Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:16 pm
The lemon: the path from the core to the tree
In order for it to grow healthy and strong and produce lots of lemons, you need to repot your lemon tree and give it new soil. With these 3 simple steps, it’s guaranteed to work. We’ll show you how to do it and what to look out for.
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Grow a lemon tree: That’s what you need
To grow lemon trees, we need lemon seeds, of course. Most of the time we throw the lemon seeds in the trash, but with a little love and patience they can grow into a beautiful lemon tree. Since lemon trees are not hardy and like it nice and warm, they need to be grown indoors. Also, lemons like it as bright as possible. If you don’t have a bright window or warm greenhouse available, you can also help with a plant lamp.
The lemon seeds should be as fresh as possible when sowing. Therefore, to get the seeds, you can simply buy an organic lemon at the supermarket the next time you go shopping. Make sure that the fruit is properly ripe and has no mold spots. In addition to the lemon seeds, you will need peat-free potting soil and some sand, a spray bottle, a small growing tray with a cover and ventilation slits, and some lemon juice. The growing tray should have a diameter of at least 15 cm.
- Fresh lemon
- Growing soil & sand
- Spray bottle
- Growing tray with cover and at least 15 cm in diameter
- Small knife
Prepare lemon seeds
Cut the lemon in half and remove the seeds with a small knife or fork. Then place them in a strainer and wash the pulp thoroughly under the tap.
Then place the seeds in a glass and squeeze the juice from the lemon. Pour the lemon juice into the jar until the seeds are completely covered and leave them in it for two to three days. If the liquid is not enough, you can continue to fill the jar with a little lukewarm water. Soaking will help the lemon seeds germinate better later.
Sowing lemon seeds
Once the seeds are soaked, you can continue. To do this, first mix the growing soil with a little sand. Lemons like slightly acidic substrate and the sand lowers the pH of the soil. Then fill the substrate into the growing tray. Place the seeds 5 to 10 inches apart on the substrate and press them in 1 to 2 inches deep. Cover lightly with soil and moisten well with a spray bottle.
Finally, cover the seed tray with the cover and place in a bright and warm place – done!
When will the first lemons germinate?
Afterwards, make sure to air the seed tray daily to prevent mold from spreading. The substrate should remain slightly moist the whole time, but make sure that no waterlogging forms.
After about 2 to 4 weeks, the first green tips will stretch out of the soil and the lemons will begin to germinate. When the first 2 cotyledons are visible, you need to separate the seedlings into pots. Use pots with a diameter of about 10 cm. The substrate should be well-drained. Again, add a little sand and water the small lemon plants well. Place them in a warm and bright place and water them 2 to 3 times a week.
How to care for your lemon tree
Your lemon tree loves the sun, so it should always be placed in the brightest spot. You also need to water it regularly, but be sure to avoid waterlogging. In the first years it is still completely green, because only later a real trunk is formed, which then becomes woody. If your lemon tree feels comfortable and can get plenty of sun, it will form its first flowers and fruits at about 6 to 8 years. Before that, the tree is simply too young. For all those for whom this takes a little too long, we recommend our Bloomify lemon Zeus 😉
Transplant and fertilize lemon tree
The first application of fertilizer can be as early as 4 months, depending on the time of year. In general, you should only fertilize your lemon between April and August, as it shuts down its growth in the winter.
If the tree has grown well, you can take the opportunity to repot the lemon in a larger container. You can mix a good portion of compost or organic slow-release fertilizer into the potting soil. This will provide your lemon with nutrients for the summer and the next fertilizer application can be refreshed at the end of the summer.
However, if it is already getting colder outside, you should wait with fertilizing and transplanting until spring to avoid stressing the tree and to prevent diseases and pests.