How to Plant a Lemon Seed
Prepare your potting soil in a separate bucket., Choose a small pot with drainage holes., Fill the pot with soil., Make a ½ inch (1.27 centimeter) deep hole in the soil., Choose a plump-looking seed from a lemon., Wash the seed to get rid of the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Prepare your potting soil in a separate bucket.
Pour some soil into a large bucket and add water to it until it is damp.
Mix the soil with your hand or a trowel until it is evenly damp.
Do not allow the soil to become soggy, or the seeds will rot.
You will need a well-draining soil.
Lemon trees love water, but they hate to sit in it.
Try to get a pasteurized soil mix.
Pasteurization gets rid of any bacteria that can kill seeds.Consider getting a soil that is a blend of peat, perlite, vermiculite, and organic fertilizer.
This will give your seedling proper drainage and nutrients. -
Step 2: Choose a small pot with drainage holes.
The pot should be about 3 to 4 inches (7.62 to
10.16 centimeters) wide, and 5 to 6 inches (12.7 to
15.24 centimeters) deep.This pot will be enough for one seed.
Some people like to plant several seeds in one pot at a time.
If you want to do this too, choose a larger pot.
Your pot must have drainage holes.
If your pot does not have any, you will need to drill some. , Stop when the top of the soil is about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) from the rim., You can do this using your finger or a pencil. , It may be necessary to use an organic lemon because seeds from a non-organic lemon may not sprout.
Also, avoid taking any seeds that look too tiny (like a grain of rice) or that look shriveled (like a raisin).
These seeds either won't sprout or won't grow into healthy seedlings.
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.
Consider taking a Meyer lemon seed.
These do well indoors.
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 fruit at all.
This does not prevent the young tree from being visually pleasing.
Keep this in mind when growing your tree., You can do this by washing the lemon seed or by sucking on it until the coating is gone.
This is important.
The gel-like coating contains sugars, which can cause the seed to rot.Consider leaving the lemon seeds in a cup of warm water overnight.
This will help them sprout faster., 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., Begin by placing a sheet of clear plastic cling wrap over the pot.
Wrap a rubber band around the plastic wrap to secure it to the pot.
Poke a few holes into the plastic wrap.
You can use a pencil, a toothpick, or even a fork.
These holes will allow the plant to breathe. , You can place the pot in a sunny location too, but sunlight is not vital at this point.
In fact, too much sunlight can "cook" the young, delicate seedlings.
You should see a sprout emerge in a about two weeks.The ideal temperature is between 68°F and
82.4°F (20°C and 28°C)., The plastic wrap should trap the moisture, and the condensation should rain down onto the soil, making it damp again.
In very dry environments, this may not happen.
If you see the soil start to become dry, remove the plastic wrap and water the plant.
Be sure to re-cover the pot with the plastic wrap when you are done watering. , Remember to keep the soil damp, but do not let it become soggy.
Click here to learn how to take care of your seedling. -
Step 3: Fill the pot with soil.
-
Step 4: Make a ½ inch (1.27 centimeter) deep hole in the soil.
-
Step 5: Choose a plump-looking seed from a lemon.
-
Step 6: Wash the seed to get rid of the slimy coating.
-
Step 7: Drop the seed into the hole and cover it up.
-
Step 8: Cover the pot with a piece of breathable plastic to trap warmth and moisture.
-
Step 9: Place the pot in a warm location.
-
Step 10: Water the soil when you see it become dry.
-
Step 11: Remove the plastic covering once the sprout appears and transfer the pot to a warm
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Step 12: sunny location.
Detailed Guide
Pour some soil into a large bucket and add water to it until it is damp.
Mix the soil with your hand or a trowel until it is evenly damp.
Do not allow the soil to become soggy, or the seeds will rot.
You will need a well-draining soil.
Lemon trees love water, but they hate to sit in it.
Try to get a pasteurized soil mix.
Pasteurization gets rid of any bacteria that can kill seeds.Consider getting a soil that is a blend of peat, perlite, vermiculite, and organic fertilizer.
This will give your seedling proper drainage and nutrients.
The pot should be about 3 to 4 inches (7.62 to
10.16 centimeters) wide, and 5 to 6 inches (12.7 to
15.24 centimeters) deep.This pot will be enough for one seed.
Some people like to plant several seeds in one pot at a time.
If you want to do this too, choose a larger pot.
Your pot must have drainage holes.
If your pot does not have any, you will need to drill some. , Stop when the top of the soil is about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) from the rim., You can do this using your finger or a pencil. , It may be necessary to use an organic lemon because seeds from a non-organic lemon may not sprout.
Also, avoid taking any seeds that look too tiny (like a grain of rice) or that look shriveled (like a raisin).
These seeds either won't sprout or won't grow into healthy seedlings.
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.
Consider taking a Meyer lemon seed.
These do well indoors.
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 fruit at all.
This does not prevent the young tree from being visually pleasing.
Keep this in mind when growing your tree., You can do this by washing the lemon seed or by sucking on it until the coating is gone.
This is important.
The gel-like coating contains sugars, which can cause the seed to rot.Consider leaving the lemon seeds in a cup of warm water overnight.
This will help them sprout faster., 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., Begin by placing a sheet of clear plastic cling wrap over the pot.
Wrap a rubber band around the plastic wrap to secure it to the pot.
Poke a few holes into the plastic wrap.
You can use a pencil, a toothpick, or even a fork.
These holes will allow the plant to breathe. , You can place the pot in a sunny location too, but sunlight is not vital at this point.
In fact, too much sunlight can "cook" the young, delicate seedlings.
You should see a sprout emerge in a about two weeks.The ideal temperature is between 68°F and
82.4°F (20°C and 28°C)., The plastic wrap should trap the moisture, and the condensation should rain down onto the soil, making it damp again.
In very dry environments, this may not happen.
If you see the soil start to become dry, remove the plastic wrap and water the plant.
Be sure to re-cover the pot with the plastic wrap when you are done watering. , Remember to keep the soil damp, but do not let it become soggy.
Click here to learn how to take care of your seedling.
About the Author
Zachary Myers
Brings years of experience writing about cooking and related subjects.
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