Lemon Tree. How to plant and grow lemons at home. Learning to grow and care for lemons at 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 lemons in pots, be sure to fertilize the substrate with organic complex fertilizers to restore the 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 fragrant fruits not in 9-10 years, but much earlier, it must be grafted, taking grafting material from already fruit-bearing plants.

» Lemon

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

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

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

It is used for colds, as it contains a huge amount of vitamin C and many people simply 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. From these seeds it is quite possible to grow a full-fledged lemon Tree.

For a person who decides to plant a lemon at home, It is important to consider the following rules:

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

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

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

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 aroma is so pungent and strong that the whole house will be filled with it.
- a hybrid of lemon and 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 dormancy period.
Ponderosa- a hybrid of lemon and grapefruit, characterized by a bitter taste, as well as the presence of a large number of seeds. I am glad that it is constantly blooming. According to people who grow this type of lemon, it is a very rewarding plant and completely unpretentious.
Genoa– medium tree, gives big harvest already for 4-5 years of life. Fruits with delicate pulp have a sour, aromatic taste. You can also eat the peel. This variety is considered not whimsical. By 2-3 years the seedling is already blooming.
Anniversary- a medium-sized tree, considered a variety that produces a rich harvest; the fruit is distinguished by its thick skin. Very suitable for growing in a house or apartment.

After the stage of choosing a variety has been completed, you need to move on to planting the seeds in the pot.

How to plant plant seeds: main points

Some active citrus growers with extensive experience It is advised to free the stone from the top husk, which, in their opinion, makes it possible to obtain seedlings in the shortest possible time.

This must be done very carefully, since any damage to the seed may prevent the seed from germinating.

But you can plant seeds without the above procedure.

Lemon seeds must be moist before planting.. It is advisable to soak them in water or a solution of sodium humate for a day. You can purchase this growth stimulator 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 germinate.

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

Place 1.5-2 cm of expanded clay, small pebbles or very coarse sand on the bottom of the pot. Soil for planting can be bought in the store, or you can prepare it yourself. To do this, you need to mix garden soil, sand, humus and a little charcoal.

It is better to plant seeds at 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 top of the pot can be covered with film. The air temperature in the room where the pot with seeds is located should be above +18℃.

Once every 2-3 days it is necessary to spray the soil. If the soil 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 move the pot with sprouts to a bright place and water it with settled or rain water, 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 the end of winter, the beginning of spring. Since increasing daylight hours will only benefit the emerging young shoots.

Will an indoor lemon tree produce fruit?

Many people think that growing lemons from seeds is a thankless task. Since you will have to wait 5, 7, or even 15 years for fruits from such a lemon, its fruits will be small in size.

For that, in order not to wait for decades for the lemon tree to start bearing fruit, it is necessary. This can be done in two ways in the warm season (summer or warm spring):

Into the cleft- a more preferable type of grafting. It is necessary to take a cutting of a cultivated fruit-bearing lemon. A branch on the seedling is cut off, and the remaining stem of the seedling is split. A “wedge” is sharpened on the cuttings of a fruiting lemon, which is then inserted into a split in the stem. Next, you need to tie the graft with electrical tape. 2-4 buds are left on the cuttings of a fruiting lemon, and the rest is cut off. The vaccination is covered plastic bag. When the graft has grown together, the package can be removed.

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

Budding— the shoots of the seedling are cut off, leaving a “stump” 10 cm high from the tree. Next, take a branch of cultivated fruit-bearing lemon. Under each leaf of the twig there is a so-called “dormant bud”. It is necessary to make a cut in front of this bud. Next, cut off the leaf blade, but leave its petiole. On the “stump” of the seedling, make a cut of the bark and insert the petiole there, cut side down. Tie the grafting site with duct tape. The petiole of the cut leaf blade will serve as an indicator. If the petiole falls off after 2-3 days, then we can assume that the grafting was successful; if it dries out, then the grafting was unsuccessful and must be repeated.

What's interesting is that lemon grown from seeds adapts to home conditions faster and better, it is less picky than cuttings and grafted seedlings.

Why does a lemon grown from a seed not bear fruit?

Optimal growing conditions, care after planting

It is advisable to be very careful when dealing with lemons that have sprouted in a pot. When on lemon seedlings 3–4 leaves will appear, they are transplanted into separate pots.

Typically, lemon may react to both excessive 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.

A the best solution will not change the place of “residence” of the lemon. The best place for lemon there will be a south or southwest side in the apartment. As for temperature, lemon can tolerate temperatures from +14℃ to +27℃.

Conditions are created for lemon without sudden temperature changes, because they can kill him. It is advisable to maintain moderate air humidity - 60-70%.

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

Feed in summer The seedling can be treated with humus solution and liquid mineral fertilizers.

Lemons, like all houseplants susceptible to diseases and pest attacks. Therefore, they require careful care, and it is also recommended to carefully inspect the plant every day in order to detect the appearance of a particular pest as early as possible and take the necessary measures in time.

Care and protect: the main enemies of citrus

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

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

Drying ends of leaves they say that the tree needs phosphorus. And a lack of potassium and manganese leads to wrinkling of the leaves and loss of the ovary.

“Fitosporin” is considered a good remedy for many diseases and pests. It is non-toxic and odorless. It is also good to use as a preventive measure.

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

With some effort and studying 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:

Lemon is evergreen tree with fleshy and glossy leaves, on which the fruit is located on the branches of the bush. At the same time, the branch has a large number of pores that release phytoncides and essential oils- This is the wonderful aroma of lemon that everyone knows. 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 place them in 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 at room temperature and separated. 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. Best time for this the beginning of summer.

Also very important factor there will be crown formation. 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 - we process 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. They can be found in every specialty store. large quantities.

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: 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.

Everyone sometimes wants to show off the yellow fruit they grew at home. But how to grow a lemon from a seed so that it also produces fruit, and not just grows wood? It is very easy if you follow the correct agricultural techniques.

In general, propagation of lemons by cuttings is used much more often. However, they can also be grown from seeds. Healthy seedlings are easy to obtain by following a few simple rules of citrus agricultural technology.

Lemons, like all citrus fruits, quickly lose their viability. We take seeds from well-ripened fruits. We extract the seeds from them. Immediately after this, we sow them in a pre-prepared planting substrate. During long-term storage, the outer shell of the seed begins to dry out and become covered with cracks. This is why germination rate decreases very quickly to almost zero. Therefore, we sow the seeds the faster, the better, while they are still moist from the pulp of the fruit.

Video about growing lemon from seed

The soil is prepared from two parts of peat, one part of leaf soil and one part of sand. Mix thoroughly, loosen, moderately moisten. Future shoots grow from one end of the grain, and roots from the other. It is important not to confuse their sides, so the seed is planted horizontally in the soil. We lay them on the ground, cover them with one and a half centimeters of soil, moisten them, and cover them so that the soil does not dry out.

Over the next four to five weeks, we monitor the crops and prevent either drying out or waterlogging. In a little more than a month, the seeds will begin to hatch. Small lemon sprouts come to the surface. Water them carefully, trying not to wash them away. upper layer soil. After the fifth or sixth leaf appears, we pick up the seedlings. Before this period, it is undesirable to touch the root system of the sprouts.

The reason is that citrus fruits have one powerful, deep root. While the sprout is small, the root is also small and weak. If you disturb it before 5-6 leaves are formed, you may lose our lemon seedling.

The photo shows a small lemon

During transplantation, we trim the root, stimulating its branching. Sometimes it is convenient to do this even before transplantation; for this, the vertical root of seedlings growing in a box is cut off without removing them from the ground. This operation is done as follows: we bury a sharp knife horizontally 10 centimeters into the soil and run it under the sprouts. After this, to disinfect the damaged roots, we spill the plantings with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, that is, potassium permanganate. This operation causes less damage to the delicate root system of lemon trees, while stimulating its branching and the formation of lateral roots.

Preparing the soil for planting lemons

So, a young lemon grown from a seed is ready for planting. We dive the seedling immediately on permanent place. For the next year or two it will grow in the pot that we designate for it. Answering the question of how to plant a lemon from a seed, we note that, first of all, you need a very high-quality, properly prepared substrate.

The photo shows the soil for planting lemon

one or two parts of leaf humus from under birch or linden trees;
one part of manure humus;
one part of meadow land, preferably from meadows where clover or alfalfa grows, such land is enriched with nitrogen;
one part of calcined gray (not yellow) river sand;
half part wood ash, but not coniferous species.

Lemon is very sensitive to the presence of petroleum products in the soil. You can check your soil for cleanliness from them in the following way: we dilute a handful of soil in a bucket of water. If no oily rainbow coating appears on the surface, then the substrate is clean.

The soil is poured into a steel enamel bucket, filled with a liter of water, and put on fire. Close the lid and wait 30-40 minutes until the mixture is well steamed. After this operation, let the soil cool and dry.

Now you can fertilize the soil before planting lemon seedlings. It is best to use organic complexes containing humic acids or effective microorganisms. This will bring your sterilized soil back to its natural ecological balance. Next, we water it with a solution of complex microfertilizers containing iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc. We fertilize with nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus fertilizers.

Later, when mature trees are transplanted, the composition of the substrate changes slightly. If the above mixture, due to its lightness, is recommended for young plants, then for older plants it is typical to add loam, lake silt, peat, and an increase in the proportion of sand.

2 hours of leaf humus;
4 hours of manure humus;
2 hours of high-moor peat;
1 tsp river sand.

For trees from 4 to 8 years old, the following composition is suitable

4 parts meadow chernozem;
2 hours of leaf humus;
2 parts lake or river silt;
1 tsp river sand.

For mature lemons over ten years old, the optimal soil composition is as follows

6 parts meadow chernozem;
2 hours of leaf humus;
2 hours of high-moor peat;
4 parts lake silt;
1 tsp sand;
0.5 tsp hardwood ash.

So, we grew a seedling from a seed. The vertical root has been trimmed and is now ready to be planted in its main location. Cover the bottom of the pot with a 1.5-3 centimeter layer of expanded clay. Pour a layer of substrate on top in the form of a mound. Dust the lemon roots with ash and spread them over the mound. Then we begin to cover it evenly with soil. Periodically, lightly compact the soil with a small stick; it is best to use a sushi stick for this purpose. This must be done to prevent the formation of air voids at the roots of the tree. We fill up to the level of the root collar, that is, to the place where the roots go into the trunk.

Bury the root collar and the lower part of the bark will rot, it will begin to burst, secrete resin, and will most likely develop gommosis, a fungal disease of citrus fruits. A young seedling may even die from this.

It is very important! The root collar should not be buried.

Next, we monitor the growth of the lemon. In a year or two, the root system will completely fill the space of the pot. We check this as follows - turn the pot over and knock it on a hard surface. The lump should fall out of the pot easily. The bottom of the soil should be well entwined with roots. This means we transplant it into a larger container, but not too spacious. 3-4 centimeters larger in diameter.

Photo of a homemade lemon tree

Most often, plants suffer from:

insufficient or improper feeding;
excessive dryness of apartment air;
dust;
non-compliance with temperature conditions.

Water the lemons frequently, but do not allow the soil to become waterlogged. Feed once every two weeks in small portions complex fertilizers. Spray the leaves weekly with a spray bottle, and sometimes clean the leaves of dust with a damp sponge (if the room is heavily polluted with dust). Give your tree a monthly shower. Observe temperature regime. In winter, lemons should be cooler and drier than in summer. This means that less watering and fertilizing are needed. Here's everything in brief that you need to know about the normal care of a lemon tree grown from a seed. Next, we’ll talk about propagating lemons using cuttings.

Photo of watered lemon

Let's take a closer look at some important aspects cuttings, so that the question “how to grow a lemon from a cutting” no longer causes difficulties.

Here are a few points to consider:

The main thing is that we take cuttings from a tree that has already bear fruit.
Take a cutting from a healthy, vertical branch.
Too young (still flattened in shape) or already lignified (should bend normally) is not suitable.
The best time for cuttings is April.
We use branches from last year's autumn growth.

We cut off the cuttings by 2-3 buds, leaving only two or three top leaves. We put it in a solution with a root formation stimulator: heteroauxin, root, epin. We plant the cuttings, burying them halfway, in an equal mixture of light soil and calcined sand. Cover the top with a centimeter layer of sand to prevent rotting of the lower part. Let's cover it all glass jar or a glass. This will prevent the evaporation of moisture from the cuttings, which is detrimental to them until they have acquired a root system. We protect our future lemons from direct sunlight. We cover them with matte paper. Or we put it on north-eastern or eastern windows. Pour water two to three degrees above room temperature. After two or three weeks, roots will begin to form. A sign of this is the appearance of new leaves. After another two weeks we can plant our seedlings. As you can see, cutting a lemon is a fairly simple operation.

Photo of lemon

Timing of the beginning of fruiting of lemon plants grown in various ways

We are often convinced that it is extremely easy to make plants grown from seeds bear fruit. That regardless of whether you are the owner of a grafted plant grown from a cutting or a tree seed, you will still receive your first harvest no later than four years later. You are being deceived.

Firstly, the date of entry into fruiting of citrus fruits grown different ways, are different.
Secondly, the mere presence of a tree at home does not mean that it will bloom at all. It requires proper care, attention, the creation of optimal conditions for fruiting, fertilizing, lighting, temperature conditions, microclimate and much, much more.

The timing of the onset of fruiting for various lemons is as follows:

trees from seeds bloom in 8-10 years;
citrus fruits obtained by cuttings from earlier flowering tree will bear the first fruits in 3-4 years;
plants grafted with layering from a fruit-bearing tree can bloom the very next year after grafting;
all these terms become irrelevant if the cutting for rooting or grafting is taken from an adult plant that has never previously bear fruit.

Video about how to grow a lemon from a seed

If a lemon blooms and bears fruit at least once, it will do so every year with proper care.

It is also worth knowing that our sour citruses can delay their flowering if you overdo it with fertilizing and care. This is especially true for nitrogen fertilizers. By trying to provide the plant with ideal conditions, we do it a disservice. The lemon rushes upward, without thinking at all about the formation of fruit buds. After all, our green pet’s plans do not include supplying us with a harvest.

The need to grow yellow fruits arises when the tree feels some threat to its comfort. Such threats activate the mechanisms of leaving offspring, that is, crops. What we prevent by pampering our lemons. Such excessive care, as well as insufficient attention to the plant, leads to a shift in the timing of fruiting. To stimulate fruiting, indoor citrus requires only: regular watering with fertilizing during the active growing season, a dormant period, a lot of sun, and room humidity.

It is also sometimes recommended to ring the trunk - remove a layer of bark 1 centimeter wide in a circle perpendicular to the soil and graft it reverse side to the place of the cut. There is a technique for wrapping branches with wire or similar tying, like a trunk. Please note that these methods are auxiliary, and sometimes their effectiveness is controversial.

Many types of citrus fruits grow well at home. But how to grow a lemon from a seed that would not only decorate the room with leathery dark green foliage, but also bear fruit?

It is the lack of ovaries on grown plants that often disappoints home citrus growers. After all, at best, from the moment of planting to flowering indoor lemon takes place from 4 to 7 years. And yet, getting a lemon from a seed is an exciting and not hopeless activity. A strong tree can be used as a rootstock by grafting a cutting from a cultivated specimen onto it, or you can push it to bear fruit with proper care and crown formation.

Preparing seeds for growing lemons

When planning to grow a lemon from a seed at home, you need to be patient and have some knowledge.

The main mistake of amateurs indoor plants who failed in growing lemon or other citrus fruits, is that for sowing they used seeds that had long been removed from the fruit and had time to dry out.

It is much more correct to remove the seeds from ripe fresh lemons and rinse them warm water and embed into the substrate immediately, without drying. This will increase the number of seedlings many times over.

And experienced citrus growers recommend another way to increase the speed and quality of germination. To do this, wet lemon seeds intended for growing at home are carefully removed with a sharp knife from the hard surface shell, which is the main obstacle to the sprout hidden in the seed.

Following this advice, you need to be extremely careful and careful. An incorrect movement threatens to damage the cotyledons or the delicate embryo, and then it will definitely not emerge from the seed.

If lemon seeds remain in the shell, it is useful to immerse them in a solution of a growth stimulator for several hours, not allowing the surface of the seeds to dry out between processing and planting.

Growing lemon from seed at home

Before planting lemon seeds, choose shallow, wide containers with mandatory drainage holes. A 2-centimeter layer of fine expanded clay or vermiculite is poured onto the bottom of a pot or other container so that all excess moisture, dangerous for the delicate roots, flowing down, does not linger and leaves the soil in time.

You can make your own soil for growing lemon seeds at home by mixing garden soil, humus and sand. It is useful to add a little crushed charcoal to such a substrate, which will reduce the risk of developing bacterial infections. If you don’t have the necessary ingredients on hand, a ready-made substrate for citrus fruits is suitable, which can be easily purchased at a specialty store.

All preparatory work carried out. Now it's time to start sowing. How to grow lemon from a seed at home?

The best sowing time is the end of winter. Then the hatching sprouts will receive good support in the form of increasing daylight hours.

The seeds are planted in moist soil to a depth of about two centimeters. You can plant several seeds in one container at once. Since the seedlings wait for the first transplant when they have 3-4 true leaves, the plants will not interfere with each other.

The containers are placed in a greenhouse or placed in a warm place, first covered with a bag or film. Do not forget that all citrus fruits are heat-loving, so growing lemon from a seed at home is possible only if a certain temperature regime is observed.

The seedlings will not begin to grow if the air and soil in the room are colder than +18 °C. It is optimal if seed germination and subsequent growth take place at a temperature of 22 to 25 °C, with constantly high humidity, absence of drafts and other negative factors. Following simple rules on how to grow a lemon from a seed allows you to get friendly, strong shoots.

On average, from sowing to the moment sprouts appear, it takes from a week to a month. During this time, the soil in the pot can be carefully sprayed, but it should be watered only when there are obvious signs of drying out.

Caring for lemon seedlings from seeds

With the appearance of green sprouts above the soil surface, they gradually begin to become accustomed to room conditions, ventilating and opening the greenhouse slightly. When 3-4 leaves appear on a young lemon from the seed, the film is removed completely, and the seedlings are sorted and transferred to their own small pots.

Since the seeds of hybrid fruits do not always bear parental characteristics, citrus growers trying to get lemon from a seed at home run the risk of growing “wild”.

You can understand how soon the tree will begin to bear fruit, and what quality the ripe fruits will be, by external signs. First of all, cultivated citrus trees are distinguished by a small number of thorns on their shoots.

Further care in the first year of seedlings consists of timely watering, replanting and pinching for the initial formation of the crown of the future tree.
In addition, plants:

in the summer months, feed every 10–14 days, alternating humus solution and liquid;
on cloudy days and in the cold season, additional lighting is provided with the help of.

The duration of lighting largely affects the flowering and fruiting of plants from the tropical zone. Therefore, you should take care of purchasing such lamps before growing a lemon from a seed.

Replanting for young lemons is carried out annually, and the plant should be transferred very carefully, without disturbing the root system. If the roots have not yet mastered the entire earthen ball, you can get by by replacing the surface layer.

Interested in how to grow a lemon from a seed, many enthusiasts look forward to first the shoots and then the first flowers. But to avoid weakening the plant, the lemon should not be allowed to bear fruit until it reaches 2-3 years of age. A lemon from a seed is ripe for flowering when there is only one flower per 15 leaves of its crown.

If the earlier formation of the ovary weakens the tree, then pinching it at the age of about a year only promotes the formation of the crown and will lay the foundation for future ones. good harvests. Therefore, in a very young plant, you need to remove all shoots directed deep into the crown, pinch the tops of excessively long shoots, and also sometimes turn the pot with the tree so that it is illuminated and develops as evenly as possible.