How to Grow a Lemon Tree from Seed: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

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Your complete guide to lemon seed germination, care, and pest control
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When life gives you lemons, grow a lemon tree! Lemons are super easy to grow from seeds, and they turn into a beautiful plant that may even produce some yellow-hued citrus fruits somewhere down the line! Follow this complete guide to grow your lemon seeds into trees: from planting the seeds to caring for the sprouts and transplanting the tree as it continues to grow with expert tips from plant specialist Mark Leahy.

Quick Steps to Plant a Lemon Seed

  1. Remove seeds from a lemon fruit and rinse them off.
  2. Soak the seeds in water overnight.
  3. Cut off the end of each seed and gently remove the outer seed layer.
  4. Fill a small plastic pot or seed tray with well-draining potting soil.
  5. Plant the seeds 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep into the soil.
  6. Water the seeds thoroughly and keep them in warm conditions to germinate.
Section 1 of 5:

How to Plant Lemon Seeds

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  1. The steps throughout this guide will apply to pretty much any type of lemon seed, so choose the lemon that you’re most interested in growing! Consider size, flavor, and whether you want an ornamental or culinary lemon. Then, you can just pick out your preferred lemon from the supermarket or nursery—look for a fruit with a full, mature appearance that’s free of blemishes, cuts, and bruises. Here are some of the most common types of lemons you can grow at home. [1]
    • Eureka lemons: The standard grocery market lemon. Large fruit with a tart flavor. Great for juicing. Grows flowers nearly year-round.
    • Lisbon lemons: Produces highly acidic fruits that are often sold in grocery stores. Excellent for juicing. Produces fruits several times a year.
    • Meyer lemons: Hybrid between lemon and sweet orange. Produces small, round fruits with a sweet floral taste (not so acidic or sour).
    • Variegata (pink) lemons: Mutant of the Eureka lemon. Produces fruits with pink pulp (similar to a grapefruit) and yellow-green stripes on the rind.
  2. Peel your lemon like an orange—rather than slicing it—to avoid piercing the seeds inside. Then, use your hands to pull apart the individual wedges of the lemon. Remove any intact seed that you want from your lemon and place it in a cup of water. [2]
    • Consider planting 5 to 10 lemon seeds at one time, in case some of the seeds don't sprout or don't make it past seedling-hood.
    • Keep in mind that trees that come from seeds are not identical to the parent tree that they came from. Sometimes, the fruit that the new saplings produce is of a lesser quality. Other times, they do not produce edible fruit at all, but they’ll still be visually pleasing.
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  3. Place the lemon seed (or seeds) in a bowl of water to soften the seed coat. Let the bowl sit for 1-3 days, then remove your seed from the bowl. Rinse off the seed, remove any residual lemon pulp, and pat dry with a paper towel. Clip off the end of the seed with a pair of nail clippers or a small pair of scissors. Use your fingernails to carefully remove the outermost layer of the seed. [3]
    • If your seed is floating in the water, it’s gone bad. Choose a different seed to plant or start the process over.
  4. Fill a seed tray or small plastic pot with well-draining potting soil. Gingerly water the soil so that it’s moist but not soaking wet. Use your finger or pencil to gently poke a 1 inch (2.5 cm) hole in the soil. [4] Plant your seed in the hole, then cover it with soil.
    • Make sure that the pointy tip is pointing downward into the soil and the rounded part is pointing upward towards you. The roots will come out of the pointy part.
  5. Water your planted seeds again so that the soil is moistened all the way through but not soaking. Put your plant in a warm, well-lit location—if you’re growing your lemon seed inside, you can use a horticultural heating mat and grow lights to help the seeds germinate and grow quickly.
    • The ideal temperature is between 68°F and 82.4°F (20°C and 28°C). [5]
  6. Once your seedling has produced three sets of genuine leaves, transplant it to a larger and more permanent container with drainage holes. Choose a pot that’s about 3 to 4 inches (7.62 to 10.16 centimeters) wide and 5 to 6 inches (12.7 to 15.24 centimeters) deep. [6]
    • Fill the pot with lightweight and well-draining potting soil or add pumice, perlite, or sand to a standard soil mix to help with draining. Stop when the top of the soil is about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) from the rim.
    • Gently move the seedlings from their starting container to the larger pot.
    • Avoid peat moss and peat-based soils for lemon trees. Peat retains too much water and may encourage root rot.
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Grow & Care for Lemon Trees

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  1. As your seedling begins to grow into a tree, make sure it’s getting at least 6-8 hours of sun or light each day. If you’re planting your lemon tree outside, keep it in an area with full sun. If you’re planting your lemon tree inside, Leahy advises to keep it in a “sunny room” in “direct sun.” Ideally, your lemon tree pot will be near a south-facing, sunny window—but you can also use grow lights to supplement the natural light.
  2. Lemon seeds need plenty of heat and humidity as they work to grow into trees . Keep the seedlings or growing trees indoors at a temp between 55-85°F (12-29ºC). Or, keep them outside if you live in a warm environment but bring them indoors when the temperatures drop. [7]
  3. Lemon trees need water like any other plant, but they can easily rot or become diseased if given too much, so you should “leave them to dry out between watering schedules,” says Leahy. Rather than sticking to a weekly schedule, check for when your lemon tree’s soil becomes dry and water it then—Leahy goes on to explain that the plant needs to be on the drier side before you give it more water.
    • Wait until the soil is on the “dry side of moist” or when the soil is just barely moist. When it’s time to water, water until the soil is thoroughly and evenly moistened.
    • If you’re growing your lemon tree outdoors, make sure that the tree is planted in an area that won’t retain moisture for an extended period of time after rainfall.
  4. During the lemon tree’s growing season (the summer), treat it with an all-purpose fertilizer with micronutrients or a fertilizer made specifically for lemon trees. Follow your fertilizer’s package directions to learn how often you should be fertilizing your tree. [8]
    • Fertilizing your lemon tree will encourage the tree to bloom and produce fruit.
  5. If your young lemon tree isn’t branching on its own, cut off the tips of the central shoot and any side branches around the top of the plant. You can also prune your tree at any time to shape it, although this type of pruning is up to your preferences—this step is not necessary for the growth of the plant. [9]
    • You may notice some thorns developing on the nodes of your lemon tree as it grows. You can prune off thorns if desired, but you don’t have to by any means.
  6. When your young lemon tree is still growing, repot it every two years during springtime. Remove the lemon tree from its container and place it in a new one that’s about 1–2 inches (25–51 mm) wide in diameter. Add more well-draining potting soil to the new container as needed and water the soil thoroughly. [10]
    • If you’d like to reuse the same pot, you’ll have to prune the roots of your lemon tree first—although this may limit its growth. Use pruners or a small hand saw to cut 1 ⁄ 3 – 2 ⁄ 3 inch (8.5–16.9 mm) off of the root ball. Place fresh potting soil into the container and replant the tree.
    • Mature lemon trees (7-15 years old) only need to be repotted every 3-4 years.
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Section 3 of 5:

How to Bloom & Harvest Lemons from a Lemon Tree

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  1. After 4-5 years, your lemon tree should start producing fragrant flowers. If your tree is inside, you can attempt to hand-pollinate the flowers by gently shaking the branches or flicking the flowers with your finger. However, most lemon trees will not produce fruit until fully mature—about 7-15 years after planting from seed. [11]
    • If your lemon tree is producing fruit, look for citruses that are firm and bright yellow in color. You should be able to easily harvest these lemons by clipping them off the tree with a pair of scissors.
    • Ripe lemons can typically last for up to a few months on a tree, so you don’t need to worry too much about them rotting on the plant.
Section 4 of 5:

Handling Problems with Lemon Trees

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  1. Common lemon tree pests include mealy bugs, spider mites, and scale insects. Other pests that may affect your tree include aphids, mites, and white flies. These pests are more likely to appear on a lemon tree if it’s kept indoors or if it’s not kept in humid enough conditions. [12] For an easy fix against pests, dampen a cotton round with rubbing alcohol and dab it onto the bugs themselves. Or, douse them with an organic pesticide like neem oil , insecticidal soap , or pyrethrin . [13]
    • Follow package instructions for each of these products, and never spray them when the tree has beneficial insects around it, like bees, ladybugs, flies, parasitic wasps, dragonflies, and lacewings.
    • Scale insects can be slightly more difficult to treat. Try simply wiping away the scale with your fingers or removing them with a strong spray of water.
    • If your scale outbreak is particularly bad, you can use certain chemicals to treat it. However, this may affect whether or not you can eat your lemons later on. [14]
  2. Root rot is one of the most frequent issues when growing lemon trees from seed. Common signs of root rot include stunted growth, yellowing leaves, twig dieback, and dried-out wood. If you see these signs of root rot on your lemon tree, it’s likely suffering from poor drainage. Make sure your pot or container has drainage holes and is filled with well-draining soil. If your tree is planted outside, make sure it’s in a well-draining location. [15]
    • If you notice small spots on your leaves that enlarge and turn yellow, your plant may have a citrus canker . Give the tree full sun and treat it with a fungicide . [16]
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Section 5 of 5:

Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Lemon Trees

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  1. Yes, you can grow lemons from lemon seeds—but it may take years to see fruit. Growing a lemon tree from seed is a super fun project and a cost-effective way to add color to your home and flavor to your dishes! However, growing lemons from lemon seeds can take a long time—it may take up to 10-15 years for your tree to grow, mature, and bear fruit. [17]
  2. Lemon trees can grow indoors anywhere if they get the requisite amount of light and warmth. If grown outdoors, lemon trees can grow anywhere where the temperature remains well above freezing for most of the year, although they do best in tropical climates. [18]
  3. After five years of consistent growing, lemon trees can grow up to 20 feet (6.1 m) tall outdoors. Indoor lemon trees, on the other hand, usually grow to about 6 feet (1.8 m). [19]
  4. Lemon trees usually produce fruit by the fifth year when planted outside, but indoor trees may set fruit as early as year three. However, some lemon trees may not bear fruit for up to 7-15 years, or they may produce fruit that’s not fit for consumption. [20]
  5. Dry seeds can germinate, but it depends on how much time has passed since they’ve been collected. For a better chance at germination, start with fresh seeds that have been rinsed and soaked overnight before immediate planting. [21]
  6. Potted lemon trees have an extremely long lifespan and can live for more than 50 years. This range of life makes it well worth it to grow a lemon tree from seed—a process that can take up to 15 years. [22]
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Expert Q&A

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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.
    Andrew Carberry, MPH
    Food Systems Expert
    Expert Answer
    Yes, lemon trees grow in USDA hardiness Zones 9-11, where the winters don't get too cold.
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      Tips

      • Sometimes, a single seed will produce several seedlings. If you notice this happening, wait until each seedling has about four leaves. Then, pull the seedlings out of the soil and carefully pull them apart. Place each seedling into its own pot. In the case of two seedlings, one of them is likely to grow into the "true" plant and will be identical to the parent plant. The other may be a special cross resulting in a unique fruit. [23]
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      • Some people find that lemon trees do not do well in terracotta, as they dry out more quickly, and the clay may alter the nutrients and pH of the soil. You might want to avoid terracotta altogether or coat the inside so that it doesn't soak up the much-needed moisture.
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      • Consider keeping five seedlings in the same pot. This will give you a larger, fuller plant to look at. It will also help prevent over-watering. When the seedlings get big enough, you can move them to separate pots.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • If you're using the baggie-sprouting method, plant the seeds into plastic cups before transplanting them into big pots. Make sure to put drainage holes in these plastic cups!
      • You'll likely have more success growing a lemon tree if you live in a warm environment (or have a warm environment to grow your tree in, like a greenhouse).
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.tastingtable.com/906950/types-of-lemons-and-what-makes-them-unique/
      2. ↑ https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=48899
      3. ↑ https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=48899
      4. ↑ https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=48899
      5. ↑ http://joybileefarm.com/meyer-lemon-tree/
      6. ↑ https://practicalselfreliance.com/growing-lemon-trees-from-seed/
      7. ↑ https://www.pennington.com/all-products/fertilizer/resources/how-to-grow-and-care-for-an-indoor-lemon-tree
      8. ↑ https://www.pennington.com/all-products/fertilizer/resources/how-to-grow-and-care-for-an-indoor-lemon-tree
      9. ↑ https://www.pennington.com/all-products/fertilizer/resources/how-to-grow-and-care-for-an-indoor-lemon-tree
      1. ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/how-grow-lemon-trees-complete-guide
      2. ↑ https://www.pennington.com/all-products/fertilizer/resources/how-to-grow-and-care-for-an-indoor-lemon-tree
      3. ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/how-grow-lemon-trees-complete-guide
      4. ↑ https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/neemgen.html
      5. ↑ https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/scale-control/
      6. ↑ https://theplantgallery.com/how-to-fix-and-prevent-root-rot/
      7. ↑ https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/citrus-diseases/citrus-canker
      8. ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/how-grow-lemon-trees-complete-guide
      9. ↑ https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-grow-lemons
      10. ↑ https://www.pennington.com/all-products/fertilizer/resources/how-to-grow-and-care-for-an-indoor-lemon-tree
      11. ↑ https://practicalselfreliance.com/growing-lemon-trees-from-seed/
      12. ↑ https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2000/040800.html
      13. ↑ https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/life/home-garden/2023/04/06/people-and-their-potted-citrus-trees-share-a-bond-that-lasts-decades/70045640007/
      14. ↑ http://joybileefarm.com/meyer-lemon-tree/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To plant a lemon seed, first cut open a plump, juicy lemon and extract the seeds from the pulp. Choose an undamaged seed and rinse it under cool water. Then, find a small pot with drainage holes on the bottom and fill it with pasteurized soil mix. Push your seed ½ inch (1 cm) below the surface. Lightly moisten the soil with lukewarm water and cover the top of the pot with plastic wrap to help the soil retain its moisture. Place the pot in a warm spot that gets indirect sunlight. Lightly water your lemon seed every day to keep the soil moist but not soaked. Once seedlings appear, move the pot into direct sunlight and take the plastic wrap off. Transfer the seedling to a large pot or well-draining area in your yard when the first leaves appear. If possible, do this in the spring right before the growing season. Keep your lemon tree indoors if your local temperature ever drops below 45°F (7°C). Water the plant as needed to keep the soil moist, but not soaked. Fertilize the soil once a month between April and August with a water-soluble fertilizer that’s high in potassium and nitrogen to encourage growth. Keep reading to learn how to sprout seeds in a plastic bag!

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