Some citruses are harder to grow at home than others, but fortunately, lemon can be quickly raised even on your balcony or in the backyard.
When you produce your own fruit, you will notice the difference in taste and flavor, and you’ll be able to avoid using all those chemicals used in conventional crops. Here are some instructions on how to grow your lemons.
We recommend purchasing a young tree (2-3 years) for the best chance of fruition.
Buy a clay or a timber pot (when the lemon will grow, you will need a container at least 30-40 cm deep and with a diameter of 43-50 cm).
Put the tree in the pot and fill the drainage area with stones for sufficient air circulation.
Fill the pot with soil, but do not forget that there is a specially designed soil for citruses, which can increase your chances of success. For early fruiting, the lemon tree is likely to require grafting.
These are the main preparations.
The tree needs 8-10 hours of solar light daily, regularly water (but not too much). It is preferable that the lemon tree is exposed to as much natural light as possible, preferably on the balcony or in the garden because they need plenty of fresh air.
Lemons usually need 6-9 months to be riped; when they get their distinctive color and are quite soft to the touch- then they are ready.
Lemons are among the top plants that can be grown at home because of their unique fragrance and the delicate white flowers.
Lemon Trees Can Be Grown From Seeds
Here’s what you need in this case:
- An organic lemon (non-organic lemons do not have seeds that can sprout)
- Fertile soil, preferably with vermiculite, peat, perlite and natural fertilizers (organic compost)
- A pot for planting (15 cm wide and 15 cm deep)
- A bowl for the fruitfulness period (60 cm wide and 30 cm deep)
- A sunny location and/possibly a lamp for growth
Here are the steps:
- Open up a lemon and remove a pip. Remove all the pulp to reduce the risk of rotting.
- You can keep the seed overnight in a cup of warm water to make sure is clean, and at the same time is not dry.
- You have to plant it immediately (it must not dry). The lemon stone must be wet when put in the soil. Plant it about in the middle of the pot.
- Use a spray bottle to sprinkle the soil directly above the kernel.
- Cover the bowl with river pebbles.
- Place the bowl in a warm, bright place
- Sprinkle with water from time to time. The soil must be kept moist, do not excessively soak.
In about two weeks you should see a young shoot.
If this does not happen and you notice that the plant does not have enough light, place a growth lamp to supplement the sunlight.
Note:
- The plant must have wet soil and at least 8 hours of daily light and must be given moderate doses of organic fertilizers every week.
- Be aware of insects and diseases that can attack the plant. Protect the young lemons by removing the yellow leaves.
- When the plant grows and no longer fit in the pot, move it in the bigger pot. Transfering the plant from one container to another is very similar to the process used at first planting.
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