photo of flowers
• How to grow gladioli outdoors
• Types of roses with photos and descriptions
• How to plant mango from seed