How to grow a lemon tree from a seed at home. How to grow a lemon from a seed: fruiting lemon at home is real

Your goal is to grow a homemade lemon so that it becomes interesting element interior and even hope to enjoy the vitamin fruits with lemon tree.

Where to begin? If there is no desire or opportunity to purchase a citrus tree, then the easiest way is to grow a lemon from a seed.

Today we will discuss in detail how to grow lemons at home, how to care for home citrus fruits and what needs to be done so that indoor lemons begin to bear fruit.

Citrus cultivation

Lemon is native to subtropical forests, where it grows wild. For many centuries, people tried to spread it throughout the lands of Europe. The twentieth century was marked by the experiments of geneticists. Scientists have done a good job of breeding varieties that bear fruit well in northern latitudes and in room conditions.

Today you won’t surprise anyone with homemade lemon. Thanks to the efforts of professional breeders and amateur gardeners, indoor lemons have appeared in many home greenhouses and simply on window sills. Citrus indoor plants always look delightful in the interior, but they delight us not only with their excellent appearance, but also edible fruits.

The citrus tree is an evergreen, moisture-loving, shade-tolerant, short-day plant. It begins to grow actively in the room in February-March, and stops in November. Lemon propagates in the following ways:

• Seeds - a familiar seed taken from a fruit.
• Vegetatively - cuttings, grafting, layering.

Lemon from the seed: where to start?

Only freshly collected seeds are used. They are selected from ripe fruits that do not show signs of disease. Purely theoretically this is true, but lemons come to us from supermarkets and bazaars.

Such fruits certainly cannot be called freshly picked. What should I do? Dried seeds that have been left for a month at room temperature significantly lose their germination capacity, but still germinate.

To grow lemons at home one hundred percent, you need to stock up not with one or two seeds, but with a much larger quantity. Out of a dozen seeds there will definitely be several sprouts.

Don't be afraid to grow many seedlings at once. It is not a fact that all your lemons from seeds at home will survive to bear fruit. Some will die due to disease, others will suffer when you vaccinate them.

We begin to grow homemade lemon from seeds as follows:

• We buy special soil or prepare the soil ourselves from river sand, turf soil, and humus.
• Place the prepared soil mixture into separate small pots or cups.
• We plant the seeds in moist soil to a depth of 3 cm.
• Cover the top with film to create a better microclimate.
• We are waiting for the sprouts to appear in about 3 weeks.
• If 2 shoots grow from one lemon seed, one (which is weaker) should be removed.

Citrus cultivation in a similar way- the simplest and most reliable option at home. Many flower growers have decorative lemons at home, many have waited for them to bear fruit. It should be noted that homemade tangerines are grown in a similar way.

Citrus plants obtained from seeds adapt to indoor conditions better and are more hardy and viable compared to cuttings or grafted ones. Fully fruit-bearing cultivated seedlings grow from the seeds. Their only drawback is that they begin to bear fruit late.

Caring for lemon seedlings

Sprouting a lemon from a seed is not difficult; caring for it will be more problematic. When the seedlings appear, the film is gradually removed, accustoming them to the conditions of the room.

Regular care for homemade lemon implies that it:

• Water moderately, avoiding waterlogging, so as not to cause root rot. In hot weather, watering is carried out 3 times a week, in winter it is reduced to 2 times.
• Wipe citrus leaves from dust every week and regularly spray them with water.
• Keeping it near the battery requires additional air humidification.
• Rotate the lemon gradually by 2 cm per month around its axis so that there is no sudden change in the light regime for the leaves.
• Potted lemons are replanted in a pot every spring. bigger size. You cannot immediately plant a plant in a pot that is not the right size.
• Good growth is achieved by fertilizing with complex fertilizers “Zdraven”, “Ideal” or special fertilizers for citrus fruits with the addition of microelements zinc, boron, manganese - once every 2 weeks.

To prevent a lemon from turning into a wild, dense tree from a seed, the crown must be constantly shaped. The central shoot is cut off at a distance of 20 cm from the ground. Branches of the second order appear, which are pinched when they reach 18 cm. The process is carried out until shoots of the fourth order appear. Flower buds are laid on them, and fruiting begins.

Indoor lemon - pests and diseases

Lemons grown at home are most often affected by scale insects, spider mite, aphids, scale insects. All these pests feed on the sap of the plant, causing the leaves to dry out and the shoots to bend.

To prevent pests from destroying the lemon tree, the following general control measures should be taken:

1. Remove pests from the stem with a soft toothbrush and from the leaves with cotton swabs pre-moistened soap solution Anabasine sulfate.
2. Wash the solution off the plant every other day. Repeat treatment every other week.
3. If there is a large number of pests, treat the tree with infusion of celandine, tobacco, onion peel, or Actellik, Ditox, Fitoverm. It is necessary to use preparations to kill insect pests with extreme caution, as these are the strongest pesticides.

The most common diseases of indoor citrus fruits are sooty fungus and gommosis. Why are they dangerous for homemade lemon? The sooty fungus covers the leaves with a dark gray coating, disrupting the normal nutrition of the plants. Gommosis produces a gum that oozes from damage to the bark, causing leaves and branches to dry out.

Diseases of indoor lemon are removed:

• Cleaning the sore spot, treating it with copper sulfate.
• Covering with “RanNet” (garden putty paste).
• Wipe with a wet cloth (if there is fungus).
• Control of insect pests that attack bark and leaves.
• Feeding with complex fertilizers to maintain the viability of the tree.

For a novice gardener, advice on how to deal with diseases of homemade lemons will seem incomprehensible, but there is nothing complicated here. In all specialized stores you will find the proposed drugs, and on the packaging there is detailed instructions. If you have specific questions about how to grow a lemon from a seed or how to care for it, do not hesitate to ask them on the gardening forums. They will definitely help you!

Cutting lemons for quick fruiting

Why do you need cuttings? Lemons grown using this method begin to bear fruit faster. The only negative is that the future tree must get used to the changed living conditions.

If you already have some experience in floriculture, then growing a fruit-bearing lemon by cuttings will not be difficult:

• The best time to sprout roots from cuttings is March-April. Cuttings are taken only from fruiting lemons.
• The landing box is prepared in advance. Make small holes in it. For drainage, washed expanded clay, brick fragments or crushed stone are used. Then pour 1.5 cm of river sand in layers, 6 cm of the nutrient mixture, and finish with 2 cm of sand.
• Cuttings are harvested from last year's growth. Make an oblique cut and cover it with warm wax or garden varnish. The branches are divided into several parts with 4 buds on each.
• Before planting in the ground, the lower parts of the cuttings are immersed in a heteroauxin solution for a day. Sprinkle with wood ash, plant in prepared soil at a distance of 15 cm, one at a time, leaving 2 buds on the surface.
• Press the earth tightly around them and spray with warm water. Create a mini-greenhouse by covering it with film. For better rooting, a little heating from below is necessary.
• The temperature around the cuttings is maintained at about 25°C. If it is lower, the leaves fall off, their condition worsens, the rooting time doubles, and the survival rate decreases.
• During the first 2 weeks, the leaves are sprayed with water 4 times a day, then reduced to two. The film is periodically lifted and the greenhouse is ventilated. If all conditions are met, after a month the lemon will grow a good root system.
• Rooted cuttings are transplanted one at a time into clay pots using a drainage layer and nutrient soil. To increase branching, pinch out the central root.
• Having installed the plant in a new container, carefully sprinkle the soil onto the roots, pressing it with your hand. Water in several stages with warm water so that the soil settles.
• Spray the leaves and place them in a shaded place for 2 weeks. After this, the young trees are gradually accustomed to the light.

Over time, you will begin to do many processes for caring for citrus fruits on an intuitive level, experience will tell. Growing indoor lemons at home is an interesting and exciting pastime. For many, this becomes a hobby for many years, maybe this is your new hobby?

Lemon is evergreen tree with fleshy and glossy leaves, on which the fruit is located on the branches of the bush. In this case, the branch has a large number of pores that secrete phytoncides and essential oils - this is the well-known wonderful aroma of lemon. You can grow a lemon from a seed at home into a small tree, which can be up to 3 meters tall. In this article we will look at how to plant a lemon tree from a seed at home?

How to plant a lemon from a seed?

Before you grow lemon at home, you need to choose the right seeds for planting and prepare the soil. We choose ripe, smooth, beautiful fruit. From it we get the largest and best seeds. And we plant them in a damp state; there is no need to dry them, otherwise they will take a long time to sprout or will not germinate at all.

To ensure rapid formation and subsequent germination of good roots, seeds can be treated with some kind of biostimulant before planting. To do this, make a solution following the instructions for the preparation - and soak the seeds overnight.

For sowing it is necessary prepare good soil and containers. For seedlings, pots can be purchased at the store, or you can use cups of sour cream or yogurt for this; you can also cut off plastic eggplants. You need to put drainage at the bottom and make holes.

It is necessary to plant a large number of lemon seeds– several dozen at a time. Since not everyone will sprout, and you will also have the opportunity to select the best ones for subsequent cultivation and, finally, not everyone can tolerate the grafting.

Then you need prepare fertile and loose soil. Lemons can be planted without problems in purchased soil. citrus plants or make it yourself. Mix the leaf soil, humus in equal quantities and add sand and peat for ease. We moisten the soil and plant the seeds in pots. Seeds should be planted at a depth of approximately 2 cm.

For germination lemon seed the temperature must be at least 19C. In order to create Better conditions For lemons to develop and germinate, cover them with cut plastic eggplants. Or simply cover the cups with seeds with polyethylene and move them to a warm room.

Seeds should not be poured after sowing, as they can become moldy and suffocate. It is advisable not to water at all, but only spray the soil with a spray bottle. Water only when the soil begins to crack. And during the emergence of seedlings, it is also necessary to observe a low watering regime, so that the roots do not rot.

How to grow lemon at home?

Sprouts appear in different ways. Until four leaves form, seedlings should be kept in mini-greenhouses. We gradually accustom the seedlings to room air - we spray them more often. Then we move the pot to a bright place, but without direct sunlight, otherwise the young plant will die. But remember that seedlings need to be watered only after the soil dries out.

Lemon: Growing and care at home

• In the first months, there is no need to feed the little lemon. In summer and spring it is necessary to water with biofertilizer.
• Use water room temperature and settled. Thawed and rainwater- only warm.
• Dry and hot climate, wind, air cooling and drafts, exposure to direct sunlight - all these factors lead to loss of foliage and death of the bush.
• remember, that moody lemon tree. It loves constant humidity and temperature. Sudden changes in care and climate will immediately worsen the health of the tree.
• The crown begins to form in the first year. Cut off all weak, inward-growing, deformed branches.
• In autumn, watering is completely reduced; only after the soil has dried, the lump of earth is moistened. Be sure to make sure that the water does not begin to stagnate and that the excess flows out freely. In autumn, feed once a month.

Lemon growing and care at home in pots

When 2-3 true leaves appear on the plant, then the strongest ones are selected, and transplanted into pots. It is best to choose clay pots for this plant. The depth and diameter are increased taking into account the growth of the bush. A couple of hours before transplanting, the container must be soaked in water. Be sure to lay a drainage layer on the bottom.

We pour the same soil as we did when planting the seeds. After transplantation again cover the seedlings with half a bottle or jar. We remove it only after the seedling has completely taken root. At the same time, new leaves begin to form.

How to select the best seedlings for transplantation?

Here are the basic rules to pay attention to:

• We look for the presence of needles. It's best when there are few of them.
• Determining crown density. You need to look at the distance on the seedling between the buds - choose the ones with the smallest ones.
• All thin and weak shoots with bad leaves must be discarded immediately.
• Leaf quality. They do not fall off when touched, hold on tightly, there should be a lot of them.

Growing problems and care rules

Growing lemons at home requires special care. If you follow all the rules, you can get a fruit-bearing and flowering bush:

• It is necessary to create a humid microclimate in the room. To do this, spray the bush more often.
• The plant additionally requires additional lighting, especially in early autumn and spring.
• From February to September the bush grows more actively - therefore, at this time it is necessary to feed the plant with biofertilizers, alternately with mineral ones. You only need to feed liquid fertilizers.
• For young tree required frequent transfers. The bush must be replanted with a lump of earth. New containers are chosen to be 6-8 cm larger. Young plants are replanted once a year, adult bushes need to be replanted once every 3-4 years. Preferably in June.
• When the lemon at home begins to bloom in the first year, you need to pick all the flowers - don’t regret it. The tree will spend all its energy on flowers and then wither. The plant can be allowed to bloom if there are at least 20 leaves on the bush.
• For proper formation of the bush, it is necessary to turn the pot a quarter once a week. Subsequently, a well-formed trunk will influence the quality of the fruit.
• In order to actively grow side shoots and the tree was more magnificent, the top of the head needed to be pinched. It is advisable to do this in the first year of growth.

Will a plant grown from a seed begin to bear fruit?

Full-fledged fruit plants can grow from the seeds, however, they begin to bear fruit late. Seedlings grown from seeds are characterized by increased adaptability to home conditions. These bushes are much hardier, unlike cuttings.

In order for the lemon to begin to bear its first fruits earlier, this plant can be grafted onto other citrus fruits. For example: grapefruit, tangerine. The best time for this is the beginning of summer.

Crown formation will also be a very important factor. As already described above, in the first year the crown is pinched - or rather, if the bush reaches a height of more than 25 cm. Then second-order branches begin to grow, they need to be pinched when they grow 20 cm. Then the process must be repeated until fourth-order branches are formed.

Varieties of indoor lemon

You can grow many varieties at home - these are Maikopsky, Pavlovsky, Genoa, Eureka, Novogruzinsky, Meyer. The most productive is Maikop. And the Eureka and Genoa varieties are small plants that can even grow on a windowsill.

Meyer variety

This variety appeared in our country in 1930. It became widespread in European countries because it gave big harvests V open ground. It is a natural hybrid of orange and lemon.

Pavlova lemon

This variety is a folk selection. He was bred in the village of Pavlovo more than a century ago. The variety is quite unpretentious, perfectly adapted to growing at home.

The Pavlovsk variety can grow up to 2 meters. It produces 25-45 fruits per year. It begins to bear fruit around the fourth year.

Variety Yubileiny

Decorative, productive, unpretentious variety. It can grow up to 1.7 m. It blooms quite profusely - due to the abundance of flowers it resembles a white ball. Fruits weighing 0.5 grams with yellow and thick skin. It begins to bear fruit in the second year of life. Adapts perfectly to different conditions, grows quickly and is shade-tolerant.

Chinese variety

This is a small bush, usually about a meter. It begins to bear fruit early - in the second or third year. Is different high yield. The fruits are early ripening, blooms early, blooms on young and old shoots.

It tolerates heat well, however, during dormancy it requires leaf moisture and coolness. Does not tolerate shade very well - must be grown on southwestern and southern windowsills.

Variety Novogruzinsky

Begins to bear fruit at 4-5 years. Tall bush up to 3 meters. During good care can produce up to 220 fruits annually. The fruits are seedless, have a thin crust, and are quite aromatic.

Maykop variety

This species is quite popular for growing at home because it is very productive and unpretentious. The weight of lemons is approximately 110-150 grams. Tolerates cold well. Branches without thorns. Bushes aged 35 years produce approximately 750 fruits annually.

Variety Genoa

This variety is thornless and grows within 1-3 meters. Fruits begin to bear at 4-5 years. Typically produces approximately 60 fruits annually. On an adult bush there are up to 120 pieces. The fruits are small, up to 110-140 g. Characterized by very good taste qualities.

Diseases and pests

The main diseases of all citrus fruits at home are gommosis and sooty fungus. The leaves from the fungus begin to become covered with a gray coating, and their nutrition is disrupted. And during homosis, gum forms in areas of damage to the bark - the leaves and branches gradually dry out.

Actions for illnesses:

• We clean the site of the disease or the bark - treat it with copper sulfate.
• We treat with garden varnish or RanNet.
• Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.
• We feed with fertilizers.

How and in what dosage to use pest control or plant treatment products can always be read on the package of each drug. You can find them in large quantities in every specialty store.

Growing in a greenhouse

As mentioned before, lemon loves:

• Constant temperature all year round;
• Good breathing of the root system;
• Diffuse and strong light.

All these conditions can best be observed in the following conditions: in a winter garden, greenhouse or conservatory, on a balcony or loggia with glazing.

Growing lemons or other citrus fruits in greenhouse conditions has certain features. You can plant lemons directly in the ground or put them in pots. In order to grow lemons in the ground, the greenhouse must be heated.

Requirements for the greenhouse where lemon will be grown:

• A lot of diffused lighting is needed. In the autumn-winter period, additional lighting should be used, and in summer and spring, on the contrary, it should be darkened from direct sunlight.
• An indispensable condition is that even in very severe frosts the temperature should not be less than +5C.
• Do not forget that lemons do not tolerate stagnant air in the room quite well, during high humidity the greenhouse must be ventilated.

At home, the most suitable location for growing and planting lemons is an insulated and glazed loggia or balcony. In another, the care and cultivation of this plant is exactly the same as indicated in this article.

For Russian people, tea is not only a way to quench thirst, but also a good reason to gather the whole family at the table and discuss family problems or plans, remember pleasant moments from vacation or travel. Tea with lemon inspires individuals and entire families to make new discoveries in life and brings kindred spirits closer together. You can germinate the seed of that same lemon and grow a whole lemon tree on your windowsill, especially since it is not at all difficult.

Can you grow it at home?

The lemon tree is not only possible, but also necessary to be grown indoors. It's not just big indoor plant with rich green glossy leaves, but also a fruit bearer that will give its owner healthy and aromatic fruits.

Such a plant looks very presentable in the house; it can decorate an interior made in any style and color. Growing lemon in an apartment is not only a decorative issue, but also an environmental one. Lemon tree has high absorbent properties, so it can rid the room of excess moisture and foreign odors. This plant perfectly processes carbon dioxide and turns it into fresh air, which can partly replace ventilation. The large amount of essential oils contained in lemon leaves will be an excellent repeller of insect pests such as mosquitoes, flies, centipedes, bedbugs and even cockroaches.

Growing lemons at home is quite simple.

There are three known ways to grow lemons in a pot.

1. By cuttings. This method is characterized by the fastest start to flowering and fruiting of the lemon tree.
2. By grafting. This method is used mainly by gardeners for further planting of plants in a greenhouse. This method is the most labor-intensive, since you need to be able to correctly select the graft to be grafted and correctly carry out the grafting procedure. In addition, it is a huge stress on the trees, so efforts will be required to carry out proper rehabilitation.
3. Seeds. Planting lemon seeds is a very simple way to propagate lemons, suitable even for people ignorant of the art of gardening. A tree grown from a seed does not need special care, but it begins to bear fruit quite late.

Regardless of the chosen method of planting a lemon, it grows approximately the same, requires minimal care, and the pleasure from the process will exceed all expectations.

Suitable varieties

Despite the fact that lemon is foliage plant, in nature it grows as an evergreen. At home, a lemon tree will also delight the owner with a riot of greenery throughout the year. However, you should not forget that this plant grows wild, because wild plants are unable to survive in cramped living conditions. Thanks to centuries of breeding experience, today there are a number of unpretentious varieties that can not only take root in growing conditions in a pot, but also produce an excellent aromatic harvest. In order to grow something beautiful, quality wood lemon, you should choose one of the following varieties.

• "Chinese dwarf". In circles experienced gardeners this variety is known as "Mayer". It was bred by breeders by crossing orange and lemon seeds. This plant is ideal for growing in cramped apartment conditions with small rooms And low ceilings, because its size does not exceed 70 centimeters. Plants of this variety bear fruit once or twice a year. Each harvest can produce up to 20 lemons. The fruits of this variety are more rounded in shape, their color is slightly darker than ordinary lemons, closer to an orange tint. The size of the fruit is slightly smaller than that of regular lemons. The citrus pulp is slightly sweeter than usual, the crust is thin with small pores. The aroma of lemons is bright and traditional. The fruits of such a tree are considered to be dessert fruits. However, it is worth remembering that this plant is a little more whimsical than its relatives, so in the autumn-winter period it is important to organize additional ultraviolet lighting and fertilizing with highly active vitamin complexes for citrus fruits.

• "Hand of Buddha" This variety is often called “Corsican”, since this island is considered its homeland. A tree of this variety reaches a height of 1.5 meters, and sometimes more. At home, such a plant bears fruit all year round, but it is possible to collect no more than 10 lemons per year from it. The fruits of the Buddha's Hand variety grow very large, bright yellow with a thick rind and a thick white layer. The pulp is coarse-grained, juicy, the membranes are hard. The taste and aroma of lemons of this variety are mild; most often, such fruits are used to prepare candied fruits, sauces, and as a seasoning for other dishes. This variety is great for making fresh juices and lemonades, as it is very juicy and not too sour.

• "Pavlovsky". Bred by Russian breeders taking into account the peculiarities of the local climate. An adult tree reaches a height of 1.5 meters, fruiting lasts all year round. In one year you can collect up to 15 lemons. The tree begins to bear fruit approximately three years after planting or germination. This is the most unpretentious variety of lemon; it tolerates both excess and insufficient light, does not require frequent watering, and easily tolerates the autumn-winter period. For the health of such a tree, it is sufficient to feed it with vitamins once a year and replant it no more often than once every two years. The fruits of this variety are not too large, with thin, finely porous skin of light yellow color. The pulp of the fruit is very juicy and very aromatic, ideal for making tea and fresh juices.

• ​​​​​​“Maikopsky”. This variety is excellent for germination in the southern regions of Russia. This is a particularly heat-loving variety, so a lemon tree of this variety can be safely taken outside in the summer. Sunbathing, fresh air and rain watering have a beneficial effect on the condition of the tree. The plant begins to bear fruit on average three years after planting, but in the southern regions, where most of the year is sunny, the first harvest can be obtained within a year and a half. The fruits of this variety are not too large, with loose light yellow skin and a sharp “nose”. The pulp is dry, but quite aromatic.

Will the plant bear fruit?

Anyone who decides to grow a lemon at home involuntarily thinks about whether a plant grown in an apartment will bear fruit. The answer to this question cannot be unambiguous, but it will be more likely positive than negative. Fruiting almost always occurs, but in rare cases this may not happen.

As a rule, plants grown in improperly selected soil are incapable of flowering.

Most often, such a plant stops developing, reaching a height of 40-50 centimeters. Such a plant can live in this state from 2 to 6 years, it will be a nice indoor plant, but nothing more.

Under normal conditions, fruiting can occur 1-5 years after planting, depending on the variety and method of planting. It is possible to speed up the appearance of the first harvest. For this purpose, a procedure was invented, known among gardeners as “banding” or “ringing”. The essence of the procedure is to redirect the flow of liquids and nutrients inside the tree. To do this, you need to wrap a piece on the tree trunk above the 2-3 lower branches copper wire. The wire should encircle the tree in one ring and slightly squeeze its bark, but not too stylishly, so as not to damage the outer and inner fabrics plants. This will slightly slow down the flow of tree sap into the branches located above the ring and, accordingly, increase the supply of liquids and nutrients to the branches located under the ring. This will lead to the first budding and flowering. After six months, the ring must be removed as it will begin to interfere with the healthy growth of the tree. The first ringing can be done a year after planting the tree. You should not overuse this method, since after the first flowering the tree will continue to bloom on its own.

How to plant?

Growing a tree from a lemon seed is quite simple; absolutely anyone can do it. You just need to remember simple sequence actions and some useful tips.

In order to be able to germinate a lemon seed, you need to choose the right fruit: the lemon should be smooth, with a uniform color, without potholes or dents. All these signs indicate that the fruit is mature and intact, which means planting material fine. Lemon seeds must be whole and freshly removed from the fruit. It is better to select several seeds from different lemons in order to select the strongest and most vigorous seedlings.

The selected seeds should be placed in a small container and filled with slightly warm water, leaving them in this state overnight. During this time, a large amount of oils and starch will be released from the seeds, and the water may become mucus-like. The bones will soften, upper layer will peel off. This thin, transparent cover can be carefully removed - it makes it difficult for the sprout to germinate.

It is important not to damage the integrity of the inside of the seed, so you need to act very carefully. Unpeeled lemon seeds can sprout for more than six months, peeled ones - twice as fast.

To germinate seedlings, you need to use shallow pots; you can give preference to boxes divided into sections. It is important to provide drainage holes in the pot. In addition, it is advisable to purchase a drainage mixture. The soil should be selected “for citrus fruits” or “for indoor flowers.” You should not purchase soil intended for growing seedlings - it is too acidic for citrus plants. Ordinary soil from the garden is also not very suitable for germinating citrus fruits. The soil can be fertilized with peat, but this is not necessary, because often ready-made mixtures are already fertilized. In the prepared trays you need to add a layer of soil to approximately 1/3 of the height of the pot, then you need to add a layer of drainage mixture of 1-2 centimeters, and then another layer of soil on top.

A lemon seed should not be buried deeper than 1.5 centimeters. The distance between them should be at least 5 centimeters in all directions. The pot with seeds should be wrapped in a plastic bag and left in a warm room until the first shoots appear. Occasionally you can spray the soil a little, but you should not water it abundantly - the seeds may rot.

After the first sprouts appear, they need to be covered with jars. Pots with seedlings should be placed in a well-lit place, for example, on a windowsill. During this period, proper care of the seedlings is very important: they must be lightly sprinkled with water, the jars must be removed for 1-2 hours a day so that the cuttings are hardened, and then covered again. When the first leaves appear on the sprouts, they need to be transplanted into small but separate pots. Planting in large pots is permissible when the trees reach 15-20 centimeters in height.

Care

At first glance, the lemon tree is unpretentious plant, which does not require special care. In fact, this is true, but there are several factors that make this plant a real home tyrant. For example, this plant cannot tolerate even the slightest movement around the room. Any move will inevitably lead to stress, shedding of leaves and a long, protracted recovery, so it is critically important to choose a habitat for the lemon in the house once and for all.

Here's what you should pay close attention to when choosing a location for the pot.

• Correct lighting. The lemon tree is very picky about the right combination of light and shadow: it loves bright rooms, but you should avoid direct rays hitting the leaves. If there is too much light, citrus fruits begin to grow too actively, and all the juices are wasted on growing branches. In such conditions, you can get a huge tree that never begins to bear fruit. Lemons tolerate partial shade well, but this tree does not like darkness. It needs enough light for active photosynthesis. The best place for a lemon tree in the house is a room with large windows facing east or west.

• Ideal temperature. The lemon tree is whimsical and temperature conditions. Perfect option for him it is the same temperature at any time of the year. So, for example, a lemon will feel great if both in summer and in winter time The daytime temperature will be 26 degrees, and the night temperature will be 20 degrees. However, in the Russian climate this is sometimes impossible. To create more comfortable conditions the tree needs to choose a place away from radiators, which can cause overheating. You should also avoid places with drafts. It is not advisable to place the lemon near or opposite entrance doors so as not to catch a cold on the plant.

It is important to remember that moving a lemon while it is blooming is unacceptable - this will inevitably lead to the flowers falling off and the destruction of the crop.

In addition to choosing a location for the pot, there are a few more things to remember: important factors, which can affect the well-being of the lemon tree.

Watering

The lemon root system does not like watering too much. To create more comfortable conditions, you can fill the tray of the pot with gravel, place the pot on top and periodically add water to the tray. From the gravel, moisture will seep into the soil through the drainage holes in the pot. This will minimize wetting of the plant’s root system. On hot summer days, two not too abundant waterings per week are enough for lemon; in winter, you can limit yourself to one watering per week. At the same time, the leaves and branches of lemon love moisture, so it is very important to organize frequent spraying of the greens with a sprayer. This procedure should be carried out as often as possible, if possible daily. But don’t be too zealous with spraying - streams should not flow from the leaves; it should rather resemble heavy dew.

Regular replanting

It is very important to replant the lemon tree in a timely manner, since it greatly depletes the soil. In the early stages, transplantation should be done once a year. spring period. Next, it will be optimal to replant the tree once every two years.

It is worth replanting a tree only in specialized soil, since it is the most saturated with useful substances, which will allow the tree to live the period between replantations in comfortable conditions.

During the replanting process, it is important to properly care for the tree's root system. It needs to be pruned so that it can renew itself over the next two years before replanting. If you do not update the root system in this way, the tree will age prematurely, which will lead to its rapid death.

Top dressing

Very important role High-quality and timely feeding plays a role in maintaining the well-being of the lemon tree. In garden centers you can easily choose high-quality vitamin preparations for citrus fruits.

The main rule for fertilizing lemons is to feed the tree in a timely manner.

In the summer, the need and effectiveness of complementary feeding increases, so it is worth giving vaccinations with liquid vitamins once a week. In other months, the number of feedings should be reduced to once a month.

There are a number folk remedies, which can be a worthy replacement for store-bought drugs: nettle infusion, egg shell infusion or a weak solution of cow or bird droppings.

Cupping

Trimming indoor tree- this is a very important question, since not every house can accommodate a full-size tree with a large spreading crown.

In addition, the following fact has long been generally accepted: the more magnificent the crown of citrus fruits, the smaller the harvest they will produce.

In this regard, you should not allow the tree to grow a crown that is too lush. It is worth pruning a lemon tree with caution, adhering to the correct proportions and frequency - this will not harm the tree, but, on the contrary, improve its condition. The first pinching is carried out when the sprout of the future tree has reached a height of 20 centimeters, each subsequent one - every 20 centimeters of plant growth.

To form the crown correct form You also need to pinch the branches. You need to start forming the crown from the first tier of branches, each subsequent tier should be several centimeters shorter than the previous one.

Diseases and pests

It is not too difficult to germinate a lemon from a seed, but not all trees are able to live to see the first fruits. Indoor lemons very painful, they have no immunity to virtually any known plant diseases. It is very important to follow all of the above rules for caring for a lemon tree so as not to create an environment favorable for the development of diseases.

Pest problems are fairly easy to avoid. To do this, you will need simple measures: in the hot season, the plant needs to have a shower once a week. To do this, you need to pollinate the leaves with water at room temperature from a spray bottle. In the cool season, you need to spray the leaves with slightly warm water once a month.

One of the most common problems associated with growing indoor lemons- This is yellowing and falling of leaves. As a rule, this is not a symptom of the disease, but rather a sign improper care behind the plant.

Most often, leaves turn yellow for the following reasons:

• too much heat plant content (over 28-32 degrees);
• too strong a draft at the location of the pot;
• insufficient or excessive watering;
• watering the plant with too cold water;
• soil depletion, overdue replanting;

• poor plant lighting;
• soil acidity is too high.

In order to improve the situation, it is enough to identify and eliminate the cause: move the plant to another place, change the watering regime or replant it in new soil.

There are a number of diseases characteristic of citrus trees grown at home. Often, the success of treatment depends on identifying the disease at early stages its development. Among the most common diseases of citrus fruits, there are also several incurable ones that can destroy the plant in a few weeks.

Chlorosis

The peculiarity of this disease is that the plant almost completely stops producing chlorophyll, and therefore the process of photosynthesis stops. At the initial stages of development of the disease, the leaves of the plant begin to lighten and gradually lose color, then become thinner and fall off. It is difficult not to notice the signs of this disease on the dark green glossy leaves of lemon; they become visible immediately after the plant is infected. Chlorosis can be infectious or hereditary; it affects only young plants. In the case of lemon trees, only the sprouts that less than a year. Timely feeding, monitoring and preventing pest problems will help avoid contracting this disease. In case of infection, you can inject microfertilizers into the trunks, branches and roots of the diseased plant, but this method of treatment does not always help - it all depends on the plant’s own immunity.

Root rot

More often root rot develops due to excessive watering of the plant in the cold season. Constantly wet soil causes the plant's roots to begin to rot. Externally, this disease is difficult to detect. Falling leaves can be considered a clear sign of lemon root rot. If the lemon leaves fall off for no apparent reason, you need to remove the plant from the pot and carefully shake off the soil from its roots, trying to cause as little damage to it as possible. The affected areas of the rhizome need to be cut off, and the plant with a healthy root should be transplanted into new, dry soil. Next, you should minimize watering, and in order to compensate for the lack of water, you need to regularly wipe the leaves of the plant with a clean, damp washcloth.

Late blight

A fungal disease known in Russia. The treatment regimen for citrus late blight is exactly the same as for any garden plant. Disease-affected areas should be treated with copper sulfate. To completely heal the plant, you need to treat it with an antibiotic. After late blight has been cured, it is necessary to create unfavorable conditions for the development of fungal infections: rare and not too abundant watering, a dry, well-ventilated room will help avoid relapse.

Gommoz

This is an infection of the root and trunk of a tree. The first signs of the disease are the appearance of cracks at the base of the tree trunk. After some time, a dark liquid begins to ooze through the cracks, then the tree withers and it becomes impossible to save it. When the first signs of the disease are detected, you must immediately dig up the plant, remove all affected roots and cut off the affected bark, treat all exposed areas with copper sulfate or a highly concentrated solution of manganese and transplant the tree into a new pot with fresh soil.

Tristeza

This is an incurable viral infection. It is quite rare in Russia, so infection with it is almost impossible. However, if for inexplicable reasons the bark of your homemade lemon begins to peel off and fall off, it is better to get rid of this plant immediately, because tristeza is a very contagious disease that quickly spreads to all indoor plants.

Sheet mosaic

This is an infection that cannot be cured. However, if the problem is detected in a timely manner, its development can be stopped, thereby saving the tree from death. The first signs of leaf mosaic disease are the appearance of a characteristic “marble” pattern on the leaves. In case of further development of the disease, these spots begin to grow along with the tissues of the leaves, the leaves bend and curl. The disease then spreads to the branches and trunk. The affected tissues also swell and lead to cracking of the trunk. At this stage, it is impossible to save the plant. When the first symptoms of the disease are detected, it is important to remove all affected leaves. You can even do something radical - remove the entire diseased branch. All sections must be treated with a weak solution of manganese; it is advisable to pollinate the healthy part of the tree with the same solution from a spray bottle. It is advisable to isolate the infected plant from healthy flowers for 1-2 months.

Citrus cancer

This is a bacterial disease that develops when saprophytic microbes enter a healthy plant. Surprisingly, only plants that grow outside their historical homeland are susceptible to this disease. Plants from China and India have never suffered from this disease. This disease affects absolutely all parts of the tree: from the root to the fruit. Light watery spots appear on infected wood surfaces, which gradually darken and turn into necrotic lesions. A favorable environment for citrus canker bacteria is too wet soil with a high average daily air temperature.

Cancer-causing bacteria have a remarkable feature - they fluoresce in the dark. If the plant suddenly begins to glow at night, this is the first sign of citrus cancer. Unfortunately, this disease cannot be treated, and when faced with it, it is important to save other plants - to do this, you need to destroy the diseased plant and treat all tools and surfaces around the source of infection with disinfectants.

How to grow lemon from seeds, watch the following video

Everyone knows how many benefits lemon brings to the human body. It helps cope with colds and many other ailments. And also its yellow juicy fruits increase and strengthen the immune system, normalize hormonal levels, improve vision and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The plant secretes phytoncide, essential oil, which has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.

A lemon in a pot looks impressive, but the tree makes a greater impression when the fruits ripen on it. Many people would not refuse to see this sunny fruit not only in their garden, but also on the windowsill.

Features of cultivation

You can grow lemon from a seed at home. The plant will small size, up to 1.5 m high, sometimes higher. Growing a lemon tree from a seed is not difficult, but in order for it to begin to bear fruit, you need to comply with some conditions for its maintenance. To plant, it’s not enough to take the seeds and plant them in the ground, but you also need to know some of the nuances of growing lemons at home.

If a person wants to grow lemon at home, he must know the basic rules.

1. Take seeds for planting only from ripe lemons; their color should be deep yellow.
2. The bones do not need to be dried. After removing them from the lemon, rinse them with warm water and immediately embed them in the substrate. If the seeds dry out, you won’t have to wait for results.
3. Choose the largest seeds, 10–15 pieces. In this way, it will be possible to select strong and stable seeds for planting.
4. The choice of variety for planting also plays an important role. Sprout only those varieties that will grow well indoors.

Suitable varieties for home cultivation

There are quite a few varieties of this crop. But only 5 species are suitable for home cultivation.

1. Variety Pavlovsky - has large fruits, the weight of which reaches 500 g. The taste is sweet, the leaves are aromatic. The plant reaches up to 2 m in height. There are usually 4–5 seeds inside the fruit, sometimes there are none at all.
2. Meyer - hybrid variety, which was developed by crossing with grapefruit. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour. The tree always produces a good harvest. The weight of one fruit reaches 150 g. The Meyer variety lies dormant for a certain time.
3. Ponderosa is also a hybrid variety. The fruits have a bitter taste and a lot of seeds inside. This lemon blooms all year round. The plant is unpretentious in care.
4. Genoa is a medium-sized plant. The yield is high; it begins to bear fruit at 4–5 years of age. The fruits have delicate pulp, sour taste and persistent aroma. The variety is undemanding in care.
5. Variety Yubileiny - the plant reaches medium size. The harvest is rich, the skin of the fruit is thick. The variety is ideal for growing at home.

Growing indoors

To grow a lemon at home from a seed, you need to know how to do it correctly. You need to prepare lemon seeds, soil, and provide proper care, including fertilizing, watering and replanting the plant.

Preparation of planting material

Large, ripe fruits are easy to find. It is enough to go to the market or to the store. For growing lemons from seeds to be successful, you need to take only the ripest fruits. Before purchasing, you should carefully examine the fruit for rot and dry crust. At home, the fruit is cut in half and only the largest seeds are selected. It is advisable to plant several seeds at the same time so that you can select the strongest sprouts.

Before planting a lemon from a seed, the planting material is treated with special preparations. Growth stimulants must be used: sodium humate. The procedure helps:

• quickly grow seedlings;
• strengthen the immune system and prevent the occurrence of diseases;
• quickly germinate seedlings.

Preparing the container for planting

First, you need to plant the lemon seeds in a small pot. Only after the seedling has sprouted, it is transplanted into a large and beautiful pot. At this point you still need to carry out whole line procedures. To successfully germinate a lemon from a seed, you need to take a small container with holes in the bottom. And you also need to lay drainage at the bottom of the pot, 1.5–2 cm thick. For it, take small pieces of red brick, expanded clay or just small pebbles. The lemon pot should not be high, because its roots are small.

Soil preparation

Drainage and soil for planting can be purchased at the store. Ordinary soil for seedlings will not work; you need special soil for domestic citrus fruits. If you can’t purchase one, you can prepare the soil yourself. To do this take:

• 50% turf land;
• 50% humus;
• peat and coal or ash.

The soil in the pot is well watered and then the seeds are placed there. The seeds are planted to a depth of 1–1.5 cm. If the air temperature in the house is 18 °C or lower, then it is better to cover the plant with film and place it in a warm place. It is often not worth watering the soil with seeds, only if it is dry. The seeds begin to sprout after 2–3 weeks.

Transplanting a plant

After some time, the sprouted seedlings need to be transplanted. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the root system. In order for the plant to form a strong stem, the size of the pot should be approximately 10 cm. After a year, the crop is transplanted into a larger pot. The size of the container is selected 10 cm larger than the previous one. It is better to take a clay container. Mature plant replanted once every 3–4 years. The soil for replanting is the same as for planting seeds.

The crown must be trimmed from time to time to form a beautiful and healthy bush. Weak or dried branches are removed. To ensure that the foliage grows evenly throughout the bush, the crop is rotated 90° once a week.

Rules for caring for a house plant

Care at home must be carried out carefully; this determines how long the plant will grow and when it will begin to bear fruit. You need to pay attention to the recommendations of specialists so as not to say later: “we take care of it correctly, but the lemon does not grow.”

Feeding

Any plant needs feeding, and home-grown lemon especially. If the plant begins to lose leaves, it is lacking nutrients. This can lead to stunting of growth and fruiting. Fertilizers are applied once a month in the form of nitrogen, potassium and phosphate. But ready-made fertilizer, which is sold in a specialized store, is also suitable. To prepare the solution yourself, take:

• 2 tbsp. l. phosphate salts;
• 1 tbsp. l. potassium salt;
• 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate.

All components are diluted in water. To ensure that the nutrient solution is distributed evenly throughout the soil, the plant is watered before applying fertilizer. To prevent the roots from burning from fertilizers, the solution is used in a volume of 100–150 ml per bush. In addition, you need to monitor the condition of the tree. Inspect its foliage regularly to ensure it is healthy and the leaves do not turn yellow.

Among potash fertilizers, potassium ash is distinguished. Apply 1 tsp. for 1 liter of water. In addition to mineral fertilizers, it is necessary to provide organic fertilizers. For this, infusions of mullein and humus are prepared. Only feed an adult, strong plant.

Watering

Lemon does not like the soil to be very wet or dry. This may damage the plant's roots. Soil moisture should be moderate. Watering is carried out only with settled water at room temperature.

Air temperature

Lemon does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature. An important component of crop care is control of humidity and general air temperature in the room. The lemon tree loves a lot of light, so it needs solar treatments every day for 12 hours. Therefore, it is better to place the lemon on the south side, and compensate for the lack of light with special phytolamps.

Air humidity should be 60–70%. If the humidity level is lower, place a container of water next to the flower or spray the foliage. Too dry air, as well as extreme heat and drafts can kill the plant.

Grafting for fruiting

The most famous pests that attack lemons are scale insects, aphids, mites and scale insects. These insects drink the sap of the plant, which causes the leaves to curl and dry out. All pests can be destroyed in one way.

1. Remove pests manually using a washcloth or brush and apply anabasine sulfate soap solution. It is more convenient to remove insects from leaves with a cotton swab.
2. After a day, the solution must be washed off. After a week, repeat the procedure.
3. If insects have severely damaged the plant, the bushes should be treated with an infusion of onion, garlic, tobacco or celandine. Any of the ingredients is infused in water.
4. You can also use ready-made preparations Actellik and Fitoverm. The drugs are used very carefully, as they are very poisonous.

Possible diseases include sooty fungus and gommosis. The fungus covers the foliage with a coating gray, as a result of which the nutrition of the plant is disrupted. Gommosis appears as gum on the bark, and leaves and stems begin to dry out. To cure a plant from diseases, do the following:

• the diseased bark is cleaned and treated with copper sulfate;
• use the putty preparation RanNet or garden varnish;
• wipe the leaves with a damp cloth;
• and also feeding helps support immunity.

The drugs are used according to the instructions attached to them. They can be purchased at any specialty store.

Disease Prevention

To prevent the lemon from getting sick during growth, preventive measures are taken:

1. Hot water treatments in the form of a shower. The plant will not be harmed, and the pests will be destroyed.
2. Once a week, wipe the leaves with soapy water. To do this, it is better to take laundry soap.

Fitosporin helps a lot. The drug is odorless and non-toxic.

These measures will help prevent the occurrence of diseases and death of the plant.

Conclusion

Many people wonder whether it is possible to grow lemon from seeds. With a strong desire, everything is possible. Growing a lemon is not difficult, but if the owner of the plant wants to get a harvest all year round, he will have to work hard. This tree needs proper care. In return for the time and effort expended, the lemon tree will not only give you tasty and aromatic fruits, but will also bring comfort and good mood to your home.

Each of us, when removing achenes from citrus fruits, thought that we could plant them in a pot and get a real tree with fruits.

And this is really possible, the main thing is to know how to grow a lemon from a seed at home, using many years of experience indoor gardeners. Let's find out how realistic it is to get a full-fledged tree from a lemon achene by studying information about correct landing and caring for this plant.

For planting, you will need fresh seeds from ripe fruits: they need to be planted in the ground as soon as they are taken out.

If you wait, the seeds dry out, crack and lose their viability.

We plant as follows:

Preparing the ground

How to prepare soil for lemon?

Mix sand (1 part), peat (2 parts) and soil from under deciduous trees (1 part). We thoroughly loosen the soil and moisten it moderately.

Sow the seeds

We lay the seeds horizontally on the surface of the soil: if you place them upright, you can mix up the ends - sprouts appear from one, roots appear from the other. Sprinkle a 1.5 cm layer of soil on top, water and cover with film until germination.

In a month or a month and a half, the first shoots will appear: immediately remove the film.

Growing lemon at home in the first two years

When the seedlings have grown 6 leaves, not earlier (the plants can be destroyed), we pick them up and transplant them into pots.

The picking is done like this: without removing the seedling from the ground, we plunge a sharp knife into the soil to a depth of 10 cm and move it from side to side, cutting off the root. After the operation, we spill the soil with a pale solution of potassium permanganate.

Thanks to picking, the roots branch better.

How to grow lemon at home: transplanting seedlings into pots

Soil preparation

After picking, we transplant the plants into pots where they will grow for the next 2 years. Prepare the soil for lemon by mixing:

• Earth from under deciduous trees: linden, birch, etc. - 2 parts.
• Humus - 1 part.
• Meadow soil, preferably from clover or alfalfa (very rich in nitrogen) – 1 part.
• Gray river sand (calcined first) – 1 part.
• Wood ash from hardwood– 0.5 parts.

It is especially important if you want to grow lemons at home, to know that the soil does not contain residues of petroleum products: gasoline, diesel fuel and other harmful impurities.

To check, we dilute a handful of each type of soil in water: if a greasy multi-colored film does not form on the surface, we can safely use it for replanting.

Disinfection and fertilization of soil

The substrate, mixed independently, needs disinfection:

• Pour the soil into an enamel container, add 1 liter of water and place on medium heat.
• Steam the soil under the lid for 40 minutes.
• Cool and dry the disinfected soil.

Before growing lemon in pots, be sure to fertilize the substrate with organic complex fertilizers to restore ecological balance.

Lemon transplant

To transplant lemon seedlings, growing indoors is not as difficult as it seems, we buy new pots, lay expanded clay on the bottoms with a layer of 2 cm and proceed further:

• We fill in a layer of earth to make a mound.
• Sprinkle the root of the lemon seedling with ash and “lay out” the roots along the earthen hill.
• Add soil evenly, occasionally tamping with a spoon or spatula so that air voids do not form near the roots.
• Sprinkle soil until the root collar is reached (the place where the roots enter the trunk).

You cannot cover the root collar with soil: it will crack and become infected with fungus, which can cause the death of the plant.

We water the transplanted lemon trees and watch their development.

How to grow a lemon from a seed at home if the seedling is two years old

After a couple of years, we replant the trees again: by then the roots will fill the entire pot. To make sure that replanting is necessary, turn the container over and tap it on something hard or on your palm. If there are a lot of roots, the lump will quickly fall out of the pot.

How to plant a lemon after two years of life? We transplant the lemons into pots that are 4 cm in diameter.

Substrate for transplantation

The composition of the soil for further transplants is somewhat different from the previous one. Older lemons need other ingredients: loam, silt, more sand.

Lemon is 2 years old

For planting lemons, we use soil consisting of the following components:

• Leaf humus - 2 parts;
• Manure humus - 4 parts;
• Peat - 2 parts;
• River sand - 1 part.

Lemon is 4-8 years old

For transplanting lemons 4-8 years old, the following substrate is suitable:

• River sand – 1 part;
• Meadow land - 4 parts;
• Leaf soil - 2 parts;
• River (lake) silt - 2 parts.

Lemon is 9 years old

Lemons that are 9 years old or more bear fruit well in the following soil:

• Meadow land - 6 parts;
• Leaf soil - 2 parts;
• Peat – 2 parts;
• Il – 4 parts;
• River sand - 1 part;
• Wood ash – 0.5 parts.

Transfer the lemon to a new pot, cutting off the rotten roots if they are clearly visible, and water.

Further care in general

To get a lemon grown indoors, we care for it like this:

• Watering. We water the tree regularly, without flooding it and without forcing it to suffer from drought. In winter we rarely water.
• Humidity. We make sure that the apartment is sufficiently humid: drying out the air does not benefit us or the plants.

To get rid of dryness, you can use a household humidifier.

• Dust removal. Lemon leaves have a harder time breathing if they are covered in a layer of dust. Regularly wipe the leaves with damp gauze or sponge. Once every 7 days we spray the plants with a spray bottle to wash away dirt. Once every 30 days we give the lemon leaves a warm shower.

• Temperature. In summer, lemon needs more heat, and in winter, during the dormant period, it needs coolness.
• Top dressing. Once every 14 days we fertilize the plants with complex minerals and organic fertilizers, alternating them (during the rest period we do not feed).

This is almost all the information about growing lemons at home obtained from seeds.

So, you have learned a lot about how to grow lemons from seeds at home. And in order for it to produce juicy and aromatic fruits not in 9-10 years, but much earlier, it must be grafted, taking grafting material from already fruit-bearing plants.