How to grow lemon from a seed. How to plant a lemon at home

Lemon grown in a pot on the windowsill will saturate the air in the house with volatile production and essential oils, protecting it from infectious diseases and bacteria. And so that a miniature tree regularly pleased not only with its appearance, but also with its fruits, it must be planted. You can purchase seedlings in specialized stores, but it is more interesting and cheaper to plant a bone in the ground and wait until it turns into a young sprout.

Choosing planting material

Where can I get lemon seed? Go to the supermarket or market, choose the largest fruit of a rich yellow color and get a bone out of it. The main thing is that the citrus peel is not stained and other damage. In planting material taken from a bent or rotted specimen, an infection or a disease may lurk, which will destroy fragile shoots that have spiked out of the ground.

Bought lemon neatly cut, trying not to touch the shell of the seeds with a blade, and remove the bones. Planting material is immediately sorted: large specimens are left, small ones are thrown away, because they rarely sprout.

It is advisable to plant the seeds in pots immediately while they are still wet. But if in the cabinet there are several dry lemon kernels, which are just over a month or two, the billet is soaked in warm water for several hours, and then buried in the ground.

Lemons are also grown from cuttings, which can be taken from acquaintances or neighbors. Cut a young twig from a fruit-bearing tree, put it in water, add heteroauxin and wait 24 hours. On the handle should be at least 3 buds, and the parent lemon must necessarily give at least 6-10 citrus per year.

Soil and pots

Some domestic trees grow up to 8–10 m in height, others stop at around 3–4 m. Beginners who first practice lemons try to plant a seed or stalk at once into a huge pot or wooden box. The plant needs space, but when there is too much of it, the root system develops incorrectly. Therefore, in the first stage, a small clay pot or a disposable plastic cup will suffice.

You can create a container for growing lemon from the bottle:

1. Cut off half or third. Discard the top with the cap, leaving the bottom of the bottle.
2. Make a lot of small holes in the bottom to ensure air circulation.
3. Put a homemade pot on a plastic plate or tray so that excess water runs off on the stand, not on the window sill.
4. Fill the bottle with earth and plant lemon seed in it.

You can grow citrus seedlings in a flower pot, several at once, but there should be a distance between them. It is recommended to mentally draw an equilateral triangle on the surface of the earth and insert 1–2 grains in each vertex of the geometric figure.

Used for the cultivation of lemons and wooden rectangular boxes. Between seeds retreat by 15–20 cm, so that the root system has room for development. Regardless of the chosen container, a drainage layer 1–1.5 cm high is placed on the bottom of the pot or box. If it is absent, moisture begins to accumulate, air circulates poorly and fungus appears in the ground. The lemon root system rots and the plant disappears.

As drainage use:

• small pebbles or pebbles;
• small pieces of pottery;
• grated foam;
• coarse sand;
• haydite or shredded wine cork.

Tip: In order to provide the plant with a breeding ground, it is recommended to put a layer of peat, dried cow or horse manure, or some moss on top of the drainage. The top dressing height is 1.5–2 cm, the ground goes further.

Ideal soil
  Lemon is considered an unpretentious plant that can take root in any land. The main thing is to be warm and have enough moisture. Often the seeds are planted in a mixture of turf soil, river sand and humus. More experienced gardeners add wood ash to the soil, which will feed weak sprouts.

Suitable for growing citrus and land intended for indoor plants. You can buy soil in flower shops, it is desirable to add a little peat to the soil. If lemon cuttings are planted in pots, a layer of sand is poured over the ground. This helps citrus to take root and settle down in a new place.

Landing process

In the ground, make a small indentation, about 1.5–2 cm, slightly moisten the soil and stick several seeds into it. It is recommended to take 2–3 grains per one well, as part of the planting material may be empty and unviable. If several sprouts have been proclaimed from the fossa at once, the most robust and healthy specimen is left, the rest are carefully pulled out or cut to the very root.

How it all happens:

1. Put seeds into the moistened soil, sprinkle them with earth and lightly tamp the soil.
2. Sprinkle the ground with warm distilled or melt water using a spray bottle.
3. Cover the pot with a plastic bag that will create a greenhouse effect.
4. Put the lemons in a room where the temperature does not fall below +18. Before the appearance of the first shoots, the seeds do not need light, therefore citruses can be kept in any room.
5. Periodically open the film and ventilate the ground in pots, regularly moisten the soil with a spray bottle, but make sure that the ground is not too wet and damp.

With cuttings do a little differently:

1. A branch that stood for several days in a special solution, planted in the ground after the appearance of thin roots.
2. The plant is buried so deep that only two buds remain on the surface, the rest should be hidden under the ground.
3. The cutting at the first time needs abundant watering, because the lemon does not have strong roots capable of pulling moisture out of the soil.
4. The plant feels comfortable at a temperature of + 18–20 degrees.
5. The citrus cutting will take about 1.5–2 months to finally take root in the pot and begin to grow actively.

Tip: If you overdo it with watering, and the earth can not dry out, do not wait for the appearance of mold. The pot is freed from wet soil and filled with new dry soil in which a lemon is transplanted.

Little trick
  It is possible to cover the sprouted lemon shoots not only with a package, but also with an ordinary glass jar. Put the container neck down to create a greenhouse effect. Lemons are pulled out faster in humid conditions, reminiscent of a tropical climate. If citruses were planted in a pot in winter or early spring, the plant is placed next to the battery or heater, and watered 3 times a week.

Water is used rain or thawed, warmed to room temperature. The liquid for irrigation should stand for several days, so that harmful impurities precipitate.

Fertilizer and transplant
  Every two weeks seedlings fertilized. Such citrus feeds as “Ideal” or “Health” are suitable for citrus fruits. You can buy special fertilizers created for lemons and other exotic plants, but they should include:

• manganese;
• zinc.

Citrus leaves are regularly rubbed with a damp cloth, cleaning dust. A pot with seedlings should stand on a well-lit window so that the plant receives a lot of UV light. But in order to sprout evenly and not shed the leaves, the lemon should be rotated around its axis by 1.5–2 cm every month. You can not turn the seedlings sharply, otherwise such unexpected changes may result in “baldness” of the young tree.

In early spring, the grown citrus is transferred to another, more spacious pot. In the first year, the lemon must "move" 4 times. An adult tree can live in its pot for several years, the main thing is to update the topsoil from time to time.

How to understand that a lemon needs a new home? If his roots are taken to the drainage layer and trying to crawl out of the pot, the tree became cramped. Move the lemon from one container to another carefully so as not to damage the base. On the root system, some land is left to adapt the plant to new conditions more quickly.

Tree formation
  So that the sapling does not turn into a shaggy bush of an incomprehensible shape, you need to take care of it. When the central shoot becomes strong and begins to stretch upwards, acquiring branches and additional leaves, it is cut. A stump of 20 cm in height must remain. Further, second-order branches are formed on the central trunk, which are pinched when they reach 18–19 cm. Repeat the procedure once more until shoots of the fourth “generation” appear. On them buds, flowers and fruits are formed.

If you do not cut off the extra shoots and branches, the lemon crown will become thick, and the tree will spend too much effort on feeding leaves and unnecessary shoots.

When the stem of the seedling is as thick as a pencil, a lemon should be planted. You must ask your friends or order in a specialty store a two-year stalk, cut from a fruiting citrus. You will also need:

• well sharpened knife;
• a roll of electrical tape;
• plastic bag;
• garden pitch

First, cut a lemon branch, departing from the central trunk, leaving a stump 5–10 cm high. It should be carefully split into two equal parts. Sharpen the bottom of the handle in the form of a blade and insert it into the stump. Smear the open "wounds" with garden pitch, pull tightly with tape to cover the stump.

The tip of the scion is also cut, leaving 2 to 4 buds. Cut the cut with garden pitch, cover the lemon with a package to create a warm moist microclimate. In such conditions, wounds heal faster, and the stalk takes root better. Remove the cellophane after the first shoots. Grafted lemon will begin to bear fruit in 2–3 years.

For the first time leave 2 flowers that need to be pollinated with a cotton swab. Collect pollen from one cup and transfer to another. In the future, on a lemon can ripen as many fruits as the ovary appears.

1. In late autumn, the temperature in the room where the pot of citrus is standing should be gradually reduced to 15 degrees in order for the plant to adapt to harsh conditions. At the same time, they increase the light day, otherwise the tree will start dropping leaves.
2. In winter, a lemon tub is recommended to wrap with insulation or thick blankets to protect the roots from hypothermia.
3. The soil is loosened every 5-6 irrigations to improve the flow of air into the soil and prevent acidification of the soil.
4. In late spring and summer, it is useful to carry an adult citrus tree outside, but hide it from direct sunlight.

Lemon, like other plants, needs regular care and care. The plant loves heat, moisture and the sun in moderation, sometimes it needs feeding and protection from pests. If you do not forget to water the tree, fertilize it and keep it away from drafts, it will live a long time and regularly rejoice with the fruits.

Video: how to grow citrus at home

If you wish, you can try to grow a lemon from a stone on your own in order to enjoy large and very fragrant fruits after 3-4 years.

Most gardeners do not know how to properly grow a lemon at home, but this process is not too complicated, you just need to be patient and use the following recommendations.

For growing room lemon  need only the largest bones, which should be extracted from fresh lemons.

Plant them in the ground should be immediately after removal from the fetus, as the dried bones germinate much worse. For seedlings of lemon from the bone will need small flower pots with a hole to drain the water. At the bottom of each pot should be poured a layer of drainage, and then - fertile loose soil.

Bones should be planted at a depth of about 1.5-2 cm. It is best to plant several bones at once, in order to be able to choose the strongest and healthiest plant. The soil during seedlings should be hydrated. After the seeds are sunk into the ground, the pots should be covered with a transparent film.

It is not recommended to water the planting: in case of excessive moisture, the roots of the future lemon can rot and the plant will not grow. Landing is best sprayed periodically. Illumination does not play a large role in the emergence of shoots, and the temperature regime should be constant, within 18-20 C of heat. After a few weeks should appear the first seedlings of lemon from the stone.

As soon as young plants have a second pair of leaflets, remove the film from the pot and transfer it to a well-lit place. New shoots need to be watered very carefully, as an excess of moisture can destroy them.

The first 2-3 months of seedlings do not need additional feeding, they are able to grow without them. But when the lemons grow a little, in the warm season you should definitely make a weekly solution of mineral and organic fertilizers. Fertilizing should not be abused - an excess of fertilizers is just as harmful to plants as their lack. Lemon is a very capricious plant, and it does not tolerate temperature fluctuations, so it is best not to take it to the balcony, even with the onset of warm days. In response to a change in atmosphere and temperature, he can shed almost all of his leaves.

Lemon from a stone. Varieties of indoor lemons

For planting in houses and apartments unique varieties of lemon plants were bred. They are very unpretentious, and the height does not take up much space. Aroma emanating from the leaves of lemon, improves performance, tones and effectively relieves stress.

Room lemon has many varieties, each of them has both advantages and disadvantages. The only difference between the plants is their height, the taste of the fruit and the fruiting.

1. Pavlovsky lemon   - the most popular variety, not requiring much attention, reaches one and a half meters and gives about 16 fruits a year.

2. Kursk lemon   - the highest grade, reaches 1.7 meters.

3. Villa Franca   - a variety of lemon with many leaves.

4. Genoa   - refers to the most capricious, requires care and attention.

5. Meier   - low-growing lemon, hybrid plant with orange, maximum height 1 meter. Requires constant light, refers to the whimsical varieties.

Regardless of the variety, the first flower begins to bloom, three years after planting

Choosing a sapling

When you choose a sapling, inspect immediately its root: it should be beautiful and developed. Chopped and dried edges may not take root. A strong and strong plant has several of its old leaves. They should be dense and rough, saturated color. The young plant leaves will be much lighter.

If you choose a house lemon tree, you need to check with the seller whether the plant is grafted. However, it is better to buy a sapling, as a young tree quickly gets used to the surrounding atmosphere and temperature, and a change of scenery can simply destroy it.

Transplanting and forming a lemon crown

When young lemons grow a little, they need to be transplanted into more spacious flower pots, while trying not to damage the delicate root system of plants. Should give preference to those lemons, which crown will be the most branched and dense - this plant is likely to give a lot of new lateral shoots. This moment is important because the room lemon only develops normally when it has side branches besides the stem.

If they do not appear, then you can intervene in this process. When the height of the lemon reaches about 20 centimeters, in the spring, just before the beginning of the active growth and development of the plant, it is necessary to cut off its top, while leaving several buds intact. Soon, first-order shoots will start to appear, which will also need to be cut after some time, leaving only the buds for the second shoots.

The first fruits of the indoor lemon will not please immediately, not earlier than in a few years, and with due care

Such manipulations should be carried out before the emergence of fourth-order shoots, which are very likely to be fruitful. But in order to wait for the first lemon fruit from the bone, you should wait a few more years.

Perhaps it is a lemon can be called one of the least fastidious citrus grown under indoor conditions. There are several ways to grow a lemon on your own. If you have time, desire and patience, you can start from scratch, and try to get a lemon tree from a stone.

Potted trees are interesting! However, a more rational way of reproduction of this citrus plant is reproduction by cuttings.

When propagating by cuttings, you should choose an adult and strong maternal plant, at least 10 years old

The most important advantage of this method is the fact that a lemon grown from a cutting begins to bear fruit two years earlier and at the same time completely repeats the characteristics of the mother tree. You can plant cuttings at any time of the year, but it is best to carry out this process in spring or summer. Already after 2-3 weeks, the cuttings take root, showing a good survival rate: out of ten cuttings, about 7-8 pieces take root.

There is a little trick on how to grow a lemon from a cutting - it is not recommended to use the shoots of the current year, as they do not root well

This way how to grow lemon at home is the most effective. Cuttings should be taken from adult plants that are at least 10-15 years old. In this case, only twigs of the third to fifth order should be used, and the shoot itself should be slightly lignified.

On the branch there should be several leaves, while the bottom sheet must be carefully removed, and the rest half cut off, leaving only the top sheet intact. A stalk planted in a nutrient soil should be covered with a glass jar and placed in a well-lit place, maintaining a temperature of 20-22 C.

Watering the cutting is not very abundant, but regularly, every other day: the abundant moisture, just like its lack, has a detrimental effect on the development of the plant. During the first few irrigations, the substrate can be slightly compacted. As soon as the first leaf appears on the planted cutting, the jar from the flowerpot can be removed.

Young plants fit any capacity for growing small sizes. Starting at the age of three, indoor lemons need a flower pot made from softwood. The period from October to April is very important for citrus fruits, at this time caring for them should be especially thorough.

The optimum temperature at this time will be 8-10 C heat, and during the flowering period - 18-20 C. Room lemon does not tolerate proximity to other ornamental plants, it is best to have it alone.

A home-grown lemon lemon will not only be a decoration for any room, but will also be able to “thank” the owners with juicy and fragrant fruits.

To the basic rules of how to grow a lemon, is the observance of temperature, regular watering and spraying in the hot season, periodic feeding and protection from drafts.

Lemon tree is an unpretentious indoor plant that easily adapts to home conditions. For its active growth and development, it will be necessary to create suitable conditions, as well as perform simple manipulations on the care and protection from pests. This article will help to deal with all the subtleties of growing lemon with their own hands, as well as talk about the rules of planting and methods of propagation of the tree.

Planting Material for Lemon Tree

For planting a tree at home use:

• fruit bones;
• cuttings.

Selection of fruits

When buying lemons in a store or on the market, you need to choose only ripe fruit, from which planting material will be extracted. Citruses should be bright yellow with a characteristic odor.

For harvesting seeds, choose only ripe fruit.

• lethargic;
• green;
• rotten.

Lemon trees from seeds grow and develop much faster than plants from cuttings. They better adapt to room conditions (level of air humidity, temperature and lighting) and are less exposed to various diseases.

Planting cuttings

Cuttings are also actively used for growing at home. They can be purchased at a flower shop, or take from a familiar florist.

Important! The lemon tree from the shoot has the genetic material of its “parents”.

Disadvantages of the method:

• the need to search for cuttings;
• financial costs for the purchase of planting material;

Lemon Tree Sprout

• sprouts do not adapt well to the new environment;
• the crown of the plant is not so lush (in contrast to citrus grown from the stone).

Preparation of soil for lemon seeds

Before you start planting seeds in the ground, you must prepare the pots and the ground. For the active germination of grains is ideal as a special soil for citrus plants, it is sold in flower shops, and home-made soil. If the purchased land is already ready for use, then homemade soil needs some time and attention. It should consist of:

• ½ sod land;
• ½ humus soil;
• a small amount of fertilizer - charcoal and / or peat.

Council Flowerpots for planting need to take a roomy and deep so that the root system has a place for its growth and development.

Planting the seed into the ground:

1. At the bottom of the pot put claydite, pieces of charcoal or foam (this material will serve as a drainage).
2. The pot is filled with prepared or purchased soil.
3. The earth is moistened with rain or purified water.
4. Several grains are planted in a container, immersed them to a depth of 0.5-1 cm.
5. Pot covered with a film to create the conditions of the greenhouse.

When properly seated, sprouts appear fairly quickly.

After 2-2.5 weeks, the first shoots will appear on the surface of the soil; the strongest of them are transplanted into another container for further germination.

• Lemon, as a southern plant, loves heat very much (the ideal temperature for a lemon is 17-27 degrees). Vases with shoots must be placed in a bright room, but not under the direct rays of the sun.
• The tree needs moderate watering (2-3 times a week), since an excess of moisture leads to root decay, and its lack - to the death of the plant.
• For irrigation you need to use only separated, rain or purified water.
• Florists recommend 2-3 times a week to spray the crown of a tree (especially in winter) and wipe its leaves from dust.

Soil fertilizer and lemon feeding

Lemon, like any other plant, needs fertilizers and dressings. They significantly accelerate the growth and development of the tree, fill it with all the necessary nutrients. Experts recommend feeding a lemon tree once every three months.

Lemon tree needs fertilizing several times a year.

For top dressing and fertilizer of the room citrus plant use:

• sodium nitrate (13 g per 1 liter of rainwater);
• ammonium nitrate (5 g per 1 liter of water);
• bird droppings (it is mixed with water (1: 1 ratio), insisted for 2-3 weeks, diluted with a large amount of water (1:20), poured into the root);
• other ready feeding, sold in specialized stores.

Important! The amount of fertilizer should be moderate, as they are able to accumulate in the plant and its fruits.

Breeding methods

At home, lemons multiply:

• sunflower seeds;
• bends;
• cuttings.

Lemon tree cutting

Seed propagation is a fairly common method, it is simple and straightforward. Fruits on such plants appear only 10-12 years after planting.

Cuttings

1. This is another way of breeding lemon tree, it is used in spring or summer. Breeding technology:
2. Use a sharp knife or shears to cut off a branch with 3-4 green leaves (the bottom edge of the shoot must have a pointed edge).
3. Immerse it in a specialized liquid (growth activator) for 10-12 hours.
4. Treated shoots are planted in prepared sandy soil.
5. Liberally sprayed with water, covered with foil (such water procedures are repeated daily).
6. When the young sprouts appear, they remove the film from the cutting, look after them in accordance with all the requirements and recommendations of the specialists.

Reproduction by vaccination

Grafts of room lemons are actively propagated by grafts. This method is quite effective, but not everyone can get it. Technology:

Pests of citrus indoor

• fungus;
• various harmful bacteria;
• viruses.

Important! Diseases can be seen by the appearance of spots and flaws on the foliage, a decrease in its size, the appearance of various growths and patches.

Common diseases of citrus trees:

• hommoses;
• scab;

Lemon Disease - Scab

• root rot;
• black fungus;
• stickiness sheets (sign of the appearance of scythos).

Gommoz - one of the most serious diseases. It appears in the lower part of the tree, gradually spreading to its upper part (bumps with dark brown liquid form on the trunk, there are "burns" and cracks in the affected branches). Gommoz is very difficult to treat. In this situation can only help the processing of copper sulfate and stripping branches.

Gommoz manifestation

The black fungus is also quite often disturbed by citrus fruits. It manifests itself in the form of dark spots on the foliage, they have a bad effect on the growth and development of lemon. You can fight with it with the help of warm water, it washes away the formed spots, thereby freeing the leaves from plaque.

Sticky leaves - the result of the appearance of scythes. You can fight it with ready-made products that are sold in specialized stores, as well as with the help of folk remedies.

How to grow lemon at home: video

Growing a lemon from the stone: photo

Lemon (Citrus limon) - a representative of the genus "Citrus", belonging to the family "Rutovyh". The plant, which is considered the birthplace of China, India and the Pacific Islands, is cultivated today in many subtropical countries. And where the climate does not allow, the lemon tree is grown as a houseplant. You can grow a compact evergreen tree from a bone of lemon, which not only decorates the interior, but also pleases with tasty, healthy fruits. And the essential oils and phytoncides secreted by the leaves of lemon will help to combat stresses and nervous overstrain.

In countries with a subtropical climate, lemons are grown under the open sky, and in Central and Eastern Europe the climatic conditions for the lemon tree are not suitable, and here it is cultivated as a houseplant.

In nature, lemon is an evergreen shrub. The lemon grown at home is also a small shrub with thorns on the trunk and dense leaves with a dark green, glossy surface.

The result of a long, lasting hundreds of years, selection was the appearance of many varieties of lemon.

• Pavlovsky. Enjoys high popularity among Russian gardeners. An unpretentious lemon tree grows to 1.5 m, it begins to produce fruits in the third year of life and gives an average of 15 lemons per year.
• Ponderosis (aka Canadian). Short tree, not exceeding 1 m in height. It blooms early enough and bears little fruit - no more than 5 pieces.
• Lunario (aka four-season). Srednerosly plant giving fruit with mild taste. This variety is cultivated mainly in Egypt.
• Libson The tree height of 1.5 m with powerful spines gives large, fragrant fruits (on average - 15 pieces). The first time blooms 3 years after planting.
• Maikop. Differs in simplicity of leaving and high productivity, grows to 1,3 m. Especially popular uses in Krasnodar Krai.
• Corsican (otherwise the hand of the Buddha). Exotic variety, the fruits of which are used in cooking mainly for the preparation of candied fruits. It reaches a height of 1.5 m and annually produces about 10 fruits.
• Anniversary. The most suitable for growing home variety, hardy and requiring the least attention. It grows up to 1.5 m in height and bears fruit well. But the fruits have a thick rind and a mild taste.
• Meyer (aka Chinese dwarf). A variety bred by crossing a lemon and an orange is a low-growing shrub with a height of no more than 50–70 cm. But the plant is quite whimsical, often sick, in the fall and in the winter requires additional lighting.

Lemon Meyer is characterized by high yield and gives a lot of fruit of unusual taste, but due to whimsical and capriciousness at home it is not often grown.

Care features

Room lemon reacts poorly to permutations, so the choice of a suitable place is better to decide immediately. After moving to another place, the lemon tree starts dropping the leaves, and if you disturb the plant in the flowering phase, you can not wait for the harvest.

Lighting

Lemon tree loves the light, but it also tolerates partial shade. The southern windows are not suitable for the plant, because with an excessive access of light, the growth of the vegetative part is activated, and the phase of flowering and fruit formation is inhibited. From the north side, a tree, on the contrary, will not have enough light. As a result, the leaves will grow more slowly, and the fruits will be too acidic. East or west facing windows are best suited for lemons.

For the symmetrical formation of the crown, a pot with a lemon tree should be rotated about a quarter of a turn around its axis once a week.

Temperature

The best summer temperature for lemon tree is from 18 to 20 ° C. In winter, it is recommended to grow a plant at 15–18 ° C. In spring and summer, citrus can be carried to a balcony or terrace, but with the onset of autumn coolness, the tree should be transferred to the room, as sharp jumps temperatures for it are disastrous.

Humidity and watering

Lemon tree likes moist air. It can be sprayed all year round, and it is advisable to place the pot on a pallet filled with wet gravel. The plant does not tolerate stagnant water in the pot, so the optimal mode of irrigation in the winter is once a week, and in the summer - twice in 7 days, but abundant.

Priming

Lemon likes nutritious soil with a sufficient content of mineral and organic substances. Suitable for planting:

• ready soil for all citrus plants;
• universal land for indoor flowers;
• soil with humus;
• the composition of the sheet and turf land, humus, river sand and charcoal.

The soil should be soft, loose. And so that the water in the pot does not stagnate, you need good drainage from expanded clay and brick pieces at least 2 cm thick.

The soil for growing lemon should be light, well permeable to moisture and air, with a pH level in the range of 6.6–7.0.

Fertilization

Feed indoor lemons need to constantly. In the summer, fertilizers are applied only in liquid form every week, the rest of the time - at least once every 30 days. It is recommended to alternate mineral fertilizers with organic dressings. Can be used:

• weak solution of mullein, bird droppings;
• water with the addition of infusion of nettle (insist 2 weeks);
• an infusion of egg shells (only from the fourth year of the plant's life).

Pruning

The lemon grown from the stone grows large enough with long branches. The plant takes a lot of place, at the same time its productivity decreases. To achieve an acceptable crown size, pinching and trimming is carried out.

The first pinching is done when the main shoot grows to 20–25 cm. The next pinching is carried out at a height of 15–20 cm from the place of the previous one. Between the two pinchings should be 4 buds, which in the future will give the main branches. Pinching of the shoots of the first row is carried out in 20–30 cm, and when the branches become solid, they are cut 5 cm below the nip. Pinching the next shoots is carried out so that they are 5 cm shorter than the branches of the previous row. The formation of the crown complete on the fourth row shoots.

Pruning is usually carried out in the spring, before flowering. The roots of the lemon tree also need to be cut during transplantation, otherwise the root system will stop developing normally, and the leaves of the lemon will become pale.

If necessary, during pruning, it is necessary to remove weak shoots and twigs growing inside the crown.

Transfer

A young, recently appeared lemon from a bone needs to be transplanted annually, and better twice a year (in February and June). Lemons older than 5 years are transplanted every three years in the spring.

Each new pot should be 3-4 cm longer than the previous one - and the root system, and the crown of the lemon tree grows very quickly. When transplanting, it is impossible to sprinkle the root neck with earth (the junction of the stem with the roots).

The roots of young lemon are very sensitive and vulnerable, require extremely careful handling during transplantation.

Banding

Ringing is a procedure to help speed up the appearance of fruits. It consists in the following. The base of the trunk with one or two adjacent shoots is twisted with copper wire so that it presses into the bark a bit (but not much!). As a result, nutrients begin to accumulate at the site of banding, and fruit buds begin to form on the lemon. They remove the wire after six months, and the bark is treated with a garden pitch, wrapped with elastic tape.

Breeding

At home, a lemon can be propagated in three ways:

1. seeds (stones);
2. cuttings;
3. layering.

Seeds

Many believe that the lemon grown from the stone does not bear fruit. But this is a mistake. With proper care, a plant grown from a stone begins to bear fruit after 5–8 years.

For those who do not know how to plant a lemon from a stone, it is worth saying that even a novice gardener can handle this simple process. The main task in seed reproduction is to choose the planting material correctly.

Due to the simplicity of obtaining planting material, seed propagation method of lemon has become the most common.

Fruits should be of good ripeness, with a smooth surface and a uniform color, no dents, patches on the peel and other damage. Lemon bones must also be intact, large. It is better to take planting material from several fruits, and then select the most viable seeds.

The procedure for growing lemon from the stone involves several steps.

1. Prepare small long pots with a drainage layer and a soil substrate consisting of floral soil and peat.
2. Immediately after removing the seeds from the fruit, they are treated with a solution of sodium humate - this will accelerate germination.
3. The treated seeds are planted in the ground at a distance of 3 cm from the walls of the pot and to a depth of 1.5–2 cm.
4. The containers are covered with polyethylene until the first shoots appear, contain at a temperature of 20 ° C. Lemon seeds germinate for a very long time - from two months to six months.
5. From the appeared sprouts choose the most healthy and strong, cover them with glass jars to create the desired microclimate. Capacity is placed in a place with sufficient lighting, airing every day.
6. When the first leaves appear on the sprouts, they are planted in separate pots.
7. In more spacious containers, seedlings are planted when their height reaches 20 cm.

Planting stones in one container should be at least 5 cm apart, but it is better to take separate small containers (for example, disposable cups) with drainage holes.

Cuttings

When propagating by cuttings, the lemon begins to bloom in the third or fourth year.

Propagation by cuttings is carried out in the spring (March-April), includes several stages.

1. In a well-bearing plant, 10 cm is sufficiently hard, and at the same time flexible cutting (about 5 mm thick) with 2–3 live buds. An oblique cut is made under the sheet with a sharp knife. The upper cut should be 1.5-2 cm above the kidney.
2. The stalk is treated with a root growth growth stimulant (root preparations, heteroauxin, sodium humanmate), placed in water or in a moist soil for 2-3 cm.
3. The handle is covered with polyethylene so that it does not dry out.
4. After the appearance of the roots (an average of 2 weeks), the stalk is moved to a small pot, kept at a temperature of 20 ° C in a place where there is sufficient access of light. Spraying cuttings carried out twice a day.
5. To accustom the plant to indoor air, the film is opened daily, first for an hour, then gradually increase the time.
6. After 2 months, when the plant is fully rooted, it is transplanted into a larger pot (diameter 10 cm) with nutritious soil, placed in a permanent place.

If the selected stalk is supposed to be placed not in water, but in the ground, you need to prepare a container with a soil substrate:

• fill the bottom of the tank with a drainage layer (clay fragments, porous vermoculite, expanded clay);
• cover the drainage with a nutritious soil with a layer of 5 cm (you can take equal parts of the forest and sod substrates, a sixth part of the sand);
• top with a mixture of equal amounts of sand and sphagnum moss (can be replaced with high-moor peat).

When planting several cuttings in one container, they leave a distance of at least 5 cm. Immediately after planting, the cuttings should be sprinkled with warm water and covered with a film.

Offsets and vaccinations

This breeding method is rather complicated and time consuming, and therefore amateur gardeners are rarely practiced. Professionals are often planted in the plant to get the fruits as soon as possible. Usually, a lemon blooms in the year of grafting, and a year later it gives the first fruits.

In general, the vaccination procedure is as follows. A kidney is cut from an older lemon that has reached the age of 2-3 years. She sits down in a section of a younger plant. It is best to inoculate citrus in May or at the end of August.

Bloom

Depending on the variety, colors may be white, pink or red. To get the fruit, it is important to properly care for the plant during flowering and follow a number of rules:

1. in the flowering phase, do not move the lemon tree to another location;
2. independently pollinate the plant (with a cotton swab, carefully transfer the pollen to the stamens);
3. timely remove excess flowers.

At the first flowering, you need to remove half of the buds. Best of all, when one fruit has from 15 to 25 leaves.

From the moment of appearance of the ovary to full maturity of the fruit, more than 9 months may pass.

Growing problems

Grown lemon from the stone is not picky about the conditions of detention, but is often exposed to diseases and attack by pests. One of the most common problems is yellowing and falling leaves. The reasons for this may be:

1. watering with cold water;
2. excessive watering;
3. insufficient lighting;
4. heat;
5. drafts;
6. change in soil acidity;
7. lack of nutrients.

If yellowing of the leaves is observed in a newly acquired plant, this is a normal phenomenon associated with acclimatization.

Pests

The defeat of the lemon tree aphids.

Diseases

• Gommoz. Infectious disease affecting the trunk of a tree. Cracks appear on the bottom of the bark, and a dark, sticky liquid begins to seep through the lesions. After a time, the lemon fades, putrid spots appear on the ground of the damage. You can save a lemon tree by transplanting it into a pot with fresh soil. Before planting, the roots and damaged areas should be cleaned and treated with copper sulphate. It is rarely possible to cure a tree of homosis, more often the plant dies.
• Late blight. Manifested in the same way as homosis. More often it infects young plants, and an oil brown ring is formed on the trunk. For treatment, the affected area must be treated with copper sulfate.
• Root rot. The disease is characterized by damage to the root system, while the lemon begins to shed its leaves for no apparent reason. If you suspect root rot, you need to remove the plant from the pot, inspect the root system, remove the damaged roots, and treat the healthy roots with a growth factor. After that, the tree must be re-planted. Lemon care until complete recovery includes minimal watering, ensuring sufficient light, and regular wiping of the leaf plates with a damp cloth.
• Tristeza. A viral disease in which the bark dies on a tree. This disease, unfortunately, is not treatable.
• Sheet mosaic. Characteristic patterns appear on the leaves of the lemon tree. Cure the disease is impossible, but with careful care, the defeat of the leaves becomes less noticeable.
• Citrus Cancer. A non-treatable disease that is characterized by the appearance of dark brown spots on the leaf plates. The disease leads to the rapid death of the plant.

Grow a lemon from the stone or cutting is easy. But fruition can only be achieved with proper and regular care of the plant. Lemon tree will be a wonderful decoration of any interior, during the flowering period it will fill the room with wonderful aroma. And if you give the plant enough attention, the reward will be the long-awaited fruit.

How many lemons do not buy, but you still want to be able to pick such a useful exotic fruit from a tree when your heart desires. Grown on the windowsill, this plant will not only decorate your home, but also provide generous fruiting. The main thing is to create an optimal microclimate for it. How to grow a lemon from the stone at home - that's what every florist has to figure out. Consider basic agrotechnologies — and off you go, to the “barricades”! Grow a lemon at home or in an apartment is quite real.

Grow a lemon from a stone at home will be obtained from an experienced grower who understands that a lot of effort will have to be made. This is quite a capricious plant that requires constant lighting. Another important point in ensuring a favorable microclimate is humidity. Lemon tree is primarily a tropical plant. This room flower loves moisture, so make every effort to provide it.

The tree is recommended not only to water, but also to spray, wash the stems and leaves. It is important that the microclimate in the room was not dry. In order to grow a lemon from a stone at home, you need to create in the apartment a kind of mini-tropics. Will the plant then grow quite intensively? Of course.

Ground Requirements

Many think about how to plant a lemon from a stone by the rules. First, pay attention to the quality of the soil mixture. Some growers prefer to buy the necessary substrate for exotic plants. If you wish, you can dig up and ordinary land at the dacha.

However, all this is not too suitable for planting a room lemon at home. To the main soil you need to add ash, humus, manure, as well as some sand. This composition is optimal for growing trees. When you have prepared a substrate or purchased it, put the mixture in a flowerpot and tamp it carefully: in the process of planting homemade lemon in the ground there should not be even the smallest voids.

Seed preparation and planting

Many people try to grow a lemon tree from a stone at home. But without proper training in this matter is not enough. In addition, the ground - not the only thing worth your attention. Far more serious is the treatment of seeds selected for planting. There are several important points for citrus fruit. For example, many advise to release the grain from the husk. Thus shoots are formed more easily and quickly.

But in the process of cleaning the seeds, do everything very carefully so as not to damage them. Another important point is the moistening of the grains. During the day immediately before sowing, they are recommended to be soaked in water.

Remember: if you just took out the bones from the fetus, they can be planted without prior treatment in water or a growth stimulator, they will be able to climb.

When preparation is complete, it's time to start planting. In a small pot, pour a little bit of expanded clay or pebbles, then add the soil mixture. Lemon bones do not deepen too much, it will be enough to put them in the top layer of soil. Pre-moisten the ground; it should not be dry during the landing process. At first, lemon seeds should be protected carefully. To do this, cover the pot with film. Germinate grains from time to time taking shelter.

Fertilizing and fertilizing

How to grow a lemon tree from the stone? It is very important to pay special attention to fertilizing. The plant can not do without nitrogen nutrient mixtures. If, however, neglecting the feeding of lemon with nitrogen, it may noticeably turn yellow leaves, and in general the aesthetic appearance will be lost. Phosphorus is another important nutrient. They are recommended to saturate the substrate of indoor lemon during the flowering period. With a lack of this substance in the soil on the tree can not form flowers at all, and if they are, then in a small amount. Mix the superphosphate with the manure, and the plant will bloom and actively form the fruit.

Watering rules

Knowing how to grow a homemade lemon from seeds, and how to care for it, you can one day pick your own exotic fruits. But first you will need to work hard. Watering is an important part of the care of indoor lemon. To irrigate the substrate, try to use separated rainwater at room temperature. Since the plant is tropical, in the summer it needs a lot of moisture, so it will have to be watered many times (once or twice a day). Remember: at home growing fruit-bearing lemon will not be possible without regular watering. That is why specify not only how to grow a homemade lemon from the stone, but also how to provide him with proper care.

Diseases and pests

Start of fruiting