How to grow a lemon tree from seed at home. Lemon tree from the stone at home: planting features, care rules, pests and diseases

A subtropical tree called a lemon will definitely take its place in the home green corner. Everyone can grow it, provided that the shrub is provided with a favorable microclimate. Learn how to plant a lemon at home, and one day it will reach a truly large size. In addition, lemons are actively fruiting. If you follow the basic care recommendations, your tree will bear fruit throughout the year.

Planting a lemon is carried out by two common methods: cuttings or seeds. Each of the methods has its advantages and disadvantages, but it is equally widely used by domestic flower growers. To plant a lemon at home competently, it is worth considering both technologies. Thus, you can choose the most optimal method for yourself.

Bone

How to properly plant a lemon tree using seeds - flower growers who are first faced with such a need are often interested in this. First of all, you need to select high-quality seed. Take only large seeds for planting. Direct planting of grains in the ground is carried out in stages:

v flower pot pour a substrate specially designed for planting citrus plants;
sow lemon seeds in the ground;
at the end of the procedure, thoroughly moisten the soil, but avoid excessive accumulation of water in the ground. Otherwise, the seeds will begin to rot, and seedlings will not appear;
in one pot it is recommended to sow several grains at once homemade lemon. When they finally sprout, you can leave the strongest ones in the ground. Another option - all the sprouts you like can simply be planted in different containers;
when you decide on lemon sprouts at home, be sure not to damage root system, already quite frail. That is why it is better not to touch the earthen ball that envelops the rhizome of the plant.

This planting method is not bad and is often used by domestic flower growers. However, not all so simple. There is an opinion that a lemon grown does not bear fruit on its own. This is possible, but the situation is fixable. To do this, it is recommended to graft an ascended and strengthened plant from another citrus tree (grapefruit or orange), which has been growing in your home flower garden for several years.

cutting

Such a tree at home is often propagated. To do this, you will need to cut off, leaving two kidneys along the edges. It is desirable that each future sprout has 2-3 leaves and the same number of buds. When the branch is cut, dip it briefly in a growth stimulator, and then put it in water for a few days. Planting occurs, as a rule, at a time when the stalk has not yet rooted. That is why it is very important to be able to properly care for the plant. Carefully spray newly planted sprouts, because in the absence of roots, the future tree is still unable to receive moisture from the soil.

Landing time

How to plant a lemon? The result is influenced not only by the method of disembarkation or quality, but also by the period that is most optimal for such a procedure. For the most part, a lemon tree is planted in the ground in late winter or early spring. What is favorable for this time of year is the phase of awakening the tree itself and the activation of life. A plant rooted during this period will quickly take root.

What kind of soil is needed

In order for planting and caring for a houseplant to be effective, special attention should be paid to the selection or preparation of a quality substrate.

It must meet two key requirements: be loose and include various nutrients. In addition to the earth, it is recommended to put a layer of drainage in the flowerpot. The very same soil mixture is considered optimal for growing indoor lemon, if it includes light loamy soil, leafy, as well as sand and humus. Of course, some flower growers prefer to dig up ordinary earth somewhere on personal plot. However, if you want to grow a full-fledged lemon tree, such land will be too scarce for him.

Capacity selection

It is necessary to plant a lemon tree in a properly selected container. You should not immediately purchase a voluminous flower pot: in an excessively large space, the plant's root system can rot. As for the material, it can be plastic, glass, and wood. However, it is still preferable to buy a clay container in which indoor flower will feel at ease. You will have to water a planted lemon quite often, so you can’t do without drainage holes in the pot.

Landing instructions

Florists often ask how to properly plant a lemon using cuttings. You'll get desired result as long as you follow the basic guidelines. Special attention pay attention to the recess in the ground of the root neck of the tree: it should not be located deeper than 5 mm in the substrate. Plant the cutting in such a way that in the future the root collar does not begin to rot. After you plant all the branches, it's time to spray them first with water and then with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Further care

Video "Growing a lemon"

In this video you will hear helpful tips for growing lemons.

Exotic flora has long been popular with lovers of indoor floriculture. Now no one can be surprised by tropical plants that coexist perfectly on windowsills with geraniums and violets. Citrus fruits in the indoor flower garden are not the last. Many manage to grow a beautiful tree, but not everyone can boast of homemade lemons. What is the reason? How to grow a lemon so that it bears fruit?

Under natural conditions, a lemon is a fairly tall tree with a spreading crown, its height reaches 8 meters.

Of course, in an apartment, he would take up a lot of space, so they were bred specifically for home floriculture. dwarf varieties. They are neat bushes, giving a very good harvest.

If you decide to grow a lemon at home, then pay attention to the following varieties.

Meyer, or Chinese dwarf. The most popular variety that does not require special care. Handles low light well. The shortest of all known varieties. Meyer is a hybrid of lemon and orange, so lemons have a sweet taste. Fruits can start already after 18 months of growth, flowering is plentiful.
Pavlovsky. Bred in the Nizhny Novgorod region. It reaches a height of 1.5 meters, propagated by cuttings and produces a crop in the third year. From one plant, you can get from 10 to 30 thin-skinned pitted fruits. Flowering occurs twice a year. The tree lives up to 45 years.
Novogruzinsky, or Novo-Afonsky. Fairly tall tree, reaches 2 m. big leaves and purple flowers. Fruits in the 4-5th year, lemons weighing up to 120 grams, fragrant and tasty.
Maykop. Medium dwarf, lush, with large quantity thin twigs, gives a lot of tasty fruits.
Ponderosa, or Canadian. A hybrid of lemon and grapefruit. Flowering begins in the second year after rooting. The yield is small, from 3 to 7 pieces, but the fruits are large in size, their weight can reach 1 kg. Unpretentious, does not need additional lighting.
Eureka. Frost-resistant variety, it can be grown outdoors in mild climates, can withstand temperatures down to -5 degrees. The fruits appear in the second year of growth, large, thick-skinned and tasty. The plant reaches a height of 1-1.5 meters.
Genoa. A low growing shrub without thorns. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year, resistant to adverse conditions. Differs in high productivity.

Whatever variety you choose, with proper care, each tree will delight with its decorative appearance, lush bloom and yellow or orange lemons.

What to choose - planting seeds or cuttings

Unlike oranges and tangerines, a lemon is easy to cut and quickly emerges from an ordinary seed. How to grow a lemon at home - from a cutting or from seeds, which method is better? Let's look at the features and disadvantages of each method.

seeds

The first harvest may not be expected at all; under favorable conditions, it will bear fruit no earlier than 6-7 years from the moment of planting.
Difficulties with the formation of the crown. The tree should be constantly cut, monitor the extra branches.
Unlike grafted plants, lemons grown from seeds produce a higher yield.

cuttings

Propagation by cuttings allows you to grow a stronger and more viable plant.
If the stalk is taken from a fruitful tree, then the probability of getting fruits without additional vaccinations is very high.
Many varieties are propagated only by cuttings, as their fruits do not have seeds.
The flowering and ovary of lemons begins much earlier than those grown from seeds. But cuttings should be taken from a mature plant that has fruited at least 2 times.

Have you chosen a way to plant a lemon? Well, let's get to work.

Soil Requirements

Since the lemon will grow in a limited space, it is necessary to choose the right soil for planting and make sure that it is saturated. beneficial substances.

If you plan to dig up land in a garden or vegetable garden, then this is a bad idea. Garden soil is too dense, does not have proper drainage, and indeed it has an incomprehensible composition and is most likely inhabited by small pests in the form of bugs and worms. But if you insist and understand the soil, then take 3 parts of sod land and one part of sand and humus. Sod land take under the old deciduous trees, except for oak and poplar, cut the layer no deeper than 10 cm.

But it's best to buy flower shops special blend for citrus fruits. In extreme cases, a universal substrate will also do, but its acidity should be from 5.5 to 6.5 units.

Every 3-4 years, the tree needs to be transplanted, so throw away the old soil without regret, and fill in the fresh new one.

Lemon roots are small, so there is no need to buy a large pot. For a young plant, it is enough that the height of the container is 20 cm, and the diameter of the upper part is no more than 15 cm.

Pot

The stores have a great variety of pots and pots. What is the best for citrus? Let's figure it out.

Clay. Clay containers have good porosity and are saturated with water. On the one hand, the tree will not suffer from a lack of moisture, and on the other hand, it can rot from its excess. Rapid evaporation through the walls of the vessel cools the clod of earth, and lemons are tropical plants, it is harmful for them. Salts and minerals are deposited on the inner walls, the roots stretch to nutrients and often grow into clay. When transplanting, the root system is severely damaged. Well, the fragility of the material is of considerable importance. The slightest blow, and you have to look for a new place of residence.
Plastic. Ceramics, of course, are more beautiful than plastic. But plastic is cheap, light and durable. Among the shortcomings, a homogeneous structure can be noted, which does not allow excess moisture to evaporate through the walls. But the risk of rotting can be reduced by using a drainage litter on the bottom. Ease of construction - the tree will be less stable than in a heavy clay pot.
Tree. It combines all the advantages of clay and plastic, but fragility and deformation from water is a significant drawback. Usually, a “mature” plant that has survived childhood sores and a period of growth is transplanted into wooden tubs. At the same time, the inner surface is impregnated with special components and lined with a film to avoid rotting.

We figured out the material, now pay attention to the dimensions. Be guided by the fact that the diameter of the upper part is approximately equal to the height of the pot. But the bottom should be narrowed. And than branched crown, the wider the pot.

Drainage holes are a must! Up to 2.5 cm in diameter, and for a large capacity it is better to add a couple more.

At each new transplant(every 3-5 years) the pot should grow by two to three centimeters. When the lemon stops growing, it can be left alone, but it must be periodically removed. upper layer"impoverished" land and add a new nutrient substrate.

You can not plant a young plant immediately in a large tub, the earth will quickly oxidize, and the lemon will hurt.

Now let's figure out how to plant a lemon so that it is comfortable and quickly grows. Consider two ways: a cutting from an elite variety and an ordinary bone taken out of a fruit bought in a store.

Seeds or seeds

There is no need to buy seeds in the store, just take a juicy ripe fruit and select a few intact seeds.

Now the fun part begins - sprouting. There are two ways. First - fresh, just removed bones poke into the ground to a depth of 1-2 centimeters, put in a bright place without drafts and periodically moisten the ground. The hatching time is up to two weeks.

But since a man is a curious creature, and a woman is doubly so, you will periodically poke around in a pot in search of a nascent life, which means you can inadvertently damage delicate sprouts. So let's move on to the second method.

Put the seeds between two layers of cotton wool well moistened with water. You can sometimes satisfy your curiosity by lifting the top layer. As soon as a sprout appears, carefully transfer it to the ground.

cuttings

You got a stalk from friends who have a fruiting lemon. These are your actions.

First, you need to know if you got the right cutting. It should reach 10-15 centimeters in length, up to 5 millimeters thick, have a stratum corneum and 3-4 leaves. A fresh cut is best immediately dipped in ashes to prevent decay. And if you treat it additionally with a growth stimulator, then rooting will pass quickly and without problems.
Secondly, for successful cuttings, it is necessary to create a favorable microclimate of 20-25 degrees and good lighting.
Thirdly, stick the prepared shoots into the soil for citrus plants and spray liberally with a spray bottle.

Cuttings will sprout roots very quickly if you provide them with heat, light and humidity.

sprout care

Seed sprouts or unrooted cuttings cover with clear plastic cups or glass jars to create a microclimate. Spray the young shoots daily and harden with fresh air, temporarily removing the cans.

A sprout from a bone can be released from kindergarten greenhouses when 4 leaves appear. Successful rooting of cuttings is determined by the appearance of new leaves.

Fertilizer and transplant

Young trees practically do not need to be fed; additionally, more mature plants that have reached 3-4 years of age should be fertilized. In spring- summer period carry out the procedure once every 3 weeks, and in the cold season - once a month.

You can use folk remedies or buy fertilizers in the store. Use purchased funds according to the instructions.

Young shoots are transplanted several times during the year, then the transplant depends on the growth of the plant. During the period of active growth - once a year, then every 3-5 years.

The most favorable time is the beginning of spring, when new leaves did not appear and inflorescences did not start. You can also transplant in the fall before the onset of cold weather.

For successful growth and development, lemons need to provide good lighting, heat and humidity. Avoid direct sunlight, they can burn the leaves. It is not recommended to put the pot in a draft.

Watering is moderate, the earth should be slightly damp. Tropical crops are very fond of spraying, so shower often with a spray bottle.

How to "make" citrus bear fruit

Of course, I would like not only to admire the decorative bush, but also to see flowering, and also to taste the fruits.

Not all plants grown from seed will be able to bear fruit. Sometimes you need to wait up to 10 years, and sometimes you can not wait for the fruits at all. In this case, grafting from the “giving birth” plant will help. The process is quite complicated and time-consuming, but if all conditions are met, it can give a positive result. Be sure to take the advice of experienced flower growers.

To guarantee a harvest, purchase an already grafted young tree, so you will avoid breeding troubles.

Among the cardinal measures to force flowering can be attributed to the risky method of putting the plant in conditions between life and death. To do this, bring the tree to drought until the leaves fall, and then create favorable tropical conditions. However, this method is cruel to a living creature and can lead to the death of a lemon.

Do not buy a plant in a greenhouse, lemon does not like change and does not adapt well to new conditions.
When choosing a seedling, carefully inspect it. The root system must be sufficiently developed.
It is best to buy a grafted young bush, it will more easily get used to the atmosphere of your apartment and will definitely bear fruit.

Conclusion

Whatever variety of lemon you grow, care for it with love, and it will repay you not only with a flowering view, but also with a delicious fragrant harvest.

Citrus lovers have long figured out how to grow a lemon at home. There are several ways to implement the plan, the main thing is to observe existing rules for planting and caring for seedlings, otherwise you won’t be able to get a citrus tree on your windowsill.

What kind of lemon is better to grow in an apartment?

There are many species of this exotic plant that are suitable for home growing, but it is worth choosing low-growing varieties that give a lot of harvest. Among the best and most popular are the following options:

How to plant a lemon?

There are two ways that you can use to grow at home exotic tree: using seeds and cuttings. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. Planting material can be obtained independently or bought in a store. When figuring out how to plant a lemon at home, it is worth noting that planting with seeds is considered the best, since everyone can get them. Besides mature plant grown by this method will be much more viable than a tree obtained from a cutting.

How to plant a lemon from the seed?

For this option, prepare the seeds, which should be well formed and without defects. It is best to use several seeds from different citrus fruits. Immediately after extracting the seeds, soak them for several hours in water and you can proceed to planting:

To grow a lemon from a stone at home, small containers filled with suitable soil are used, mixing part of the flower soil and part of the peat. Don't forget about .
Deepen the bones by 1 cm so that the distance between them is 5 cm, and 3 cm to the walls of the container.
It is important to monitor the humidity of the earth, but it cannot be flooded either. Please note that a temperature of 18-22 ° C is suitable for seedlings. To create conditions similar to greenhouses, the container can be covered with a film, glass or jar.
The pot should be in the light, but not in direct sunlight. Every day, be sure to ventilate by removing the shelter.
If all the recommendations regarding how to properly grow a lemon from seeds are taken into account, then shoots will appear in two weeks. Select the most viable of them, and the rest can be pulled out. After the appearance of true leaves, it is carried out in separate small containers. It is necessary to transplant the plant when the height of the seedling reaches 20 cm.

How to plant a lemon seedling?

Grow will grow, so transplanting into a more comfortable and spacious pot cannot be avoided. The instructions on how to plant a lemon at home indicate that you need to take out a seedling along with an earthen clod, which will speed up its adaptation to a new place. If you got a seedling without it, then insert it into new pot and carefully distribute the roots so that they do not break or become tangled. Be sure to water the soil, compacting it slightly.

How to plant a lemon from a twig?

For the procedure, prepare river sand, which is washed and baked in the oven to remove bacteria. In addition, purchase soil for citrus fruits. There is a certain scheme for planting a room lemon with a cutting:

Cut off shoots that should not be more than a year old from a healthy and fruitful tree. Branches should be about 10 cm long and have 3-4 developed buds. The cut at the bottom should be made closer to the kidney at a right angle, and at the top - at an angle of 45 ° at a distance of 5 mm from the upper kidney. Remove the sheet located below completely, and cut the rest in half.
Soak the cuttings in a root former solution for 10-12 hours. After that, lower the cut into charcoal to save planting material from decay.
Deepen the branches in wet sand to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. Then spray with slightly warm water. To make an impromptu greenhouse, cover the stalk with a jar. Place the container in a well-lit area, but avoid direct sunlight. Those who are interested in how to grow a lemon from a cutting should know that it is important to keep the sand always wet, and spraying should be done every day.
After 2-3 weeks, the first roots should appear. New leaves will testify to successful rooting. Every day for several hours, remove the jar for "hardening". After two weeks, it can be completely removed. After that, you can carry out a transplant.

How to grow lemon at home?

In order to see fruits on a tree, it is important to properly care for it. Experienced gardeners give several good advice how to grow lemon at home:

In late autumn, to help the plant adapt to the approaching cold weather, gradually lower the temperature to 15 ° C. It is important at the same time to increase the daylight hours, otherwise the citrus will shed its leaves.
Growing a lemon at home involves wrapping the pot in winter with a blanket to protect the roots from hypothermia.
Every 5-6 waterings, it is recommended to loosen the soil so that oxygen enters the roots.
One simple way to get a lemon to bear fruit is to tie a side shoot near the trunk with wire. When the branch blooms, then the dressing should be removed.

Growing lemon at home - soil

Citrus belongs to unpretentious plants and it can take root in any land. You can use a mixture that includes turf land, river sand and humus. In addition, gardeners recommend including wood ash in the soil mixture, which will feed the sprouts. Growing a lemon at home in a pot can be done using soils intended for indoor plants, but a little peat must be added to them. When planting a cutting on top of the ground, pour a layer of sand, which will help to take root faster.

To grow a healthy bush, be sure to put a layer of drainage on the bottom of the pot, as it will prevent moisture stagnation, which is detrimental to the plant. For it, you can use small stones or pebbles, grated foam, coarse sand or expanded clay. Experts give advice - in order to provide the plant with a nutrient medium, put a layer of peat or dry manure on top of the drainage. Its height should be no more than 2 cm.

Caring for indoor lemon in a pot - watering

In order to saturate the soil well, it is recommended to add water in 3-4 doses with short breaks. When we start to drip from the drainage hole, it means that watering needs to be completed. When caring for a room lemon at home, it is important to consider that irrigation is carried out only with warm water and in the morning. In winter, water 2-3 times a week. If the room temperature is + 10 ° C, then add water 1-2 times a month.

Indoor lemon care - top dressing

For citrus crops, fertilizers are of great importance. With a lack of minerals, wilting of foliage and poor flowering are observed. To understand how to grow a lemon, follow these tips:

During flowering and fruiting it is necessary to apply fertilizer every 14 days. It is best to use organic, for example, Gumi-Omi Kuznetsova Lemon. For 1 liter of water, 1 tbsp. a spoon. Under small bushes, 0.5 tbsp is applied, and for large volumes, increase the dose.
Caring for a lemon at home in winter means reducing fertilizing to 1 time per month.
To grow healthy plant, it is useful to spray the back of the leaves with a fertilizer solution.
After transplanting, feed in a month. Immediately before placing the bush in a new pot, it is recommended to water it with Kornesil to restore the root system.

Lemon care at home - pruning

It is recommended to carry out the procedure in the spring before the start of the growth period. The crown is best formed on a low stem (15-18 cm). In the first year of life, cut the trunk at a height of about 20 cm. When growing a lemon from a seed or a cutting, keep in mind that the shoots are cut so that 4-5 leaves remain. It should be borne in mind that in most varieties, fruits are tied on branches of 4-5 orders, so the plant must be branched.

How to propagate homemade lemon?

Several methods can be used to increase the abundance of citrus bushes. How to grow a lemon from cuttings and seeds was described above, but there is another option - the use of layering.

The rootstock must be grown for 1.5-2 years. The lemon stalk should be 6-7 cm long.
Make a split on the rootstock and place the cutting in it, and then carefully wrap the grafting site with a film to create a greenhouse effect.
The vaccine will take root in about 45-60 days, and then remove the film.

Growing lemon - diseases and pests

If you do not follow the tips above, the bush can affect diseases:

Fungal diseases such as root rot, late blight and so on. Remove the affected areas, and then disinfect - spraying with chemicals.
If the care is not carried out correctly, diseases and pests affect the lemon, so infectious diseases are serious. Fight them with special means.
The appearance of viral diseases is not excluded, and then the plant must be disposed of.
When figuring out how to grow a lemon, it is worth noting that the main pests are aphids, scale insects, and whiteflies. Remove insects and wash the stems and leaves with soapy water. Experts recommend twice a week to carry out cold ablutions of the bush.

The lemon plant belongs to the genus Citrus of the Rutaceae family. The birthplace of the lemon is India, China and the Pacific tropical islands. It was introduced into culture in Pakistan and India, and then spread throughout southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Where is the lemon currently growing? Today, this plant is cultivated in countries with a subtropical climate, such as Italy, Mexico, India and the United States.

For indoor floriculture, the plant is also of interest, because you can independently grow a lemon from a seed at home. It is so popular not only because of its decorative effect. The fruits of some varieties of homemade lemon are as tasty as the fruits of lemons growing under the southern sun.

Description of homemade lemon

Room lemon is perennial evergreen plant having strong thorny branches. The leaves of this undersized tree are oblong-oval, leathery, serrated, green in color, which contain essential oil. Bud development occurs within five weeks. A blossoming flower lives 7–9 weeks, and such a flowering has a wonderful fragrance.

Fruits ripen from the moment of formation of the ovary and ending with full maturity for more than 9 months. They are covered with tuberculate or yellow pitted peel, which has a characteristic odor. White ovoid seeds are covered with a dense shell.

Gallery: lemon at home (25 photos)

Growing lemon at home

Grow lemon at home usually from the bone. To do this, the seeds are taken from the fruits that are purchased in the store. The fruits must be ripe yellow color, and the seeds in them are mature and formed. The substrate for growing lemon from the stone at home must be of a certain composition. To do this, mix the ground for flowers from the store and peat in equal parts, as a result of which the composition is light and well-permeable to water.

Tea for a Russian person is not only a way to quench their thirst, but also a good reason to gather with the whole family at the table and discuss family problems or plans, remember pleasant moments from a vacation or a trip. Tea with lemon inspires a person and entire families to make new discoveries in life and brings them together. soul mates. You can sprout the seed of that very lemon and grow a whole lemon tree on your windowsill, especially since it is not difficult at all.

Can you grow at home?

The lemon tree is not only possible, but also necessary to grow indoors. It's not only big indoor plant with rich green glossy leaves, but also a fruit-bearer that will give its owner useful and fragrant fruits.

Such a plant looks very presentable in the house, it can decorate the interior, made in any style and color. Growing a lemon in an apartment is not only a decorative issue, but also an ecological one. The lemon tree has high absorbent properties, so it can rid the room of excess moisture and odors. This plant is excellent at processing carbon dioxide and turns it into fresh air, which can partly replace ventilation. A large amount of essential oils contained in lemon leaves will be an excellent repeller of pests such as mosquitoes, flies, centipedes, bedbugs and even cockroaches.

Growing a lemon at home is quite simple.

There are three known methods growing lemons in a pot.

cuttings. This method is distinguished by the fastest start of flowering and fruiting of a lemon tree.
Grafting. This method is mainly used by gardeners for further planting plants in a greenhouse. This method is the most time-consuming, because you need to be able to choose the right grafted process and correctly carry out the grafting procedure. In addition, this is a huge stress for trees, so efforts will be required to carry out proper rehabilitation.
Seeds. Planting a lemon with seeds is a very simple way to propagate a lemon, suitable even for people who are ignorant of the art of gardening. A tree grown from a stone does not need special care, but it begins to bear fruit quite late.

Despite the chosen method of planting a lemon, it grows approximately the same, requires minimal care, and the pleasure of the process will exceed all expectations.

Suitable varieties

Despite the fact that the lemon is a deciduous plant, in nature it grows as an evergreen. At home, the lemon tree will also delight the owner with a riot of greenery throughout the year. However, you should not forget that this plant is wild, because wild plants are not able to survive in cramped apartment conditions. Thanks to centuries of breeding experience, today there are a number of unpretentious varieties that can not only take root in growing conditions in a pot, but also give an excellent fragrant harvest. In order to grow a beautiful, high-quality lemon tree, you should choose one of the following varieties.

"Chinese dwarf". In the circles of experienced gardeners, this variety is known under the name "Mayer". It is bred by breeders by crossing the seed of an orange and a lemon. This plant is ideal for growing in cramped conditions in apartments with small rooms and low ceilings, because its size does not exceed 70 centimeters. Plants of this variety bear fruit once or twice a year. Up to 20 lemons can be harvested per harvest. The fruits of this variety are more rounded, their color is slightly darker than ordinary lemons, closer to an orange tint. The size of the fruit is slightly smaller than the size of ordinary lemons. The pulp of citruses is slightly sweeter than usual, the crust is thin with small pores. The aroma of lemons is bright, traditional. The fruits of such a tree are considered to be dessert. However, it is worth remembering that this plant is a little more whimsical than its relatives, so in the autumn-winter period it is important to organize additional ultraviolet lighting and top dressing with highly active vitamin complexes for citrus fruits.

"Buddha's Hand" This variety is often referred to as "Corsican", since this particular island is considered to be its homeland. A tree of this variety reaches a height of 1.5 meters, and sometimes more. At home, such a plant bears fruit all year round, but it is possible to collect no more than 10 lemons from it per year. The fruits of the "Buddha Hand" variety grow very large, bright yellow with a thick rind and a thick white layer. The pulp is coarse-grained, juicy, the membranes are hard. The taste and aroma of lemons of this variety are mild, most often such fruits are used for the preparation of candied fruits, sauces, as a seasoning for other dishes. This variety is excellent for making fresh juices and lemonades, as it is very juicy and not too acidic.

"Pavlovsky". Bred by Russian breeders, taking into account the peculiarities of the local climate. mature tree reaches a height of 1.5 meters, fruiting lasts all year round. In one year, you can collect up to 15 lemons. The tree begins to bear fruit approximately three years after planting or germination. This is the most unpretentious variety of lemon, it perfectly tolerates both excess and insufficient illumination, does not require frequent watering, easily tolerates the autumn-winter period. For the health of such a tree, it is enough to feed with vitamins once a year and transplant no more than once every two years. The fruits of this variety are not too large, with a thin, finely porous skin of a light yellow color. The pulp of the fruit is very juicy and very fragrant, ideal for making tea and fresh juices.

Maikopsky. This variety is excellent for sprouting in the southern regions of Russia. This is a particularly heat-loving variety, so a lemon tree of this variety can be safely taken outside in the summer. Sunbathing, fresh air and rain watering have a beneficial effect on the condition of the tree. The plant begins to bear fruit on average three years after planting, however, in the southern regions, where most of the year is sunny, the first harvest can be obtained in a year and a half. The fruits of this variety are not too large, with a loose light yellow skin and a sharp "nose". The flesh is dryish, but quite fragrant.

Will the plant bear fruit?

Everyone who decides to grow a lemon at home, involuntarily thinks about whether a plant grown in an apartment will bear fruit. The answer to this question cannot be unambiguous, but it will be rather positive than negative. Fruiting almost always occurs, but in rare cases this may not happen.

As a rule, plants grown in improperly selected soil are incapable of flowering.

Most often, such a plant stops developing, reaching a height of 40-50 centimeters. Such a plant can live in this state from 2 to 6 years, it will be a pretty houseplant, but nothing more.

Under normal conditions, fruiting can occur 1-5 years after planting, depending on the variety and method of planting. It is possible to accelerate the appearance of the first harvest. For this, a procedure was invented, known among gardeners under the name "ringing" or "ringing". The essence of the procedure is to redirect the flow of liquids and nutrients inside the tree. To do this, it is necessary to wind a piece of copper wire on the tree trunk above 2-3 lower branches. The wire should encircle the tree in one ring and slightly squeeze its bark, but not too stylishly so as not to damage the external and internal tissues plants. This will slightly slow down the flow of tree sap into the branches located above the ring and, accordingly, increase the supply of liquids and nutrients to the branches below the ring. This will lead to the first budding and flowering. After six months, the ring must be removed, as it will begin to interfere with the healthy growth of the tree. The first banding can be carried out as early as a year after planting the tree. You should not abuse this method, because after the first flowering the tree will continue to bloom on its own.

How to plant?

Growing a tree from a lemon seed is quite simple, absolutely anyone can handle it. You just need to remember a simple sequence of actions and a few useful tips.

In order to be able to germinate a lemon seed, you need to choose the right fruit: the lemon must be even, with a uniform color, without ruts and dents. All these signs indicate that the fruit is mature and intact, which means that the planting material is normal. Lemon seeds must be whole and freshly removed from the fruit. It is better to choose several seeds from different lemons in order to select the most robust and strong seedlings.

The selected seeds must be folded into a small container and poured with slightly warm water, left in this state overnight. During this time, a large amount of oils and starch will stand out from the bones, the water may become like mucus. The bones will soften, the top layer will peel off. This thin, transparent cover can be carefully removed - it makes it difficult for the sprout to germinate.

It is important not to damage the integrity of the inside of the seed, so you need to proceed very carefully. Unpeeled lemon seeds can sprout for more than six months, peeled - twice as fast.

To germinate seedlings, you need to use shallow pots, you can give preference to boxes divided into sections. It is important to organize in a pot drainage holes. In addition, it is advisable to purchase a drainage mixture. The soil must be selected marked "for citrus" or "for indoor flowers." You should not buy soil intended for growing seedlings - for citrus plants it is too acidic. Ordinary soil from the garden is also not very suitable for sprouting citrus fruits. The soil can be fertilized with peat, but this is not necessary, because often ready-made mixtures are already fertilized. It is necessary to pour a layer of soil into the prepared trays approximately 1/3 of the height of the pot, then you need to pour the drainage mixture in a layer of 1-2 centimeters, and again a layer of soil on top.

Lemon seeds should not be buried deeper than 1.5 centimeters. The distance between them should be at least 5 centimeters in all directions. The pot with seeds should be wrapped in a plastic bag and left in a warm room until the first sprouts appear. Occasionally, you can spray the soil a little, but you should not water it abundantly - the seeds can rot.

After the first sprouts appear, they need to be covered with jars. Pots with seedlings should be placed in a well-lit place, for example, on a windowsill. During this period it is very important proper care for seedlings: it must be sprinkled lightly with water, the jars must be removed for 1-2 hours a day in order for the cuttings to harden, and then cover them again. When the first leaves appear on the sprouts, they need to be transplanted into small, but separate pots. Planting in large pots is acceptable when the trees reach 15-20 centimeters in height.

Care

At first glance, the lemon tree is an unpretentious plant that does not require special care. In fact, it is so, but there are several factors that make this plant a real home tyrant. So, for example, this plant cannot stand even the slightest movement around the room. Any move will lead to inevitable stress, leaf shedding and a long, protracted recovery, so it is critical to choose a lemon habitat in the house once and for all.

Here's what you should pay close attention to when choosing a place for a pot.

Proper lighting. The lemon tree is very whimsical to the right combination light and shadow: it is very fond of bright rooms, but you should avoid direct rays on the leaves. With too much light, citrus fruits begin to grow too actively, while all the juices are wasted on building branches. In such conditions, you can get a huge tree that will never begin to bear fruit. Lemons tolerate penumbra well, but this tree does not like darkness. He needs enough light for active photosynthesis. The best place for a lemon tree in a house, it is a room with large windows facing east or west.

Ideal temperature.Lemon Tree whimsical and temperature regime. Perfect option for him, it is the same temperature at any time of the year. So, for example, a lemon will feel great if both in summer and in winter time the daytime temperature will be 26 degrees, and the night temperature will be 20 degrees. However, in the conditions of the Russian climate, this is sometimes impossible. To create more comfortable conditions for the tree, you need to choose a place away from radiators, which can cause overheating. It is also worth avoiding places with drafts. It is undesirable to have a lemon near or opposite entrance doors so as not to catch a cold plant.

It is important to remember that moving a lemon during its flowering is unacceptable - this will inevitably lead to the fall of flowers and the death of the crop.

In addition to choosing a location for the pot, it is worth remembering a few more important factors that can affect the well-being of a lemon tree.

Watering

The root system of a lemon does not like watering too much. To create more comfortable conditions, you can fill the pot tray with gravel, place the pot on top and periodically add water to the tray. From the gravel, moisture will seep into the soil through the drainage holes in the pot. This will minimize wetting of the root system of the plant. On hot summer days, two not too plentiful waterings per week are enough for lemon, while in winter, you can limit yourself to one watering per week. At the same time, lemon leaves and branches love moisture, so it is very important to organize frequent spraying of greens from a spray bottle. This procedure should be carried out as often as possible, if possible daily. But do not be too zealous with spraying - streams should not flow from the leaves; rather, it should resemble abundant dew.

Regular transplant

It is very important to replant the lemon tree in a timely manner, as it depletes the soil very much. In the early stages, transplantation should be done once a year in the spring. Further, it will be optimal to replant the tree once every two years.

It is worth transplanting a tree only into specialized soil, since it is most saturated with useful substances, which will allow the tree to live the period between transplants in comfortable conditions.

In the process of transplanting, it is important to properly care for the root system of the tree. It needs to be pruned so that it can be renewed over the next two years before transplanting. If the root system is not updated in this way, premature aging of the tree will occur, which will lead to its imminent death.

top dressing

A very important role in maintaining the well-being of the lemon tree is played by high-quality and timely feeding. In garden centers, you can easily choose high-quality vitamin preparations for citrus fruits.

The main rule of lemon fertilizer is to feed the tree in a timely manner.

In the summer, the need and effectiveness of complementary foods increases, so it is worth vaccinating with liquid vitamins once a week. In the remaining months, the number of dressings should be reduced to once a month.

There are a number folk remedies, which can be a worthy replacement shop drugs: nettle infusion, eggshell infusion, or a weak solution of cow or bird droppings.

Cupping

Trimming a house tree is very important question, since far from every house will fit a full-sized tree with a large spreading crown.

In addition, the following fact has long been generally recognized: the more magnificent the crown of citrus fruits, the less harvest they will give.

In this regard, you should not let the tree grow too much. lush crown. Prune the lemon tree with care, adhering to correct proportions and periodicity - this will not harm the tree, but, on the contrary, improve its condition. The first pinching is carried out when the sprout of the future tree has reached a height of 20 centimeters, each subsequent - every 20 centimeters of plant growth.

To form a crown correct form you need to pinch and branches. It is necessary to begin to form a crown from the first tier of branches, each subsequent tier should be several centimeters shorter than the previous one.

Diseases and pests

It is not too difficult to germinate a lemon from a stone, but not all trees are able to survive to the first fruits. Indoor lemons very painful, they have no immunity to almost any known plant diseases. It is very important to follow all the above rules for caring for a lemon tree so as not to create an environment conducive to the development of diseases.

Pest problems are fairly easy to avoid. This will require simple measures: in the hot season, the plant needs to shower once a week. To do this, you need to pollinate the leaves with water. room temperature from a sprayer. In the cool season, you need to spray the leaves with slightly warm water once a month.

One of the most common problems associated with growing indoor lemons is yellowing and leaf drop. As a rule, this is not a symptom of the disease, but rather a sign of improper plant care.

Most often, the leaves turn yellow for the following reasons:

too high temperature of the plant content (over 28-32 degrees);
too strong draft at the location of the pot;
insufficient or excessive watering;
watering the plant with too cold water;
soil depletion, overdue transplant time;

poor lighting of the plant;
too high acidity of the soil.

In order to correct the situation, it is enough to identify and eliminate the cause: move the plant to another place, change the irrigation regime or transplant it into a new soil.

There are a number of diseases specific to citrus trees grown at home. Often the success of treatment depends on the detection of the disease in the early stages of its development. Among the most common citrus diseases, there are several incurable ones that can destroy the plant in a few weeks.

Chlorosis

The peculiarity of this disease is that the plant almost completely stops the production of chlorophyll, in connection with this, the process of photosynthesis stops. At the initial stages of the development of the disease, the leaves of the plant begin to lighten and gradually lose color, then become thinner and fall off. On dark green glossy lemon leaves, it is difficult not to notice the signs of this disease, they become visible immediately after infection of the plant. Chlorosis can be infectious or hereditary and only affects young plants. In the case of lemon trees, only sprouts that are less than a year old. Timely feeding, monitoring and avoiding pest problems will help to avoid infection with this disease. In case of infection, microfertilizers can be injected into the trunks, branches and roots of a diseased plant, but this method of treatment does not always help - it all depends on the plant's own immunity.

root rot

Most often, root rot develops due to excessive watering of the plant in the cold season. Constantly wet soil leads to the fact that the root of the plant begins to rot. Outwardly, this disease is difficult to detect. Falling leaves can be considered a clear sign of lemon root rot. If the leaves of a lemon fall off for no apparent reason, you need to remove the plant from the pot, carefully shake off the soil from its roots, trying to cause as little damage to it as possible. The affected areas of the rhizome must be cut off, and the plant with a healthy root should be transplanted into a new, dry soil. Next, you should minimize watering, and in order to compensate for the lack of water, you need to regularly wipe the leaves of the plant with a clean, damp washcloth.

late blight

Known in Russia fungal disease. The treatment regimen for citrus late blight is exactly the same as any garden plant. Diseased areas need to be treated blue vitriol. For complete healing of the plant, antibiotic treatment is necessary. After curing late blight, you need to create unfavourable conditions for the development of fungal infections: rare and not too abundant watering, dry, well-ventilated area will help to avoid relapse.

Gommoz

This is an infection of the root and trunk of the tree. The first signs of the disease are the appearance of cracks at the base of the tree trunk. After some time, a dark liquid begins to seep through the cracks, then the tree withers, and it becomes impossible to save it. Upon detection of the first signs of the disease, you must immediately dig up the plant, remove all affected roots and cut off the affected bark, treat all exposed areas with copper sulphate or a highly concentrated solution of manganese and transplant the tree into a new pot with fresh soil.

Tristeza

It is an incurable viral infection. On the territory of Russia it is quite rare, so infection with it is almost impossible. However, if for inexplicable reasons a homemade lemon has begun to peel and fall off the bark, it is better to get rid of this plant immediately, because tristeza is a highly contagious disease that quickly spreads to all houseplants.

Leaf mosaic

This is an infection that cannot be cured. However, if a problem is detected in time, its development can be stopped, thereby saving the tree from death. The first signs of leaf mosaic disease are the appearance of a characteristic “marble” pattern on the leaves. When further development diseases, these spots begin to grow along with the tissues of the leaves, the leaves bend and twist. Further, the disease spreads to the branches and trunk. Affected tissues also swell and lead to cracking of the trunk. At this stage, it is impossible to save the plant. When the first symptoms of the disease are detected, it is important to remove all affected leaves. You can even do something radical - remove the entire diseased branch. All sections must be treated with a weak solution of manganese, it is desirable to pollinate the healthy part of the tree with the same solution from the sprayer. It is desirable to isolate the infected plant from healthy flowers for 1-2 months.

Cancer of citrus

This bacterial disease, which develops when saprophytic microbes enter a healthy plant. Surprisingly, only plants that grow outside their historical homeland are susceptible to this disease. Plants in China and India have never had this disease. Absolutely all parts of the tree are exposed to this disease: from the root to the fruit. Light watery spots appear on the infected surfaces of the tree, which gradually darken and turn into necrotic foci. A favorable environment for the citrus cancer bacterium is too moist soil at a high average daily air temperature.

Cancer-causing bacteria have a remarkable feature - they fluoresce in dark time days. If the plant suddenly began to glow at night, this is the first sign of citrus cancer. Unfortunately, this disease is not treatable, and when faced with it, it is important to save other plants - for this you need to destroy the diseased and treat all tools and surfaces around the source of infection with disinfectants.

How to grow a lemon from seeds, see the following video