How to grow a lemon from a seed at home and the rules of care
Many people wonder how to grow a lemon from seed at home. To achieve a good effect and get a strong fruiting plant, first of all, it is worth choosing the planting material correctly. Proper care is also important, including timely watering, fertilizing and pruning plants. It is also important to protect the crop from diseases and pests.
Crop Description
Indoor lemon is an evergreen perennial crop that has powerful prickly branches. The tops of the shoots have a purple-violet tint.The leaves have a leathery structure and an elongated oval shape. They are covered with numerous glands in which the essential oil is present. The life of each sheet is 2-3 years.
It takes about 5 weeks for the buds of the tree to develop. After flowering, the flowers live 7-9 weeks. They have a pleasant aroma. It takes 9 months for the fruit to ripen from the time the ovary is formed to full maturity.
Indoor cultivation produces egg-shaped fruits that have a nipple at the top. They are covered with a bumpy yellow skin and have a strong aroma. The pulp of the fruit has a greenish-yellow tint. It's quite juicy and sour. The seeds are white and ovoid. A dense shell covers them from above.
Popular varieties
Houses are usually planted with low or medium-sized varieties. There are many varieties of cultivation, which have different sizes, forms of crowns, qualities.
Pavlovsky
This variety is most often used for home cultivation. The tree grows 1.5-2 meters and has a compact crown. The plant bears 20 to 40 fruits per year. They taste good.
Often the fruit of this lemon is seedless. However, fruits with 10 to 20 seeds are sometimes found. The fruits are covered with a smooth shiny skin, the thickness of which does not exceed 5 millimeters. The fruit reaches 10 centimeters in length and weighs up to 150 grams.
Meyer
This plant is considered a hybrid of lemon and orange. It is a tree that reaches a height of 1.5 meters. The plant is characterized by a dense spherical crown. The fruits reach 150 grams and are covered with a thin orange peel. Inside there is a slightly acidic pulp. The variety is considered high yielding and early ripening.
Panderosa
This plant is considered a lemon-lemon hybrid.The plant is considered unpretentious and is characterized by resistance to heat and dry weather. The culture reaches 1.8 meters in height and has a spreading crown. The fruits have a round, oval crown and weigh up to 500 grams. A thick yellow crust covers them from above. The variety is picky about soil composition.
Lunario
This ornamental plant has a high yield. It is a hybrid of lemon and papeda. The trees reach a maximum of 0.5 meters and are covered with numerous thorns. The fruits are elongated and covered with a smooth skin. Inside there is a slightly juicy greenish pulp.
Lisbon
It is a Portuguese lemon that grows quickly. The tree reaches a height of 2 meters. It has a dense crown and strong branches with many thorns. The tree produces up to 60 fruits per year, which weigh about 150 grams. The fruits are distinguished by a standard oval shape and thick skin. Inside is sour pulp.
Maykop
The plant reaches 130 centimeters and is considered very unpretentious. It is characterized by excellent performance. The fruits weigh 150 grams and are oval in shape. A thin and shiny crust is present on the top.
Genoa
This variety was obtained thanks to the efforts of Italian breeders. In height, it reaches 130 centimeters. The crown is dense and has practically no thorns. The plant has small fruits that reach 120 grams. The tree produces up to 180 lemons a year.
Anniversary
The variety was developed in Uzbekistan. The hybrid is considered very unpretentious. It is characterized by shade tolerance and early maturity. The plant is characterized by large, round-shaped fruits.They are covered with a thick skin on top and weigh around 500 grams.
Villa Franca
This American variety tree can reach 130 centimeters in length and has many emerald leaves. The fruits are oval in shape and have a smooth surface. There is a pleasant pulp inside and a dense crust on top. Lemons weigh about 100 grams.
Large-fruited Irkutsk
This is a relatively new variety. It is a medium-sized tree that does not require shaping. The fruits have a medium skin thickness and are covered with a bumpy skin. Lemons weigh up to 700 grams. However, there are also larger specimens - up to 1.5 kilograms.
Kursk
This Russian variety is considered fast growing. It is distinguished by drought tolerance, comparative cold hardiness and excellent yield parameters. The culture reaches 180 centimeters. The fruits have a thick skin and weigh about 130 grams.
Commune
This Italian variety is very popular because it is considered very fruitful. The plant is medium in size and has large oval fruits. Inside there is a fragrant and tender pulp. The top of the fruit is covered with a bumpy skin.
Novogruzinsky
It is a young variety with excellent yields. The trees reach 2 meters and have a spreading crown with many thorns. The fruits are round in shape and reach 150 grams. With good care, 100-200 fruits can be harvested from 1 tree.
Growth
There are many things to consider when growing a lemon tree yourself.
Seat selection
First of all, it is worth choosing the right place for the lemon tree. It must be sufficiently lit. In this case, the light must be diffused. An adult plant does not fit on a window. Therefore, it is moved to another location.
It is important that the plant remains in the same place at all times. Do not overheat the installation, so it should be kept away from the batteries.
How to choose a container for planting
The pot can be ceramic, plastic or wooden. A mature tree needs a cone-shaped container. The main rule when growing lemon is high-quality drainage.
How to choose and prepare planting material correctly
To grow a lemon, you need to choose straight seeds without damage. It is recommended to immerse them in a growth stimulator for 12 hours before planting. To do this, 1 drop of Zircon or Kornevin should be mixed with a glass of water. Performing this procedure helps to increase germination.
Soil composition requirements for home crops
Loose nutrient soil is suitable for growing seedlings. It is allowed to plant seeds in a purchased substrate. You can also prepare the lemon mixture yourself. For this, humus and leafy earth are mixed in equal parts. Then sand and peat are added to the composition.
Landing characteristics
The bone should be placed in the ground for a maximum of 2 centimeters. It is recommended to cover the container with a film on top. The temperature should be at least +18 degrees. It is recommended to use a spray gun to moisten the floor.
To grow a tree, the shoots must be moved to a permanent place after the appearance of 3-4 leaves. This is done in several steps:
- Water the plant thoroughly and gently turn the pot over. Remove the sprout from the container.
- Loosen the piece of land.
- Sprinkle the roots with a special growth stimulant.
- Place the lemon in a new pan and sprinkle with soil.
- Shake the container to settle the soil.
- Water the plant thoroughly.
- Dust the leaves and move the plant to a shady spot.
How to take care
Growing a hardy plant that will give good yields requires quality care.
Lighting and temperature
In order for the tree to develop well, it is recommended to provide it with good lighting. There is usually enough daylight during the summer. In autumn and spring, the lemon needs artificial lighting, which is used for 10-12 hours.It should be remembered that the lemon needs a sufficiently high temperature at the level of + 25-27 degrees. At the same time, direct sunlight should not fall on it. Otherwise, there is a risk of plant death.
Humidity and watering
Lemon needs high humidity. This parameter should reach 70-80%. Indoor plants normally perceive irrigation from the crown. It is advisable to take a shower at least twice a month. In addition, the plant should be watered quite often. For this, it is recommended to use settled water. It is necessary to moisten the soil as soon as its surface dries.
It is important to ensure that the roots do not open under water pressure when watering.
Top dressing and fertilization
In order for the tree to bear fruit well, it is recommended to periodically fertilize it. To do this, it is worth using formulations intended for indoor plants. Rainbow medicine is good. In this case, it is worth remembering the sense of proportion. Too much fertilizer often causes plant death.
Transfer
The plant needs frequent transplants. To avoid damage to the root system, the procedure must be carried out very carefully.
Causes
This procedure ensures the full development of the root system and activates the growth of the ground part of the plant.
How to transplant
It is recommended to plant an adult plant in a new pot every 2 years. For young trees, the procedure is carried out annually. It is best to do this in the summer. If you need to move the lemon in winter, it should be done in February.
Diseases and pests
The plant often encounters various diseases and pests. To deal with it, you need to establish the reasons for the appearance in time.
Gomoz
When infected with an infection, the branches become covered with reddish-brown spots. Gradually the bark dies off and a dark orange sticky liquid appears from the cracks. The causes of the problems are a lack of phosphorus or an excess of nitrogen. High humidity and poor quality drainage also lead to homoz.
Removal of the affected fragments and treatment with copper sulfate at a concentration of 3% will help solve the problem.
Root rot
Pathology causes damage to the roots, which leads to leaf fall. If you suspect the development of a disease, the lemon is removed from the pot and the roots are examined. After that, it is worth removing the affected fragments and treating healthy roots with a growth stimulant. Then the tree must be replanted.
In order for the lemon to recover, it must provide minimal watering and sufficient lighting. The leaves must be wiped systematically.
sooty mushroom
With the development of the disease, the stems and leaves become covered with dark spots. The cause of the problems is the lesion of the lemon to the scabbard. The parasites produce a sweet liquid on which the fungi settle. The soap solution will help to cope with the problem. To achieve this, take 2 tablespoons of liquid soap for 1 liter of water.The plant should be wiped and rinsed after 1 hour. Perform the procedure for 2 days.
Scabies
When a disease occurs, the leaves become covered with yellow spots, which gradually turn into pink-gray formations. In this case, the fruits are covered with orange spots. Damaged fragments should be removed, and the upper part of the tree should be treated with a liquid Bordeaux solution at a concentration of 1%.
Anthracnose
With the development of the disease, the buds fall off and the shoots die. Damaged fragments must definitely be cut.
Sadness
This is a viral infection that causes the bark to die. It is not possible to cure the disease. Such a tree should be removed.
sheet mosaic
With the development of the disease, the foliage of the tree becomes covered with characteristic patterns. It is impossible to cope with the infection. However, careful maintenance will help reduce the severity of foliage damage.
citrus cancer
This disease causes dark brown spots to appear on the leaves. Pathology cannot be cured. It quickly causes the death of plants.
Aphid
These pests cause the destruction of the upper fragments of young shoots. To prevent the active spread of pests, it is recommended to place the lemon near the geranium.
Spider
Insect larvae damage the inner surface of the leaves. Gradually, the cobweb affects the whole plant. To cope with the problem, the lemon must be treated with special solutions. Actellik with a concentration of 0.15% is suitable for this purpose.
Melseco
With the development of the disease, the shoots dry up and the leaves fall off. The problem is caused by the lack of lighting. It is impossible to cure the disease. If the condition of the tree does not improve, it must be destroyed.
Rules of size and regularity
The lemon must be systematically cut. When forming a crown, one should consider the purpose of growing a crop. If it is necessary to get an ornamental plant, the crown is made compact. To obtain a harvest, pruning is done differently. A fruiting lemon needs a certain amount of main branches and growing shoots. The formation of the crown is carried out by pinching.
If this procedure is neglected, the branches of the tree will become too long. In this case, shoots of 3-4 orders of magnitude, on which fruits appear, are formed too slowly.
Crown formation
In order for the lemons to be complete, it is necessary to properly shape them. To grow a culture with a lush crown, it is recommended to cut the apical shoot. Thus, it will be possible to stimulate the formation of side branches. The procedure should be carried out in the first year of life of lemons.
For the symmetrical development of the crown, it is recommended to systematically rotate it around its axis. This is done by a quarter. Subsequently, this will have a beneficial effect on the quantity and quality of the fruit.
Bloom
If a young plant begins to bloom in the first year of life, the buds should be removed. Otherwise, all the strength of the plant will be spent on flowering, which will lead to its wilting. Flowering is allowed when there are at least 7 pairs of leaves per 1 flower bud.
Why doesn't it bloom and bear fruit
It often happens that the lemon tree does not form flowers and does not bear fruit. In such a situation, it is important to establish the causes of the problems.
Incorrect graft
In this case, there is a risk of falling leaves, lack of flowers and fruits. To avoid such problems, you must clearly follow the technique of the procedure.
Bad watering
Excess moisture leads to the fact that the rhizome cannot absorb liquid due to swelling of the soil. As a result, the roots begin to rot, and the ovaries fall off. If the lemons do not fall, they will be small and bitter.
Lack of sun
The lack of sunshine leads to a delay in the development of the lemon. It is not necessary to count on full flowering or fruiting under such conditions.
Unsuitable ground
For a lemon transplant, experienced florists advise using special drained soil. With the wrong choice of soil, it is difficult to hope for the normal development of the culture.
stressful situations
Unfavorable external factors are reflected in the state of culture in different ways. She may feel threatened and activate. In such a situation, you can count on a bountiful harvest. However, situations often arise when stressors lead to the absence of a fetus.
the reproduction
There are many ways to propagate a lemon. This allows each grower to choose the appropriate method.
Seed method
This is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to propagate lemons. It's affordable.
However, it will be possible to harvest from a tree grown from a stone only 10-12 years after planting.
Cuttings
This method of reproduction can be used in spring or summer. To implement it, you need to do the following:
- Use a sharp knife to cut a stem with 3-4 leaves.
- Soak it in a growth activator and let it sit for 12 hours.
- Transplant into prepared sandy soil.
- Sprinkle with plenty of water and cover with aluminum foil.
- When young shoots appear, the film can be removed. The plant must receive quality care.
Vaccination
Indoor lemons are often propagated by cleft grafting. This technique gives good results. To begin with, it is worth growing the stock for 1.5-2 years. Then you need to make a slit on the rootstock, put a rod in it and wrap the grafting area with foil. After 45-60 days it can be removed.
How to choose a lemon tree in a store
When choosing a seedling, first of all you need to pay attention to the roots. Preference should be given to a plant with a more developed root system. It is not recommended to grow plants with dried and felled roots. When choosing a lemon, it is worth asking about the availability of the vaccine.
It is not recommended to buy an old tree that may not take root in the new environment.
Harvest and storage
Lemons ripen at different times. It is therefore recommended to harvest them as they mature. Some varieties can be kept on the tree for 3 years. It is recommended to store cut fruit in the refrigerator.
Tips & Tricks
To achieve good lemon development and abundant fruiting, you must follow certain recommendations:
- Water the tree only with lukewarm, settled water. You can also use melt water or rainwater. However, it must be at room temperature.
- In the first months of life, you should not try to feed the plant. It can dry out quickly.
- It is important to protect the plant from sudden temperature fluctuations. Otherwise, it may wither, turn yellow, lose its leaves.
- In the fall, it is worth reducing the frequency of watering.It is recommended to moisten the soil while the top layer dries.
- It is important to get rid of damaged shoots in time. This will help to avoid rotting processes and prevent infection of the culture.
The lemon tree can be grown from seed. To do this, you need to choose the right seed and prepare it for planting work. After emergence, it is important to ensure quality watering, pruning and fertilizing.