How to grow lemon at home from seed without grafting?

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 selecting the 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 that, 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.

Same 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 noticed 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. Soap 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 can also be used well as a preventive measure.

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!

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 quite a 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

You do not need to fill in 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 4 leaves appear, young seedlings are kept 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.

First seedlings 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.
• Create a humid climate 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 transplanted with a lump of earth. They take a new pot 5-7 cm more. Young ones - 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 ...

Fruit-bearing 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.

Shade 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 diffused light is needed. In the autumn-winter period, you need to apply additional lighting, 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.

Other interesting articles:

• 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

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You can grow citrus from a stone on your own balcony or loggia. If you want to get a strong beautiful plant, you need to know all the features of planting and caring for it. Fruiting depends on the variety and planting method.

Lemon can be grown from seed

Benefits of growing lemon

A large amount of vitamin C and trace elements make it possible to use this citrus in the fight against cold symptoms. Its use contributes to the normalization of hormonal levels and the activity of the gastrointestinal tract.

Lemon is a very sour but fragrant fruit that can be eaten fresh or processed into juices, preserves, added to tea, etc.

Lemons grow in countries with warm climates such as Georgia, Turkey, North Africa and Asia. But you can try to grow citrus at home. It will not work to plant citrus in the open field, since it does not tolerate temperature changes, therefore it will quickly die during the first cold snaps.

For cultivation, they use a balcony equipped with a heating system, or a glazed greenhouse. If the tree is grown in such conditions, then a harvest can be expected in a few years.

Popular indoor lemon varieties

It is best to plant the following varieties in an apartment:

1. Pavlovsky. A very tall and beautiful tree. It often reaches 2 m in height. The fruits have a sweetish taste, and their weight can reach 400-450 g.
2. Meyer's lemon. A hybrid obtained by crossing with a grapefruit. Doesn't take up much space on the balcony or in the room. One plant can produce up to 2 kg of fruit per season. Each citrus weighs 150 g.
3. Ponderosa. It is known for its bitter fruit taste and a lot of seeds. Such a tree is very beautiful, since it blooms most of the season.
4. Genoa. It is unpretentious in care, therefore it is often grown by novice gardeners. Fruiting in the 5th year of life, and blooms in the second year.
5. Anniversary. One of the highest yielding varieties. Its fruits have a thick rind.

Ponderosa lemon produces slightly bitter fruits

Seed selection

A lemon grown from a seed can produce up to 8 kg of fruit per season, if the planting material was chosen correctly and the care met all the requirements. Anyone who has decided to grow lemon needs to choose the right planting material:

• choose seeds of only a fruiting variety that can be grown at home;
• you can only remove seeds from ripe fruit;
• sowing requires 10-15 large seeds.

We must not forget that how the tree will grow depends on the correct choice of the variety. Do not immediately expect active fruiting. The first crop will appear only 5–8 years after planting.

The pit should be taken from ripe fruit

Planting lemon

For cultivation, you will need a container for lemon, soil, fertilizers, plastic wrap.

Before planting the seeds, it is advised to soak them in a solution of monosodium glutamate and a growth stimulant for a day.

After that, the planting material is dried. Landing:

1. Soil preparation. You can buy it in a specialized store or mix it yourself, taking in equal proportions compost, peat and earth, river sand.
2. At the bottom of the pot, drainage is laid out in a thin layer: broken brick, on top of which the prepared soil is poured.
3. Planting seeds to a depth of 2–2.5 cm in pre-moistened soil.
4. Cover the pot with plastic wrap.

These greenhouses should be kept at a room temperature of 18–22 ° C. There is no need to moisten the soil: excess water can cause pits to rot.

Lemon is kept in a greenhouse until the first shoots appear. After that, the pots are placed in a well-lit place. The film is removed from the pots only when the first leaves appear. Before that, you should ventilate the greenhouse for 2-3 hours a day, opening part of the film.

Lemon sprouts should be regularly ventilated

Young tree care

In order for the lemon to grow and develop, you need to feed it with mineral fertilizers no more than 1 time in 3 months.

When the tree reaches 15–20 cm in height, you can transplant it into a larger pot. For active fruiting, it should be transplanted 2 times a year.

The care is as follows:

1. Formation of the crown of the tree. The first pruning is carried out when the main stem reaches 20-22 cm. It is shortened to give the plant strength to form lateral shoots. Further pruning is done every spring.
2. Barrel ringing. Copper wire is used, which is tied at its base. As it grows, the citrus will cover the harness with bark. In this place, useful substances will accumulate in large volumes, which will affect the yield.
3. Watering. Lemon loves moisture, but does not tolerate excess of it. More attention needs to be paid to spraying. They are carried out once every 2-3 days. Regular watering is carried out with room settled water no more than 1 time in 2 weeks.
4. Cleaning. Mature trees are covered with room dust. It negatively affects the quality of tree growth. You should wipe off the dust with a damp cloth or rinse off with a shower, which can be used no more than once a year, using only warm water.

The tree can bear fruit after 3 years, but experts advise removing the first flowering from the tree, leaving only 2-3 flowers. A young lemon cannot withstand heavy loads yet. By cutting off inflorescences, a person allows the tree to grow stronger.

Copper wire is used for ringing lemon

Protection against diseases and pests

Preventive measures:

• bathing in the shower;
• wiping the leaves with soapy water;
• spraying with Fitosporin solution.

Regular preventive procedures help protect citrus from scale insects, mealy and spider mites.

They reduce the yield of the tree or destroy it. Prevention is necessary for both an adult and a lemon that has not yet fruited.

How to get a good harvest

It depends on many factors whether the lemon will bear fruit. If all the requirements are taken into account, then after 4-7 years of plant life, you can get a good harvest. Grafting allows you to accelerate the growth of the tree and reduce the waiting time for the first harvest. Most often it is carried out by budding or splitting.

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Citrus trees are quite expensive, for example, a lemon tree about 45 cm high will cost 2.5 thousand rubles. Therefore, many people prefer to grow lemon on their own - especially since the seeds are readily available and can be bought in any supermarket. You can also purchase fairly inexpensive seeds of varietal lemons (and other citrus fruits such as tangerines, oranges).

For those who decided to try their luck with a seed from a purchased lemon - this article.

Young seedlings of lemon, age 1 month.

Step 1. The right lemon

You don't even need to be a professional to understand - the fruit must be mature, high quality, environmentally friendly and, highly desirable, freshly harvested. If it is still possible to find lemons in supermarkets that meet the first three parameters, then what about freshness? It is clear that imported lemons are on the shelves, which have already lain for some time. It's OK. You just do not need to take withered, dried fruits or pull with planting after purchase.We bought a beautiful lemon - immediately remove the seeds from it and start planting.

Step 2. Germination and planting

Germination can be dispensed with by immediately sowing seeds in the ground, for example, according to the scheme described below.

The easiest way to grow homemade lemon from seed:

1. Buy soil for citrus fruits and prepare small containers (plastic cups can be used), at the rate of 1 seed - 1 container.
2. Fill the containers with earth, plant the seeds in the ground to a depth of 3 cm. Water.
3. Cover with foil. Put in a warm place. You don't have to be zealous here, the standard room temperature is 18-22 ° C. for a lemon is ideal.
4. Ventilate and moisturize regularly if necessary. Do not pour, it is better to spray.
5. After three weeks, sprouts will appear.

Such sowing in the ground has its drawbacks: it is not visible which seed has sprouted, some of the pots will remain "out of work".

Another variant

Fill seedlings with earth, plant seeds, deepening by 1 cm, keeping a distance of 5 cm between them. In this case, seedlings can be expected in 2 weeks. Waiting for a couple of real leaves the best seedlings are planted in separate pots 10 cm in diameter... Now the plants can be put in a permanent place - such a pot will be enough for plants up to 15-20 cm tall.

On which window should the young plants be placed?

A mistake would be the south window, lemons do not like the direct scorching sun, they need a bright, but diffused light. The best option is an east or west window. Or, after all, there is a south window - but with shading.

What do young seedlings look like?

In the video below, the author not only shows young lemon plants, but also talks about his technique of growing them - in ordinary dishwashing sponges.

Recommendation: it is advisable to grow several seedlings at once, because if you are inexperienced in growing citrus, while the time passes from seed to fruit, a lot of trouble can occur with a tree. Diseases, mistakes in care, finally, a mistake in grafting and the plant will die. It will be nice to have a "stock".

Two shoots may appear from one seed, in this case the weaker shoot should be removed.

Step 3. Seedlings and further care

Care is not difficult, lemons can really be considered unpretentious indoor plants, it is enough to learn a number of simple rules.

Lemons love:

1. Moderate watering. On average, we can say that in the summer you should water 3 times a week, in the winter - 2 times. But you should be guided by your conditions - you may need to water more or less often. It is better to spray young seedlings, watering only when the ground becomes dry. Overfilling is worse than underfilling, so don't overdo it.
2. Breathable, water and air permeable soil.
3. Regular spraying, possibly a shower. It is important that dust does not accumulate on the leaves. Air humidity is especially important if the plant is near the battery. Do not neglect this moment of leaving - it's not only about humidity, but also about preventing pests or diseases.
4. Turn the lemon towards the light. gradually, 20-30 degrees, not all 180.
5. The pot is sized. A large pot of lemon is not recommended, the maximum for adult plants is 10 liters, it should be transplanted as often as possible, but as needed and depending on the growth rate of the tree itself - as a rule, this is done once a year in spring.
6. Fertilizers for citrus plants high in manganese, boron, zinc. Top dressing is desirable often enough - once every 2 weeks for the entire period of active growth (from February to September).

But! Overfeeding the plant is more harmful than underfeeding, remember that nutrition is important for the formation of fruits. Young plants (up to 3-4 months) and plants immediately after transplanting into fresh soil (within 1-1.5 months) are not fed.

Why do lemons die or grow poorly?

This often happens with inexperienced gardeners, you can even hear that lemons are capricious plants. But this is not the case, the reasons for the death are quite simple:

1. Air is too dry! The room air is really too dry for these plants - don't be lazy to spray.
2. Temperature changes, drafts, changes in humidity - lemons are quite sensitive to changes in conditions.
3. Overflowing. Once again - lemons don't like too wet soil! Be sure to wait for it to dry between waterings.
4. Poor drainage. Drainage is necessary for almost all indoor plants, so we did not dwell on this issue in detail, but we receive letters that clearly indicate that this point is often neglected. Pay attention to drainage - the soil should be loose, well permeable, and excess water from the pot should flow well - this applies even to very young plants planted, for example, in plastic cups.
5. Wrong choice of seedlings. You should not take seedlings that are weak, with long internodes - there will be no sense from such plants. If you want to get more plants, it is better to sow more seed, about twice.

Lemon tree at the age of 1 year.

More about dressings

If there is no time to mess around with fertilizing, then complex fertilizers like "Zdraven", "Ideal" will do - almost every company produces a special fertilizer for citrus fruits. But it is still better to alternate feeding using:

1. Organic (you can alternate it with a complex mineral fertilizer, using, for example, the following scheme: the first decade of the month - minerals, the second decade - organic, etc.).
2. As sources of trace elements (zinc, iron, boron, etc.), you can use fertilizer with wood ash, iron vitriol, manganese. All these funds are used according to standard schemes (for example, you can read about dressing here), applying fertilizers both under the root and spraying the leaves.

Planting substrate

In a sense, city dwellers find it easier - they have ready-made substrates at hand. However, the mixture can be prepared by yourself, keeping in mind the following rules:

1. The mixture should be perfectly breathable.
2. The mixture should be perfectly permeable to moisture.
3. It should be nutritious, lemons are "gluttonous" plants.
4. They prefer neutral acidity, although they are tolerant of small deviations (permissible ph level is 5 to 8).

There are a lot of recipes for mixtures, for example:

1. Purchased land plus peat in equal proportions.
2. Sod land, humus, sawdust, sand - in equal proportions.

Pests and diseases

Lemons attack, and quite often, the following pests:

1. Shield.
2. Spider mite.
3. Aphid.
4. Scratch.

Despite the fact that they look different, the symptoms of the lesion are about the same. The leaves of the plant dry out, the shoots are bent, growth slows down, the plant gradually dies.

At home, you can use the following remedies:

1. Washing with soapy water, just make sure that the soap solution does not get on the soil, it alkalizes the soil, the plants do not like it.
2. In the evening, you can gently lather the places where the "bandits" accumulate and wrap the plant in cellophane - in the morning it is imperative to remove and rinse these places, the soap complicates cellular respiration, if you overexpose the plant in a soapy form - the leaves will simply fall off. Of course, "guillotine is the best remedy for dandruff," but it is still desirable to rid the plant of pests without losing foliage.
3. Fitoverm is good from chemicals at home. It is odorless, easy to use, although it cannot be said that it will help in one go. Probably, the treatment will have to be carried out several times at intervals of a week.

Citrus diseases:

1. Sooty fungus.
2. Gommoz.

Shaping and pinching

They are being approached already in the first year of life, this is very important for future fruiting. Weak branches growing inward are removed with deformations. Pinch the branches, leaving 3-4 leaves on them.

The picture below is a diagram of lemon pruning.

Harvest and fruiting

Lemon trees are very popular as indoor plants, in particular, because they are remontant, that is, they bear fruit all year round.

But be prepared that the plants grown at home from the seed will bloom and give a harvest, at the earliest - in 8 years! In addition, seed plants do not 100% retain the characteristics of the variety, which means that they can lose both in the size of the fruit, and in yield, and in taste. A plant grown from a cuttings will yield an average harvest in 4-5 years.

Propagation of lemons by cuttings - this method allows you to quickly achieve fruiting. Plants from cuttings bear fruit for 4-5 years. The only "but" - for this you need to have a high-quality lemon tree at hand, which has already yielded fruit, or contact a special nursery and purchase a cutting.

Vaccination is the fastest, albeit one that requires practice - before active fruiting, in this case, only 2-3 yearsbut. Seedlings are grafted at the age of six months to three years - this is the best time for the survival of the scion. Thus, you can get fruits from seedlings grown from seeds in record time - in 2.5 - 3 years.

It happens that lemons bloom very early - such flowers should be removed, no matter how much you want to get golden fruits. But why risk the death of the plant? Fruiting requires strength, a well-formed crown and a sufficient amount of green mass, if there are less than 15 leaves per flower, flowers can be safely cut off. As a rule, flowers are removed up to 3, and preferably 4 years of age of the plant.

Lemon varieties

Their mass, and very many varieties can be grown indoors. Differences between varieties are usually in yield and fruit quality. The most famous varieties (descriptions and harvest dates refer to trees grown from seedlings):

1. Pavlovsky - classic, the variety is very old, perfectly adapted to rooms, tolerates dry air and low light, which is inevitable in an apartment, relatively well. The plant is large, up to 2 m tall, yields fruits for 4 years, yield up to 40 fruits per year.
2. Eureka - a relatively low lemon. Average yield, blooms early, in the third year, fruits of medium weight, tasty, very common outdoors in Europe.
3. Meyer - a hybrid of lemon and orange. It is very popular as a pot plant. The fruit is larger and sweeter than lemon. Very productive, bears fruit for 4 years (we are talking about a tree grown from seeds).
4. Novogruzinsky - a large tree, fruits for 4-5 years, tasty and aromatic, without seeds. Productivity is high (up to 200 per year).
5. Maikop - it has a high yield, up to 300 fruits per year, rather large fruits, the variety is unpretentious.
6. Genoa - another low variety, up to 3 meters (in rooms up to 1 meter), fruits - in the fifth year, up to 50 fruits per year, medium-sized fruits, but tasty, blooms profusely.

Meyer's lemon is in bloom.

Video consultation - how to get fruit?

It is not difficult to grow lemons from seeds, but it is not always possible to wait for fruits from such plants. What is the reason? Reply to video.