This article was co-authored by Mark Leahy and by wikiHow staff writer, Sophie Burkholder, BA. Mark Leahy is a Plant Specialist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the Co-Owner of Bella Fiora, a custom design floral studio, and SF Plants, a plant shop and nursery. Mark specializes in floral artistry and indoor plants including floral arrangements, terrace planters, office plantscapes, and living walls. Mark and his business partner have been featured in Vogue, The Knot, Today’s Bride, Wedding Wire, Modern Luxury, San Francisco Bride Magazine, San Francisco Fall Antique Show, Black Bride, Best of the Bay Area A-List, and Borrowed & Blue.
There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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When life gives you lemons, grow a lemon tree! Lemons are super easy to grow from seeds, and they turn into a beautiful plant that may even produce some yellow-hued citrus fruits somewhere down the line! Follow this complete guide to grow your lemon seeds into trees: from planting the seeds to caring for the sprouts and transplanting the tree as it continues to grow with expert tips from plant specialist Mark Leahy.
Quick Steps to Plant a Lemon Seed
- Remove seeds from a lemon fruit and rinse them off.
- Soak the seeds in water overnight.
- Cut off the end of each seed and gently remove the outer seed layer.
- Fill a small plastic pot or seed tray with well-draining potting soil.
- Plant the seeds 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep into the soil.
- Water the seeds thoroughly and keep them in warm conditions to germinate.
Steps
How to Plant Lemon Seeds
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Choose the type of lemon you want to grow. The steps throughout this guide will apply to pretty much any type of lemon seed, so choose the lemon that you’re most interested in growing! Consider size, flavor, and whether you want an ornamental or culinary lemon. Then, you can just pick out your preferred lemon from the supermarket or nursery—look for a fruit with a full, mature appearance that’s free of blemishes, cuts, and bruises. Here are some of the most common types of lemons you can grow at home.[1]
- Eureka lemons: The standard grocery market lemon. Large fruit with a tart flavor. Great for juicing. Grows flowers nearly year-round.
- Lisbon lemons: Produces highly acidic fruits that are often sold in grocery stores. Excellent for juicing. Produces fruits several times a year.
- Meyer lemons: Hybrid between lemon and sweet orange. Produces small, round fruits with a sweet floral taste (not so acidic or sour).
- Variegata (pink) lemons: Mutant of the Eureka lemon. Produces fruits with pink pulp (similar to a grapefruit) and yellow-green stripes on the rind.
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Carefully remove the seed from the lemon. Peel your lemon like an orange—rather than slicing it—to avoid piercing the seeds inside. Then, use your hands to pull apart the individual wedges of the lemon. Remove any intact seed that you want from your lemon and place it in a cup of water.[2]
- Consider planting 5 to 10 lemon seeds at one time, in case some of the seeds don't sprout or don't make it past seedling-hood.
- Keep in mind that trees that come from seeds are not identical to the parent tree that they came from. Sometimes, the fruit that the new saplings produce is of a lesser quality. Other times, they do not produce edible fruit at all, but they’ll still be visually pleasing.
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Soak the lemon seed in water for 24 hours and remove the exterior coat. Place the lemon seed (or seeds) in a bowl of water to soften the seed coat. Let the bowl sit for 1-3 days, then remove your seed from the bowl. Rinse off the seed, remove any residual lemon pulp, and pat dry with a paper towel. Clip off the end of the seed with a pair of nail clippers or a small pair of scissors. Use your fingernails to carefully remove the outermost layer of the seed.[3]
- If your seed is floating in the water, it’s gone bad. Choose a different seed to plant or start the process over.
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Place seeds 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep into well-draining soil in a pot or seed tray. Fill a seed tray or small plastic pot with well-draining potting soil. Gingerly water the soil so that it’s moist but not soaking wet. Use your finger or pencil to gently poke a 1 inch (2.5 cm) hole in the soil.[4] Plant your seed in the hole, then cover it with soil.
- Make sure that the pointy tip is pointing downward into the soil and the rounded part is pointing upward towards you. The roots will come out of the pointy part.
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Water seeds thoroughly and place them in a warm area to germinate. Water your planted seeds again so that the soil is moistened all the way through but not soaking. Put your plant in a warm, well-lit location—if you’re growing your lemon seed inside, you can use a horticultural heating mat and grow lights to help the seeds germinate and grow quickly.
- The ideal temperature is between 68°F and 82.4°F (20°C and 28°C).[5]
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Transplant the plant into a larger container after it’s produced 3 leaves. Once your seedling has produced three sets of genuine leaves, transplant it to a larger and more permanent container with drainage holes. Choose a pot that’s about 3 to 4 inches (7.62 to 10.16 centimeters) wide and 5 to 6 inches (12.7 to 15.24 centimeters) deep.[6]
- Fill the pot with lightweight and well-draining potting soil or add pumice, perlite, or sand to a standard soil mix to help with draining. Stop when the top of the soil is about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) from the rim.
- Gently move the seedlings from their starting container to the larger pot.
- Avoid peat moss and peat-based soils for lemon trees. Peat retains too much water and may encourage root rot.
How to Grow & Care for Lemon Trees
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Give your lemon seedlings or tree at least 6-8 hours of full sun each day. As your seedling begins to grow into a tree, make sure it’s getting at least 6-8 hours of sun or light each day. If you’re planting your lemon tree outside, keep it in an area with full sun. If you’re planting your lemon tree inside, Leahy advises to keep it in a “sunny room” in “direct sun.” Ideally, your lemon tree pot will be near a south-facing, sunny window—but you can also use grow lights to supplement the natural light.
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Keep lemon seedlings and trees at a temperature between 55-85°F (12-29ºC). Lemon seeds need plenty of heat and humidity as they work to grow into trees. Keep the seedlings or growing trees indoors at a temp between 55-85°F (12-29ºC). Or, keep them outside if you live in a warm environment but bring them indoors when the temperatures drop.[7]
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Thoroughly water the lemon tree whenever the soil becomes dry. Lemon trees need water like any other plant, but they can easily rot or become diseased if given too much, so you should “leave them to dry out between watering schedules,” says Leahy. Rather than sticking to a weekly schedule, check for when your lemon tree’s soil becomes dry and water it then—Leahy goes on to explain that the plant needs to be on the drier side before you give it more water.
- Wait until the soil is on the “dry side of moist” or when the soil is just barely moist. When it’s time to water, water until the soil is thoroughly and evenly moistened.
- If you’re growing your lemon tree outdoors, make sure that the tree is planted in an area that won’t retain moisture for an extended period of time after rainfall.
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Apply an all-purpose fertilizer to the tree throughout the summer. During the lemon tree’s growing season (the summer), treat it with an all-purpose fertilizer with micronutrients or a fertilizer made specifically for lemon trees. Follow your fertilizer’s package directions to learn how often you should be fertilizing your tree.[8]
- Fertilizing your lemon tree will encourage the tree to bloom and produce fruit.
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Prune your lemon tree to achieve side branching or a desired shape. If your young lemon tree isn’t branching on its own, cut off the tips of the central shoot and any side branches around the top of the plant. You can also prune your tree at any time to shape it, although this type of pruning is up to your preferences—this step is not necessary for the growth of the plant.[9]
- You may notice some thorns developing on the nodes of your lemon tree as it grows. You can prune off thorns if desired, but you don’t have to by any means.
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Repot young lemon trees every 2 years and mature ones every 3-4 years. When your young lemon tree is still growing, repot it every two years during springtime. Remove the lemon tree from its container and place it in a new one that’s about 1–2 inches (25–51 mm) wide in diameter. Add more well-draining potting soil to the new container as needed and water the soil thoroughly.[10]
- If you’d like to reuse the same pot, you’ll have to prune the roots of your lemon tree first—although this may limit its growth. Use pruners or a small hand saw to cut 1⁄3–2⁄3 inch (8.5–16.9 mm) off of the root ball. Place fresh potting soil into the container and replant the tree.
- Mature lemon trees (7-15 years old) only need to be repotted every 3-4 years.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionDo lemon trees grow in California?Andrew Carberry, MPHAndrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.
Food Systems ExpertYes, lemon trees grow in USDA hardiness Zones 9-11, where the winters don't get too cold. -
QuestionWhich type of climate do they need?Community AnswerCitrus trees generally need a high humidity, ideally with a minimum of around 50-60%. Lemons are generally hardy down to 10°C. Mature trees can stand occasional, brief frosts but still need protection. In terms of moisture, citrus trees should not be over-watered as this can kill the plant. As for light, at least 5 to 6 hours is required for survival, but 8 to12 hours would be better.
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QuestionShould I be concerned that a wispy film of mold has formed on the surface of the soil around my lemon seedlings?Community AnswerThis could be a sign of over-watering, which is a cause for concern. Let the soil dry out between waterings. If the mold gets worse, try moving the seedlings into individual pots that are only a little bit wider and deeper than their root balls.
Video
Tips
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Sometimes, a single seed will produce several seedlings. If you notice this happening, wait until each seedling has about four leaves. Then, pull the seedlings out of the soil and carefully pull them apart. Place each seedling into its own pot. In the case of two seedlings, one of them is likely to grow into the "true" plant and will be identical to the parent plant. The other may be a special cross resulting in a unique fruit. [23]Thanks
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Some people find that lemon trees do not do well in terracotta, as they dry out more quickly, and the clay may alter the nutrients and pH of the soil. You might want to avoid terracotta altogether or coat the inside so that it doesn't soak up the much-needed moisture.Thanks
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Consider keeping five seedlings in the same pot. This will give you a larger, fuller plant to look at. It will also help prevent over-watering. When the seedlings get big enough, you can move them to separate pots.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- If you're using the baggie-sprouting method, plant the seeds into plastic cups before transplanting them into big pots. Make sure to put drainage holes in these plastic cups!
- You'll likely have more success growing a lemon tree if you live in a warm environment (or have a warm environment to grow your tree in, like a greenhouse).
References
- ↑ https://www.tastingtable.com/906950/types-of-lemons-and-what-makes-them-unique/
- ↑ https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=48899
- ↑ https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=48899
- ↑ https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=48899
- ↑ http://joybileefarm.com/meyer-lemon-tree/
- ↑ https://practicalselfreliance.com/growing-lemon-trees-from-seed/
- ↑ https://www.pennington.com/all-products/fertilizer/resources/how-to-grow-and-care-for-an-indoor-lemon-tree
- ↑ https://www.pennington.com/all-products/fertilizer/resources/how-to-grow-and-care-for-an-indoor-lemon-tree
- ↑ https://www.pennington.com/all-products/fertilizer/resources/how-to-grow-and-care-for-an-indoor-lemon-tree
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/how-grow-lemon-trees-complete-guide
- ↑ https://www.pennington.com/all-products/fertilizer/resources/how-to-grow-and-care-for-an-indoor-lemon-tree
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/how-grow-lemon-trees-complete-guide
- ↑ https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/neemgen.html
- ↑ https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/scale-control/
- ↑ https://theplantgallery.com/how-to-fix-and-prevent-root-rot/
- ↑ https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/citrus-diseases/citrus-canker
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/how-grow-lemon-trees-complete-guide
- ↑ https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-grow-lemons
- ↑ https://www.pennington.com/all-products/fertilizer/resources/how-to-grow-and-care-for-an-indoor-lemon-tree
- ↑ https://practicalselfreliance.com/growing-lemon-trees-from-seed/
- ↑ https://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2000/040800.html
- ↑ https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/life/home-garden/2023/04/06/people-and-their-potted-citrus-trees-share-a-bond-that-lasts-decades/70045640007/
- ↑ http://joybileefarm.com/meyer-lemon-tree/
About This Article
To plant a lemon seed, first cut open a plump, juicy lemon and extract the seeds from the pulp. Choose an undamaged seed and rinse it under cool water. Then, find a small pot with drainage holes on the bottom and fill it with pasteurized soil mix. Push your seed ½ inch (1 cm) below the surface. Lightly moisten the soil with lukewarm water and cover the top of the pot with plastic wrap to help the soil retain its moisture. Place the pot in a warm spot that gets indirect sunlight. Lightly water your lemon seed every day to keep the soil moist but not soaked. Once seedlings appear, move the pot into direct sunlight and take the plastic wrap off. Transfer the seedling to a large pot or well-draining area in your yard when the first leaves appear. If possible, do this in the spring right before the growing season. Keep your lemon tree indoors if your local temperature ever drops below 45°F (7°C). Water the plant as needed to keep the soil moist, but not soaked. Fertilize the soil once a month between April and August with a water-soluble fertilizer that’s high in potassium and nitrogen to encourage growth. Keep reading to learn how to sprout seeds in a plastic bag!
Reader Success Stories
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"This has been a fantastic guide. I gently peeled the outer shell of the seed making sure not to damage the seed. The best method was to gently peel with your fingernail from the point of the seed. It then can be peeled in little strips. They are very slippery when holding them. I used the damp paper towel method sealed in a ziploc baggie. In two weeks time I had roots and green growth. I then purchased plant starter soil and filled peat cups and placed under a grow light. Out of 12 seeds, 11 were successful in sprouting. Thank you for such detailed instructions!"..." more