How To Grow And Care For A Lemon Tree From Seed

Growing plants from seeds is incredibly satisfying. And when those seeds would otherwise be thrown in the trash, there is something even more pleasurable about nurturing new life. Next time you slice open a lemon and see those small white seeds, picture a tree with handsome foliage and clusters of white flowers, grown from cooking leftovers.

Don’t expect a bounty of lemons. Growing a Lemon tree from seed can take 10 years, and the fruit may not be tasty. But the tree and its flowers are a nice reward instead of supermarket produce. (If you want fruit sooner, choose a tree from a garden center or nursery.) Plant the seeds as soon as possible after cutting them from a lemon, and you’ll be surprised. Inhale the divine scent of those blossoms–a combination of jasmine and citrus. Note that lemon trees are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Plant Attributes

Lemon Tree Care

Before getting started, it is important to temper your expectations regarding fruit. Lemon seeds contain a great deal of genetic diversity and will produce a plant that is different from its parent. The resulting plant may ultimately produce tasty fruits, but chances are the fruit will taste drastically different than what you expect. However, lemon trees grown from seed make beautiful hybrid houseplants with glossy leaves and sweet-scented blooms. The trees won’t grow and fruit the same as their parents. Not knowing what to expect is part of the fun of growing them. Give them a warm, sunny location, and keep the soil moist. Use grow lights to give them sunny conditions, or place them outside in full sun.

Light

Growing seeds and seedlings requires lots of sunlight, six to eight hours of full sun each day. Place containers in an indoor location receiving bright light, such as a south- or west-facing window. Use a grow light indoors to provide sufficient lighting if needed.

Soil

Plant seeds in well-draining soil. The plants do not like soggy soil, which can lead to root rot. Use a cactus or succulent mix that is fast draining, or potting soil with pumice, sand, or perlite added.

Water

Take care to water seedlings and young plants carefully. Lemons require moist soil but should never be soggy. Allow the soil surface to dry between waterings, then water the container deeply. Do not allow pots to sit in trays of water.

Temperature and Humidity

Lemon trees like heat and humidity and don’t do well in colder climates. They do well with indoor temperatures and thrive between 55°F and 85°F. Bring outdoor plants indoors when temperatures take a dip.

Fertilizer

During periods of active growth, typically April through August, apply a fertilizer made for acid-loving plants mixed at half the recommended strength.

Types of Lemon Trees

• Meyer lemon (Citrus x meyeri) trees produce round fruits with thin, soft rinds and a more floral than acidic taste. It is a hybrid between a lemon and sweet orange.

• Eureka lemon (Citrus x limon ‘Eureka’) is a common spreading variety whose fruits are found in supermarkets and are a popular choice to grow at home.

• Lisbon lemon (Citrus x limon ‘Lisbon’) is also widely available in grocery stores and is a vigorous grower that produces fruit several times a year.

Pruning

Young plants may not branch readily. Encourage side branching by cutting the tip off the central shoot and any side branches near the top of the plant. As plants grow, you may notice thorns developing at the nodes, especially on fruiting stems. This is perfectly normal. Thorns can be pruned off if desired. Lemon trees can also be pruned at any time to shape plants.

How To Grow Lemons From Seeds

Lemons grow quite easily from freshly harvested seeds. Unlike vegetable plants, citrus seeds do not tolerate drying out and should be planted as soon as possible. Clean the seeds well to remove any pulp or sugars clinging to the seed coat, as these will encourage disease. Soak seeds overnight in a bowl of water to soften the seed coat and discard any seeds that float. 

Plant seeds 1/4-inch deep in 2- to 3-inch pots containing a slightly acidic, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Use a container with drainage holes to allow excess water to drain away. Water the soil until evenly moistened, then cover pots with plastic to retain moisture until the seeds germinate. Place containers in a warm location, around 70˚F, until the seeds germinate. Monitor soil moisture, keeping it moist but not soggy.

Light is not essential until seedlings emerge, which can take two to three weeks. Once the seeds germinate, remove the plastic covering and move containers to a location receiving bright light, such as a south- or west-facing window. Lemons are well adapted to indoor temperatures and thrive between 55°F and 85°F.

Potting and Repotting Lemon Trees

After your seedling has produced four true leaves, move it into a 4-inch pot. Clay pots are ideal, as they allow excess moisture to evaporate from soils. Deeper containers are preferred to shallow ones. Make sure the pot has drainage holes and use well-draining soil that has been amended with organic matter. Plant the seedling and water it, keeping the soil moist and not soggy. Keep indoors year-round or plant outdoors in zones 9-11. As plants grow, they can be moved into larger containers every one to two years.  

Overwintering

Lemon trees can be brought outdoors to grow on the patio during the summer months, however plants cannot tolerate frosts. Be sure to bring them back indoors when temperatures begin to drop.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Lemon trees aren’t immune to pests and diseases. Mealy bugs, scale insects, mites, aphids, and citrus leaf miner are all attracted to lemon trees. Give your indoor lemon tree humidity to ward off pests, and treat any bugs with horticultural or neem oil.

Common diseases to watch out for include root rot, which can be prevented with well-draining soil and a pot with plenty of drainage holes. Small spots on leaves that enlarge and turn yellow could indicate the plant is affected by citrus canker. Give the infected plant a lot of full sun and treat it with fungicide.

How To Get Lemon Trees To Bloom

Lemon trees can take four to five years to produce flowers, however, the intoxicating fragrance is worth the wait. Flowering plants do not always produce fruit. Outdoors, lemon blooms are pollinated by insects. When grown indoors, lemons may need a bit of help to set fruit. You can hand-pollinate flowers by gently shaking the branches or flicking the flowers with your finger to spread pollen. You can also use a paintbrush to move pollen from flower to flower. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Will dry lemon seeds germinate?

To grow lemons from seeds, the seeds should be soaked and planted as soon as possible. Dry seeds may germinate, but it depends on how much time has passed. If possible, start with fresher seeds, rinse, and soak overnight.

Can you grow Meyer lemons from seed?

These lemons are a hybrid between a lemon and a mandarin orange, so the seeds will not grow into a replica of the parent. These are best propagated by cuttings.

How long do potted lemon trees live?

It takes years for lemon trees grown from seed to mature and produce fruit. The payoff of waiting so long is that they will live for more than 50 years.

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