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Seeds of lemons


How to grow lemon from seed

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So you want to learn how to grow lemon from seed? Before you start, you need to think about what you want from the plant.

If you want to grow a beautiful lemon tree whether for the garden, the patio or as a houseplant with interesting greenery that has an enchanting lemony scent, then read on to find out how to grow a lemon tree from seed. 

'Citrus plants, like lemons, are excellent additions to conservatories and orangeries. As well as providing the ideal climate for the plants to thrive, they also lend the space a Mediterranean flair,' says Melanie Griffiths, editor of Period Living.  

(Image credit: Future/Brent Darby)

How to grow lemons

If you want to harvest your own citrus fruit, then growing a lemon tree from seed is not the best option. This is because the seeds do not necessarily reflect the parent plant. Of course, you may strike lucky and your lemon tree will produce deliciously tangy yellow lemons.  

But since it takes an average of five years for a lemon tree grown from seed to produce fruit – it’s definitely a high stakes gamble if you're desperate to lemons to eat. 

In this case, your best course of action is to grow your lemon tree from an established plant bought at a garden centre. These have either been grafted or grown from cuttings which mean they will replicate their fruit producing parent plant. 

While this is a more expensive option, the average lemon tree can last up to 50 years and will produce fruit for nearly all that time once they reach full size. Alternatively, if you know someone with a lemon tree that produces good fruit, ask if you can take a cutting.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

How to grow lemon from seed

Learning how to grow lemon from seed is an easy and affordable way to fill your home with beautiful lemon trees. So long as you have a lemon with pips, a pot of soil and a warm, light windowsill then you are good to go.

'Ideally sow the pips in April, but any time of year is possible,' advises Holly Farrell in her book Plants from Pips .

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Can you germinate lemon seeds in paper towel?

Yes, you can germinate lemon seeds in a paper towel and it's pretty easy to do.  

(Image credit: Getty Images)

How long does it take to grow a lemon tree from seed?

It takes around three to six years to grow a mature lemon tree from seed, with fruit starting to be produced at around year five. However, it only takes a few months to get a small lemon tree that will look pretty in a pot in your home. 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Can you plant lemon seeds from a store bought lemon?

Yes, you can plant lemon seeds from a store bought lemon. It is, however, worth bearing in mind that not all store bought lemons will have seeds, or viable seeds.  You will also have a higher chance of germination if you buy an organic lemon as they won't have been subjected to the same pesticides and fertilisers so the seeds inside are more likely to be viable.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Will dry lemon seeds germinate?

No, dry lemon seeds will not germinate. You are best planting the seed as soon as possible after harvesting the pips from the fruit. If you need to wait, however, you can put the seeds in a glass of water overnight and then plant the following day.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Should I grow my lemon tree in the ground or in a container?

Unless you live in a place with very warm temperatures all year around and no risk of frost, then you should grow your lemon trees in containers rather than in the ground.

'Containers are ideal for tender plants like citrus (e.g. lemon) that live outside in summer, and come back indoors for winter,' says Homes & Gardens' garden expert Teresa Conway. 'Make a feature of your container displays in summer, grouping your pots prominently on the patio or deck. Remember to bring them inside before the first frosts in late autumn.'

This feature was created by H&G's sister brand, Period Living magazine

Subscribe to Period Living for more inspiration
Period Living is the UK's best-selling period homes magazine. A subscription provides you with all you need to know about caring for and improving a traditional house and garden.

Having graduated with a first class degree in English Literature, Holly started her career as a features writer and sub-editor at Period Living magazine, Homes & Gardens' sister title. Working on Period Living brought with it insight into the complexities of owning and caring for period homes, from interior decorating through to choosing the right windows and the challenges of extending. This has led to a passion for traditional interiors, particularly the country-look. Writing for the Homes & Gardens website as a content editor, alongside regular features for Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors magazines, has enabled her to broaden her writing to incorporate her interests in gardening, wildlife and nature. 

Growing Lemon Trees from Seed

Growing lemon trees from seed is simple, and they thrive with minimal care indoors (or outside in warm locations).

Lemons are a great way to add flavor and bright acidity to home-cooked meals.  Beyond our everyday cooking, I use them by the dozen making homemade limoncello. I also usually add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to homemade jam recipes, to both balance the sugar and add pectin to help the jam set.

All of that adds up to a lot of lemons in a year, which in turn means a lot of lemon seeds.  

I always felt bad just composting them.  Why not plant lemon seeds instead?

It turns out, lemon trees are incredibly easy to grow from seed.  The seeds germinate so easily that some people plant them by the cup full and grow them as a potpourri (since the young leaves are so fragrant).

Lemon leaf potpourri might be a nice novelty, but I’m more interested in growing lemon trees from seed.  About a decade ago I started planting lemon seeds and raising lemon trees at home so I could harvest our own homegrown lemons.

The trees aren’t exactly hardy here in Vermont, but growing lemon trees in pots allows you to bring them indoors during the winter months.

These fast-growing trees go from seedling to producing full-sized lemons in about 3 years, so it’s well worth the effort.

A young lemon tree seedling on our windowsill. This one’s just a few months old, but it’s already about 6-8” tall.

Growing Lemon Trees from Seed

Growing a lemon tree from seed, whether it eventually produces fruit or not, is a worthwhile endeavor if you’re curious about propagating seeds or learning how citrus trees grow.  They’re fun houseplants that are not only beautiful but the leaves and foliage smell wonderful. 

The actual fruit is just the icing on the cake, but it doesn’t take much to get them to produce.

Grown indoors, lemon trees will typically produce fruit after 2 to 3 years. Sometimes you’ll get a tree that doesn’t end up growing lemons, but that doesn’t mean the tree itself is a lemon, so to speak, as tending to a fruit-less lemon plant is still a pleasant and rewarding experience.

All you need to get started is a healthy-looking, juicy lemon (more specifically, its seeds). If possible, choose an organic lemon, or one that hasn’t been treated with pesticides.

Remove the seeds from a cut lemon carefully, they need to be intact (read: no cuts) when planted. I use my fingers to remove them from the fruit and then rinse them off using cool water, you want to get rid of any remaining pulp as the residual sugar causes fungus to grow, which in turn leads to seed rot.

Lemon seeds pulled out of a fresh organic lemon.

Lemon Tree Seed Germination

Unlike some seeds that require a germination period in paper towel or water, lemon seeds should be planted as soon as they’ve been rinsed.

Try not to let them dry out, they should still be wet when planted.

Plant the wet lemon seeds in a small pot with drainage holes, using pasteurized soil mix (the pasteurization part is important, as it improves the likelihood your lemon seeds will grow without issue).

At this point in the process, you can plant several seeds in a single pot. The seeds only need to be planted a 1/2-inch deep to successfully propagate, the soil should be gently moistened with water and the container covered with plastic wrap to keep the growing environment damp but not wet.  

The growing lemon seeds need to be kept in warm environment, about 70° F, during the initial germination period. If your house runs cold, the top of the refrigerator is a good place to keep the pots.

Depending on the seeds and growing conditions, you should see growth in 1 to 3 weeks. 

As soon as you notice the seedlings poking through the soil, remove the plastic wrap and place the pot in a warm, bright location. When the seedlings have grown several leaves, it’s time to transplant them to larger potting containers.

Using the same pasteurized soil mix as before, carefully move the seedings into containers that are 4 to 6 inches in diameter.

As the tree grows, replant it in a larger container to match its size and give the plant a good pruning in the spring.

Lemon Tree Care

The planted, germinated seedlings should be placed in a location where they’ll receive at least 6 hours of sunlight during the day, at a temperature between 60° and 70° F.

Keep the soil moist by watering when the top 2 to 3 inches feels dry, you can test this by sticking your finger directly into the soil and feeling for wetness. Like other plants, when lemon trees need water the leaves will begin to droop.

Unless you live in a truly cold climate, bring your lemon trees outside when the warm weather hits. Even if this is only for a few months, the steady, direct sun will make it so your trees are more likely to eventually produce fruit.

I’m fortunate, also, that we have a small greenhouse built off of the side of the house, which is where we keep our potted lemon trees throughout the spring and autumn months.  The greenhouse extends their “outdoor” time, but we still have to bring them indoors for the coldest part of winter.

Lemon trees growing in our attached greenhouse in spring, next to our annual garden starts. They’re about ready to go outdoors for the summer season, once the risk of frost is past.

Lemon Tree Hardiness

Lemon trees are usually hardy to zone 9, meaning they can handle a very occasional light frost.   They’ll take damage if the temps go below 32 F (or 0 C), but most can survive to 28 F (or -2 C).  Some trees are a bit tougher and can make it as low as 22 F (or -5 C), but it’s best not to risk it.

When you see a frost warning in your area, it’s time to bring your lemon trees indoors for the season.

Best Fertilizer for Indoor Lemon Trees

You can keep your lemon trees happy during the warmer months by feeding them a water-soluble nitrogen- and potassium-rich fertilizer every two to four weeks, making sure the surrounding soil stays nice and moist (but not overwatered or soggy). 

A common mistake is to apply fertilizer to lemon trees in winter when they’re indoors.  People see the trees dropping leaves and panic.  They start watering more and add fertilizer, which is just the opposite of what the trees need.

If the trees start to drop leaves indoors in the winter, reduce watering, stop fertilizing and allow the trees to go dormant.  They’ll perk right back up in the spring once they’re in bright light again.

Winter Lemon Tree Care

The type of lemon tree winter care your plants need is entirely dependent on where you live, ambient temperature, and light exposure. So, for example, if you’re from a warm locale such as California or Florida, you can keep lemon tree plants outside in their pots all year long.

On the other hand, if you’re living in a cooler climate where the days get very short during the winter, it’s vital that the plants are brought indoors during that time. Keep the trees in a warm, draft-free location inside.

Reduce the watering schedule and cease fertilizer applications, waiting to resume until the following spring.

Here in Vermont, we keep our lemon trees indoors for the winter for about 4 months of the year.

As you can see in the photos, the greenhouse is an ideal place to grow citrus trees indoors during the shoulder seasons. The main idea is to avoid frost, so bring in the lemon trees before the first frost and after the (hopefully) last frost of the winter.

It’s normal, and in fact healthy, for plants to undergo a state of dormancy during this time. You might find the lemon tree stops growing or it loses some of its leaves; this is your plant’s way of conserving its energy and isn’t something to be worried about.

Once the weather warms up and the sunlight increases your lemon tree will begin to grow with gusto once more.

This 18-month-old lemon tree seedling is just going out to our attached greenhouse in the late winter. You can still see snow on the ground outside, but the greenhouse will allow the lemon tree to get a jump start on the growing season before it moves outdoors in the summer.

Harvesting and Using Lemons

After a period of 1 to 3 years, your lemon tree might begin to produce fruit. Lemons can take up to 6 month to ripen, depending on the variety, and are ready to be picked when they have firm, glossy skin and are 2 to 3 inches in size.

If you’re growing lemons from seed in a colder climate, your lemon crop will be small.

If, however, you lived in warmer part of the United States (or any other warm climate), you’ll be able to harvest lemons by the bucketload.

In either case, preserving lemons by one means or another is a fantastic way to hang on to that “fresh from the tree” flavor. My favorite and most hands-off way of preserving lemons is to make limoncello, a traditional sweet-tart Italian digestif that can be sipped on its own after a meal or mixed into a cocktail (like this effervescent drink made with limoncello, prosecco, and sparkling lemon soda).

Looking for more ways to preserve the fruits of your labor? Check out these options:

Seedling Growing Guides

Try growing other perennial plants and trees from seed!

Reproduction of lemons by seeds: features of cultivation

The article will help to grow a room lemon from seeds using seed propagation. Lemon seedling care.

Olga Ravilova ⏳ 07-12-2017 06-28-2021

Lemons can be grown from seeds, but it will take a long time to bear fruit. Photo: Pinterest.com Lemons can be grown from seeds, but it will take a long time to bear fruit. Photo: Pinterest.com

Propagation of lemons by seeds is the lot of patient and hardworking citrus growers. For the patient, because lemons "from the seed" begin to bear fruit 11-15 years after planting. nine0003

Not all lemon seeds are suitable for seed propagation - seeds extracted from lemons brought from the hot tropics will germinate, but seedlings will have difficulty adapting to life in indoor conditions. Therefore, it is recommended to choose seeds of lemons growing in room conditions.

It is advisable to take seeds from room lemons - they are zoned for room conditions. Photo: growingwildceeds.wordpress.com

It is desirable that the lemon tree bears fruit well, can grow in low light conditions and low temperatures. The genome of this plant already contains all the necessary information to adapt the seedling to a difficult life in captivity. nine0003

Seeds are planted in a previously prepared lemon substrate, without allowing the peel to dry out, immediately after extraction from the parent fruit. Lemon seeds quickly lose their germination. For example, to restore a dried lemon seed, you need to soak it in warm water for a day.

The substrate for seed propagation of indoor lemons should be light, prepared on the basis of leaf humus and sand, in a ratio of 2: 1 (for more details, see the article "Preparing the soil for lemons"). Be sure to check the acidity of the finished substrate before planting. nine0003

Small seed pot or box, 10-12 cm in diameter, fill with soil and lightly compact. In the soil, make grooves approximately twice the diameter of the seed (1-1.5 cm) deep and place the seeds in them at a distance of 4-5 cm. It is necessary to moisten regularly, preventing the soil from drying out. Seedlings of lemons appear after 1-1.5 months from the moment the seeds are planted.

Seedlings of lemons can dive in the phase of 4 true leaves. Photo: growingwildceeds.wordpress.com

Lemon seeds often form 2-3 sprouts due to citrus polyembryony (the formation of several embryos in one seed). From the sprouts, select the strongest, and remove the weak without regret.

Seedlings of lemons can be dived into separate pots when 4-6 true leaves appear. Plant one seedling in one pot so as not to damage the root system. Try not to lose the earth ball and do not bury the root neck too deep. Details about planting and transplanting lemons. nine0003 Lemon seedlings dive carefully. Photo: growingwildceeds.wordpress.com

When growing citrus fruits from seeds, there are no miracles - lemons grown by seed begin to bear fruit much later than lemons grown by cuttings. There may be exceptions to the rule, but usually you have to wait a decade before you can taste a lemon from such a tree.

It is possible to speed up the fruiting of indoor lemons grown from seeds by observing agricultural techniques: forming a crown, observing lighting and humidity regimes, caring for lemons seasonally, and regularly feeding the plants. nine0003

To stimulate the fruiting of a seedling, graft with a cutting, using shoots or buds (eyes) taken from a fruiting citrus tree as a scion. Grafted seedlings are hardy, develop well and can bloom in the third year.

Tags: growing lemons, seeded lemons, indoor lemons0040

  • How to grow a lemon tree from seed - growingwildceeds

    • How to grow a lemon from seed and get fruit?

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

    Where to start? If there is no desire or opportunity to purchase a citrus tree, then the easiest way is to grow a lemon from a stone. nine0053

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

    Contents

    1. Growing citrus
    2. Seed lemon: where to start?
    3. Care of lemon seedlings
    4. Indoor lemon - pests and diseases
    5. Lemon cuttings for quick fruiting

    Growing citrus fruits

    Lemon is native to subtropical forests where it grows wild. For many centuries, people have tried to spread it in 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 flower growers, indoor lemon has appeared in many home greenhouses and simply on windowsills. Citrus indoor plants always look amazing in the interior, but they delight us not only with their excellent appearance, but also with edible fruits. nine0053 The citrus tree is an evergreen, moisture-loving, shade-tolerant short-day plant. The room actively begins to grow in February-March, stops - in November. Lemon is propagated in the following ways:

    Seed lemon: where to start?

    Use only fresh seeds. They are selected from mature fruits that do not have signs of disease. Purely theoretically, this is true, but lemons come to us from supermarkets and bazaars. nine0003

    These fruits are definitely not freshly picked. How to be? Dried seeds that have lain for a month at room temperature significantly lose their germination capacity, but still germinate.

    To completely grow a lemon at home, you need to stock up not with one or two seeds, but with a lot more. Out of a dozen seeds, there will definitely be several sprouts.

    Do not be afraid to grow many seedlings at once. It is not a fact that all your lemons from the stone at home will live to bear fruit. Some will die due to diseases, others will suffer when you vaccinate them. nine0003

    We start growing homemade lemon from the seed as follows:

    Growing citrus in this way is the easiest and most reliable option at home. Many flower growers have a decorative lemon at home, many waited for their fruiting. It should be noted that homemade tangerines are grown in a similar way.

    Citrus plants grown from seeds are better adapted to indoor conditions, more hardy and more viable than cuttings or grafts. Fully fruit-bearing cultivated seedlings grow from the seeds. Their only drawback is that they begin to bear fruit late. nine0003

    Caring for lemon seedlings

    It is not difficult to germinate a lemon from a seed, but it will be more problematic to care for it further. When seedlings appear, the film is gradually removed, accustoming them to the conditions of the room.

    Regular care of homemade lemon means that it is: In hot weather, watering is carried out 3 times a week, in winter it is reduced to 2 times. nine0040

  • Dust citrus leaves every week, spray them regularly with water.
  • Maintenance around the battery requires additional air humidification.
  • Rotate the lemon gradually by 2 cm per month around its axis so that there is no sharp change in the light regime for the leaves.
  • Transplant indoor lemon every year in the spring into a larger pot. You can not immediately plant a plant in a pot that is not the right size.
  • Good gains are obtained by fertilizing with complex fertilizers "Zdraven", "Ideal" or special fertilizers for citrus fruits with the addition of trace elements of zinc, boron, manganese - once every 2 weeks. nine0040

    To prevent a lemon from turning into a wild dense tree, 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, when they reach 18 cm, are pinched. 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 mites, aphids, mealybugs. All these pests feed on the sap of the plant, causing the leaves to dry out and the shoots to bend. nine0003

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

    1. Remove pests from the stem with a soft toothbrush, from the leaves with cotton swabs, previously moistened with a soapy solution of anabazine sulfate.
    2. Rinse the solution from the plant every other day. Repeat treatment after a week.
    3. In case of a large number of pests, treat the tree with infusion of celandine, tobacco, onion peel or Actellik, Ditox, Fitoverm preparations. It is necessary to use preparations for the destruction of pests very carefully, as these are the strongest pesticides. nine0040

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

    Indoor lemon diseases are removed:

    • Cleaning the diseased area, treating with copper sulphate.
    • Covering with RanNet (garden paste putty). nine0040
    • By wiping with a wet cloth (if fungus).
    • Bark and leaf pest control.
    • Top dressing with complex fertilizers to maintain the vitality of the tree.

    For a novice gardener, advice on how to deal with homemade lemon diseases will seem incomprehensible, but there is nothing complicated here. In all specialized stores you will find the proposed preparations, and there are detailed instructions on the packages. If you have specific questions on how to grow a lemon from a stone, how to care for it, feel free to ask them on the flower growers forums. You will definitely be helped! nine0003

    Lemon cuttings for fast fruiting

    Why cuttings? Lemons grown in this way begin to bear fruit faster. The only negative is that the future tree should get used to the changed living conditions.

    If you already have some experience in floriculture, then it will not be difficult to grow a fruit-bearing lemon from cuttings:

    • The best time to germinate roots from cuttings is March-April. Cuttings are taken only from a fruiting lemon. nine0040
    • The landing box is prepared in advance. Make small holes in it. For drainage, washed expanded clay, fragments of brick or gravel are used. Then pour 1.5 cm river sand in layers, 6 cm nutrient mixture, finish with 2 cm sand.
    • Cuttings are harvested from last year's growth. Make an oblique cut, cover it with warm wax or garden pitch. The branches are divided into several parts, 4 buds each.
    • Before planting in the ground, the lower parts of the cuttings are immersed for a day in a solution of heteroauxin. Sprinkled with wood ash, planted in prepared soil at a distance of 15 cm one at a time, leaving 2 buds on the surface. nine0040
    • Press the earth firmly around them, spray with warm water. Create a mini-greenhouse, covering with a film. For better rooting, a little heating from below is necessary.
    • Keep the temperature around the cuttings at about 25°C. At a lower one, the leaves fall off, their condition worsens, the rooting time doubles, the percentage of survival 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, the greenhouse is ventilated. Subject to all conditions, a good root system grows in a lemon in a month. nine0040
    • Rooted cuttings are transplanted one at a time into clay pots using a drainage layer and nutrient soil.

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