Summer is the ideal time to savor the refreshing scent of lemons. How nice would it be to have your own tree and be able to pick your favorite fruit? Luckily, lemon trees are among the easiest citrus fruits to grow in the garden. With a little planning and patience, you can harvest your own lemons.

Growing a small tree from seed and watching it bear fruit is very satisfying and is a great option for anyone who is interested in plants.

Here’s how to grow a lemon from seed in pots! Let’s get started!

To get started, you will need seeds of your favourite potted lemon and fertile soil. Make sure you have an indoor but sunny space and plastic sheeting.

Step 1: Moisten the Soil

Lemon seeds will only begin to germinate when there is adequate moisture. Before planting:

Mix in a small amount of water until the soil feels moist.

Be careful not to create a soil soup.

Use a pot that is not too large.

Step 2: Add the Seeds

Take the largest seed from a ripe lemon and place only one seed per pot on top of the moist soil, covering it with 1-2 cm of soil. Make sure the soil doesn’t reach the pot’s rim, and leave a few inches.

Step 3: Put a Lid on the Pot

Lemon saplings thrive in warm, moist spaces. Cover the pot with a plastic sheet or tarp to keep the humidity and temperature high. You may want to stick pins into the sheet to allow air to pass through easily.

Step 4: Water Regularly

It is essential to keep the soil stick dry and moderately moist. For this reason, it is a good idea to remove the tarp and water them once every 4-5 days.

Step 5: Germination of the Seeds

After about two weeks, you will start to see tiny sprouts coming out of the soil. If you are still using the plastic sheets, it is time to remove it.

Step 6: Growing the Saplings

Place the sapling in a sunny spot, and after about a year it can be planted in the ground; after about two or three years, the fruit production will be poor, so grafting is a good idea.

Potted Lemon Tree

Lemons are a valuable plant to have on your balcony or in your garden. To make it thrive, there are a few things you need to consider. The following tips will help you maximize the chances of your lemon tree’s survival.

Degree of Exposure

The tree must be placed outdoors in a sunny location. Lemon trees are very tolerant of sunlight, and a lack of it will make them more susceptible to disease. A bright area will also increase the chances of the tree producing fruit and being pollinated by bees.

Diseases and Problems

Many pests attack lemon trees. To prevent and combat diseases, it is recommended to treat the tree with white oil every January.

Fertilize

Fertilization is one of the most essential agricultural practices, especially for potted lemons. They need the macro-elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and are vulnerable to iron deficiency.

Provide the Right Temperature

Lemons do not like cold weather, so it is better to move the potted plants to a greenhouse if you live in a cold area. The trees may die if the temperature is below 0 degrees.

Growing lemons from seed take several years before the first fruit is produced, so the quickest way is to graft them onto a plant that will serve as the rootstock or buy a small, grafted sapling.

Have you ever tried growing lemons? Share your experience with us in the comments below!