As any gardener knows, there are many benefits to growing your own fruits and vegetables.
Not only does it save you money, but it’s also a great way to get fresh, organically-grown produce right in your own backyard.
So if you’re looking for a new project this year, why not try planting lemon seeds?
You can get lemons from almost any store and the seeds are easy to grow.
Lemon seeds from store bought lemons will grow easily in the right conditions although it may take several years to get a bush that flowers and produces fruit.
Will seeds from store bought lemons grow and produce fruit?
Most lemon seeds will germinate and grow into a form of lemon tree.
It can take several years for your lemon tree to mature and it may or may not flower, this is because the seed that you planted is not a true replica of the original tree that it grew on and it will not inherit the properties of it’s parent.
Your lemon tree may take longer to mature, around 4 to 5 years but, if you keep it in a warm, sheltered spot with plenty of sunlight, you should be able to encourage it to flower and produce some type of lemons.
What are the steps to planting lemon seeds?
Choose some nice ripe lemons from the store and extract the seeds by cutting the lemons open and scraping the seeds out.
Wash the seeds thoroughly to remove all traces of flesh as otherwise this will rot and affect the chances of germination.
You need to plant the seeds straightaway, do not let them dry out as this will also affect the ability of the seed to germinate.
Take a small plant pot and fill it with a good quality, clean compost and water the pot well.
Once the excess water has drained through the compost plant two to three seeds per pot, about half an inch deep and then cover the pot with plastic food wrap or a plastic bag to retain heat and moisture.
Place the pot in a warm area around 70 degrees, somewhere like the airing cupboard is ideal and inspect daily looking for signs of growth.
As soon as seedlings appear move the pot into a well lit area and take the plastic wrap away.
You should keep the seedlings warm, out of drafts and well watered. When they have formed several leaves, pot them on into larger pots of general purpose compost.
As the plant grows you will need to increase the pot size to allow it to continue to develop.
Feed your lemon tree once a month with a good, potassium rich fertilizer to encourage it to develop and produce flowers.
Your tree will need to be kept warm and sheltered for it’s lifetime as frost and cold weather will kill it.
During the winter months reduce watering and feeding.
How long will it take for a lemon tree grown from seed to fruit?
It can take anywhere from between three to six years for a seed grown lemon tree to produce fruit and the fruit produced is unlikely to be the same.
Are lemon trees difficult to grow?
They are easy trees to grow and the biggest difficulty that you may have will be keeping the trees sheltered as they mature.
They need a warm environment and, unless you live in a warm climate, you will need to keep them indoors or in a heated greenhouse or conservatory.
What type of soil do lemon trees like?
Avoid heavy soils and use a light, sandy loam soil that runs freely through your fingers.
This type of soil will heat up quickly and keep the roots of your lemon tree nice and warm – which they enjoy.
How large do lemon trees get in pots?
You’ll probably need to prune your lemon tree as it gets older and larger to keep it manageable.
Many pot grown lemon trees can reach a height of around 5 to 6 feet tall.
Final words
It can take many years of tender loving care to grow a nice fruit yielding lemon tree but, the end result is worth it.
Once you’ve tasted home grown lemons picked straight of the tree you’ll never want shop bought ever again.
Lemon trees are also lovely looking trees in pots that are ideal for balconies and smaller gardens and their blossoms are one of the most fragrant that you’ll ever find.
They are easy to grow from seeds so why not give it a try?
