Learn how to grow a lemon tree from seed with our easy to follow gardening guide! Citrus trees are fairly easy to grow, but they do require full sun and a warm environment. You can grow a lemon tree in a tropical or subtropical climate, or, if you live in a cooler climate, you will need a grow light.
Lemon trees are amazing plant to have in or around your home, and not only because of their fruit! Lemon trees smell amazing and look great too! Today you'll learn how to grow a lemon tree from seed. The lemon tree can either be planted outside (only if you live in a warm enough climate), or in a pot!
How to Grow a Lemon Tree From Seed
The best and easiest way to get lemon seeds is to get them from a lemon! Be sure to pick up an organic lemon though, since it's much better to grow an organic lemon tree. Open your lemon fruit and take out the seeds. Soak the seeds in warm water for a few hours, and then place the washed seeds on a paper towel. Let the lemon seeds dry on the paper towel overnight.
You'll need fertile potting soil as well as natural fertilizers, such as compost. Grab a seedling pot that is about 24 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Later on, you'll also need a pot that is about 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep. Lastly, make sure you have a sunny indoor location set up! During the warm summer months, leave your lemon tree outdoors in a sunny area.
How to Grow Lemon Seeds:
- Wet the potting soil so that is is moist.
- Fill the smaller pot (the 6×6 size) with potting soil all the way up. Leave about an inch of space from the top.
- Plant the seed about a half an inch deep into the soil. Make sure that you do not dry the seed! Once you remove the seed from the lemon, you must be ready to plant!
- Spray the soil with water using a spray bottle.
- Cover the pot with plastic wrap and use a rubber band to keep it in place. Now, poke a few holes in the middle of the plastic wrap.
- Place your pot in a warm and sunny location.
- Occasionally, spray the plastic wrap with water. Make sure the soil does not get dry, but that it also doesn't sit in a puddle.
- After about 2 weeks, your lemon seedlings should appear. Remove the plastic wrap.
Care:
- Make sure that the soil is always moist, but be careful not to over-water it. Citrus fruit prefer moist but not water logged soil.
- Give your lemon tree plenty of sunlight, at least 8 hours a day.
- Feed your lemon tree some organic fertilizer such as compost.
- Prune off brown or dead leaves if necessary.
- Once the lemon tree has outgrown the pot, transplant it to the bigger pot.
- Take care of it the same way you always have: moist soil, organic fertilizer, and plenty of sun.
Harvesting:
- Unfortunately, lemon trees aren't too quick to give fruit.
- A lemon tree will produce fruit within 3-6 years.
- Once they're ready, simply pluck them off and enjoy!
Although it may seem like a long time, it's absolutely worth it! It's still a beautiful plant to have in your home, and it starts producing fruit, it will smell heavenly!
Not sure what variety of lemon to plant? The most common lemon varieties are: Meyer lemon, Eureka, and Lisbon lemons. Other lemon varieties also exist, although they are not as popular:
Avalon Lemons
Bearss Lemons
Buddha’s Hand Lemons
Bush Lemons
Citron Lemons
Dorshapo Lemons
Fino Citron Lemons
Greek Citron Lemons
Organic Lemons
Ponderosa Lemons
Sweet Lemons
True Lemons
Verna Lemons
Cameron Highlands Lemons
Escondido Lemons
Femminello St. Teresa Lemons
Genoa Lemons
Interdonato Lemons
Jhambiri Lemons
Kϋtdiken Lemons
Lamas Lemons
Lapithkiotiki Lemons
Lemonade Lemons
Nepali Oblong Lemons
Otaheite Lemons
Perrine Lemons
Pink Lemonade Lemons
Primofiore Lemons
Variegated Pink Lemons
Villafranca Lemons
Volkamer Lemons
Yen Ben Lemons
Happy Planting!
