The process to start your own lemon trees from seeds is much like the process for starting your own apple trees from seeds. The difference is temperature. Apples like it COLD and lemons like it HOT … well, warm, anyway. But before we begin, let me clarify that this was just an experiment! We are aware that these pretty little trees will not produce fruit that is true to the parent (which was never the goal), and in fact, they might not produce at all unless properly grafted. We acknowledge that we still have much to learn about fruit trees, and as we learn more, we will share it with you. I plan to study up on grafting over the winter. Nonetheless, these little trees make lovely house plants and have a pleasant scent. So although they may never produce a thing, they are still fun to have around! Please do not interpret this article to mean more than is intended. Thanks!
Digressing, I did not think to take a lot of photos of the entire process when I did this, because at the time, I wasn’t blogging. However, I will soon go buy some lemons, photograph the process, and edit this post so you can see it as it happens. For now (since I have folks asking), here is what you do:
- Choose ripe, healthy, large lemons. Overripe is actually better than ripe. You want lemons that have had plenty of time develop, large healthy seeds. And do NOT refrigerate the lemons while waiting for you to get to this project … leave them out at room temperature.
- Do not CUT the lemons. Peel them, instead. Separate the sections and feel around until you find all the seeds. If a lemon only has 1-2 seeds or seeds that are just little slivers, that is not good. You want lemons with at least 4-5 large, well developed seeds. I have even been known to go into a restaurant and order ice tea with lemon and if I get a really good, healthy seed … I take it home with me. You just never know until you open a lemon whether it has good seeds or even no seeds.
- When you locate a seed, gently cut the flesh around it to free the seed from the pulp and pith. Save the rest of the pulp for use in your next recipe that calls for lemon juice. (Now you can put them in the fridge!)
- Place the seeds in warm water and rub them around in it a little. They will feel slippery and you want to get most of that off without damaging the seed. Take them out and dry them gently on a paper towel to get the rest of the “slippery” off. You can even leave them sit out on the counter for a day to just dry out a little, but don’t leave them there too long. They need moisture to live.
- Place the seeds on two folded paper towels and wet them … just like you do with apple tree seeds. Slip them into a baggie and seal it.
- Now here is IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE from apple trees. Do NOT put them in the refrigerator. You need a dark, warm spot. Any spot between 75-95 degrees will do nicely. Try the basement on top the water heater or the furnace. You could put them in a heat resistant dish and set them on your fireplace mantle or a heat register (if it’s winter when you do this). The top of your refrigerator may also be warm enough. Or you could do what I did and put them on top of (not inside) your dehydrator. (Inside is a little TOO hot … I would not go over 100 degrees.) Since my dehydrator is running most of the time, it seemed perfect. But any place that is dark and warm will work.
- Then wait … and wait … and wait. Several weeks, in fact. In the meantime, keep them wet, warm, and in the dark. Check on them every couple weeks and sooner or later … you will see a tiny root starting to sprout. You are officially expecting…. a baby …. lemon tree. YAY! Now, just like with apple trees, if they get a little moldy, just change out the paper towel. If they get mushy, toss them. They are dead. Try again.
- When the roots are about the same length as the seed, then it is time to plant. Put them in quality, slightly acidic soil and give them TONS of SUN at this point. No more darkness for these babies. Then you get to wait some more. But a couple weeks later, you will see this:
And about month later, you will see this:
And 9 months later … you will see this: Congratulations! You have a baby lemon tree.
Or, if you were really ambitious and planted more than one, you might see this:
A few things I noted:
- They like to start in January because come March or April, you can put them out for ALL DAY sun right when they are most eager to grow.
- They like a LOT of water and good drainage, too — but not torrential downpours. They are still too tender for that. Bring them in when the weather turns bad.
- Small pots like these are fine for the first year or so, but soon they will need bigger pots. I will likely transplant next spring when it is time for a growth spurt.
- They need to come indoors when the average temperature falls below 60 degrees F. Anything colder than that and they will die really quickly. Put them under artificial light for the 10-12 hours a day they need. Remember, these are tropical plants and they do NOT like winter. Once the last frost has come and gone and average temps stay above 60, put them back outside.
- They do not seem to like terracotta. The two trees you see here in the terracotta pot are only about 2″ tall compared to its brethren of 10″ and they were all planted at the same time. So avoid terracotta.
I keep wondering … and will need to check into this and report … what do I do when these bad boys are 5 feet tall? They are not a “Dwarf” variety, at least, not that I know of. How long can I keep them in pots in Ohio and have any fantasies that they may one day produce? I have no idea. First, I just wanted to know if it could be done. Yes, it can. But second, does this mean I need to build a greenhouse around them? Probably. Another project … another post. Never ends, does it?
Hope this works for you. Let me know how it turns out!
This is very nice and informative, Jo. Thank you for explaining everything so thoroughly. You inspired me on growing my own lemon tree from the seed. However I read that in order for the tree, grown from seed, to produce a fruit, you need to graft it. It will produce fruit sooner. If you don’t graft it, it may not even make fruit or will take much longer (several years more) to make fruit. Have you tried grafting? I would love to see your post on “How to”, if you have.
I am so glad you brought that up, Helen. Thanks! No, I have never done it, but now that you mention it, I guess I need to look into that more deeply. I am certainly no expert in lemon trees, but I do love to experiment, and truth be told, I just wanted to see if it could be done. I had not really thought much beyond that, but thanks to your input, I shall. If nothing else, they will make pretty little house plants for a few years. Right? 😉 When I find out and I actually do it, I will most certainly post on it for you!
Some years ago, I planted lemon, tangerine, grapefruit and orange seeds, more or less the way you describe. It was just a lark for me, I was curious to see if they’d sprout, then if they’d grow, then if they’d bear fruit. The lemons and oranges did grow, but planting from seeds, they had thorns once they got a few feet tall. I didn’t graft anything, just let them go and enjoyed the smell and their gorgeous look.
Today, one grapefruit and one lemon tree are growing at my mother’s house, the grapefruit tree is 40 feet tall or so and she supplies the neighborhood with fresh fruit all summer long. She had the others taken out because we planted them in bad places and they interfered with her pecan trees.
Thanks for your post on planting lemon seeds. I have been wanting to do this. Please post more info as you learn more.
Thanks,
Ann
Good idea, might have to try and grow a lemon tree!
Very interesting! Might just have to give it a try! And if my house is filled with trees, maybe the Husband will just HAVE to agree that we should build a greenhouse!
Very informative post.
Another cute thing one sees on Pinterest a lot these days is the tea cup planted with multiple lemon seeds. It would need to be viewed as a disposable plant (but hey the seeds were diverted from the trash can anyway) as it will outgrow the tea cup. Since they do not grow really fast though one can enjoy it for at least a winter/spring season in a sunny window.
Thanks, Carla for your comment. I have seen the tea cup lemon trees too, and yes, they are really cute and have a nice refreshing scent!
I actually got some good sized seeds, rinsed them under water and just planted in soil and have 3 coming up. I am in the Yukon so will be hard to keep plant growing without grow lamp but like you I just wanted to see if it would start from seed. When it’s bigger if I get that far I will also check out grafting….experiments are fun!
Oh, experimenting really IS fun, isn’t it! And yep, I think you will need a grow light! The Yukon! Wow! A place I have always wanted to see, but somehow I doubt I would survive long. If you are open to an interview about what it is like living in the Yukon, I would love to do a write on it. Email me at jo@homesteadchronicles.com if you are interested.
Thanks for sharing this and explaining so well! I think I will try this soon.
Any ideas for doing strawberries from seed? I have a couple of them I’ve saved.
I wish I did have ideas for that, Renea! I haven’t even figured out yet to harvest strawberry seeds! LOL! Feel free to hook me up with ideas!
Hi: very nice info about growing a lemon tree from a seed. I followed the instructions and the plant grew, and now it’s about 15 inches high in a 4-inch pot with leaves every inch-and-a-half or so. I am going to transplant it into a larger pot. But I’m afraid it’s going to topple over. It seems pretty sturdy but the stem is very thin. Should I put a stick to support it? How should I proceed? I’d hate to lose it as it’s taken since last October to get this far (about 8 months). Thanks.
Hi Paul. Sorry for the delayed response. It has been a busy weekend. Yes, definitely give it some sort of support until such time as it can support itself and keep it relatively shielded from wind. At 15″ tall, I suggest at least a three gallon pot. Be sure to add some compost (about 1 part compost to 3 parts soil) and feed it with a good organic citrus tree food. Let me know how it does! Good luck, Jo
thanks for the advice, will keep you posted.
So Jo, how did your lemon trees turn out. do you have any updated pictures? I have started 4 but only 2 seemed to have germinated. I have about 4 leaves on one and 3 on the other. looking good so far. I started them in peat pellets, but at what point should I transplant them to a good soil / compost mixture?
Tina, my tallest one is now about 4 1/2 feet tall and in a five gallon bucket. Fairly bushy and needs pruning soon, but no fruit yet. I don’t have any updated photos but I can take some next time I am out with the camera. I would transplant you babies into their next pots when they have four leaves and are at least 2-3 inches tall. There is not a lot of nutrition in peat, so upgrade anytime. Use a soil mix designed specifically for citrus trees. They will do better. Thanks for writing in!
any advice on pruning would be great . I have 5 healthy plants about 15″ tall . do i just let it keep growing straight up. at what point does it start branching out. coming across sapling pruning has been tricky.
Thanks
ben
Sorry for my delayed response, Ben … I have not been doing as much blogging lately but hope to pick up soon. So sorry, but I am not the person to ask about pruning. In fact, I need to research that question myself. But when I find out, I will pop back here & share what I learned. Thanks for writing in!
hi
thanks for sharing your experience. I tried to have a lemon tree, but unfortunately they died expect on of them, this one has two dried leaves and I am worry It will die:(.