Q&A for How to Plant a Lemon Seed

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  • Question
    Do lemon trees grow in California?
    Andrew Carberry, MPH
    Food Systems Expert
    Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.
    Food Systems Expert
    Expert Answer
    Yes, lemon trees grow in USDA hardiness Zones 9-11, where the winters don't get too cold.
  • Question
    Which type of climate do they need?
    Community Answer
    Citrus trees generally need a high humidity, ideally with a minimum of around 50-60%. Lemons are generally hardy down to 10°C. Mature trees can stand occasional, brief frosts but still need protection. In terms of moisture, citrus trees should not be over-watered as this can kill the plant. As for light, at least 5 to 6 hours is required for survival, but 8 to12 hours would be better.
  • Question
    Should I be concerned that a wispy film of mold has formed on the surface of the soil around my lemon seedlings?
    Community Answer
    This could be a sign of over-watering, which is a cause for concern. Let the soil dry out between waterings. If the mold gets worse, try moving the seedlings into individual pots that are only a little bit wider and deeper than their root balls.
  • Question
    When should I trim the branches of a lemon tree?
    Community Answer
    Trim them in colder weather. In winter, the lemon tree will have less leaves. If you do this when the plant is bearing fruit or blossoms, it will not encourage the plant to grow.
  • Question
    Is there a variety of lemon tree that does well indoors?
    Community Answer
    Most lemon trees can be kept both indoors and outdoors, but some varieties do better than others indoors, such as: Meyer, Eureka, and Pink Variegated Eureka. If you are buying a tree from a nursery, make sure that it is a dwarf tree. This will ensure that it will always stay small.
  • Question
    How do I plant orange seeds?
    Community Answer
    Try peeling the hard outer cover of the orange seed. This should leave a green embryo covered in a thin dark- brown outer layer. You can plant this straight away (either in some compost or in a resealable bag). Either way, give it a little water, taking care only to make the planting medium moist, not wet, as having a wet medium may make the seed rot. If choosing to use the resealable bag method, pot the seedling up as soon as cotyledon leaves develop, or at the latest, when the first true leaf (this will be more pointy) emerges. The pot into which you sow the seed does not need to contain specialist citrus compost, but try and make soil acidic as orange trees thrive in it.
  • Question
    Why does my lemon tree grow tall, but have a thin trunk after three years?
    Community Answer
    I would prune it. Keep pruning over several seasons and this should divert the tree's energy to thickening the trunk instead of growing the tree taller.
  • Question
    Can lemon trees grow somewhere not very sunny such as in Sweden?
    Community Answer
    They can be grown in a hothouse, but will not survive outside in a cold climate.
  • Question
    How long does it take til the plants bear fruit? Years?
    Community Answer
    Depending on the health and variety of the plant, it can take anywhere from 5 to 15 years for your lemon tree to bear fruit.
  • Question
    Can I put my six month old lemon plant outside in very warm weather?
    Helpet
    Community Answer
    If it is just warm, you are free to place your lemon tree outside. However, if it is humid don't.
  • Question
    Why would one of my lemon trees be smaller than the other when I planted the seeds at the same time and give them the same care?
    Community Answer
    Part of this is random and genetic, although it can be due to watering and sunlight. Make sure the plants are evenly watered and get the same amount of sun throughout the day. As the plants grow, they will start to even out, and if it bothers you too much, you can even them out through pruning after a year or two.
  • Question
    Is it okay if I plant the seeds in a cup?
    Community Answer
    If you add drainage to the bottom, a cup works as well as a pot in most cases.
  • Question
    If my young seedling's leaves are turning brown, can I save them?
    Raladaca
    Community Answer
    This may be a sign of low humidity. If they are still mostly green and healthy, misting them once or twice daily early in the morning and late in the evening should stop further leaf loss. If they are turning yellow first, this could be from too little sunlight or overwatering. Ensure the soil is moist but not soggy, and see that it drains easily. If your seedlings are already very ill, it would likely be better to start over as serious health problems early into a tree's life can lead to poor growth and health when it matures.
  • Question
    How do I prune a tall seedling?
    Community Answer
    Choose how tall you want the tree to be, and chop it off right at that point. It's really very simple.
  • Question
    Will a seed from a store bought lemon work?
    Community Answer
    Yes, as it says in the article.
  • Question
    Can I plant a lime tree with the same method?
    Community Answer
    Yes. You can use this procedure for all the citrus plants.
  • Question
    Can I speed up the time before a lemon plant that I grew from a seed bears fruit?
    Community Answer
    There are some ways, but these often require fake fertilizer and things like that.
  • Question
    Are lemon tree leaves poisonous to animals?
    Community Answer
    No, lemon tree leaves aren't poisonous, and are sometimes used to wrap food.
  • Question
    The lemon tree I started from an organic lemon is a year old and has only the main branch. How do I get it to have more branches?
    Community Answer
    Wait for it to be very tall (twice as tall as you want it), then cut the top half off. Your tree will grow upward, but it also will branch out.
  • Question
    How can I get my lemons to grow faster?
    Raladaca
    Community Answer
    Ensuring your tree has ideal conditions by monitoring the pH, placing it where it will receive full sunshine, and applying regular citrus-friendly fertilizer will encourage the fastest growth. Make sure to prune it after four to five years to encourage even and broad branching.
  • Question
    When sprouting my seeds, can I use regular paper instead of a paper towel?
    Raladaca
    Community Answer
    Paper towels are made to absorb and hold a significant amount of moisture without dissolving or breaking down. Paper that's not designed for similar purposes would likely result in the seedlings drying out as the paper would not able to retain the water they need on a daily basis to germinate.
  • Question
    Can lemon trees grow in humid countries?
    Community Answer
    Yes, they can.
  • Question
    Do I separate each seed/plant per pot when transplanting if using 4 - 5 seeds per pot?
    Community Answer
    You can separate them or leave them together, it does not matter. If left together, the plants have more competition and may not grow as quickly; however, they are less likely to get root rot if grown together, and this kills many citrus trees.
  • Question
    Where can I get lemon plants?
    Raladaca
    Community Answer
    You should be able to purchase a seedling from a nursery. Make sure to check that you currently live in the correct agricultural zone for growing outdoor lemon trees though.
  • Question
    Can lemon trees grow in African countries (like Nigeria)?
    Community Answer
    Yes! However, they would need lots of water and some protection (maybe a screen) to make sure that leaves do not burn in the sun when it is really hot. (This may not be a big problem as lemon trees need a lot of sun to grow well throughout the year.)
  • Question
    Can a lemon plant survive at a temperature of 45C?
    Plmode1
    Community Answer
    No, it will very quickly wilt and die in direct sunlight.
  • Question
    How do I get rid of fungus gnats?
    Community Answer
    To get rid of fungus gnats, spray vinegar and water mixture on the plant once a month.
  • Question
    How much water should I give to a seedling? A few sprays or more?
    Community Answer
    Half a cup is of water is ideal for a seedling.
  • Question
    I just transferred my lemon seeds to a pot after it has sprouted roots, should I water it every day once? Is it necessary to put plastic wrap over the top of the pot?
    amanullahmaryam@gmail.com
    Community Answer
    Water the seed every day once only; you don't need too much water. Seeds are very sensitive, too much water can damage them and too little water can also damage them. If your seed is small and you can't see the green sprout coming out of the pot yet, then only you water it and put the plastic wrap over it so you don't have to water it every day. Once the sprout starts to grow, you can take the plastic wrap off and you can start to water it normally.
  • Question
    How long does it take to grow a lemon tree?
    amanullahmaryam@gmail.com
    Community Answer
    It will take about 3-6 years to make a lemon seed grow. There are specific ways to make it grow healthier along the way. First you need to make sure that when you plant the seed, you need to make sure the outer layer of the seed is off or else the seed won't grow at all because the outer layer is preventing it. Once you take the outer layer out off the seed, put the seed in a paper towel that is wet. once the seed is inside put the towel or tissue in a Ziploc bag and let it grow. A few weeks later, the seed will start to grow and the seed will start to grow a little sprout. once the seed is in that stage you can take the seed and put it in a pot. You have your own lemon pant.
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