Simple Guide To Planting Your Own Lemon Tree From Scratch
Lemons are food items that you should always have on hand. Aside from the numerous ways you can incorporate them into your cooking, they are widely popular because of home hacks like using them to remove bad odor and keep dishes like guacamole and salads fresh for longer. But have you considered planting your own lemon tree?
Cultivating plants is a wholesome experience; indeed, what could be more heartwarming than watching the progression from seed to trees bearing fruit. So, don't be afraid to grow your own lemon trees; you'll find it even more rewarding because of the many benefits of lemons, to your health and otherwise.
Here's a simple guide that'll help you:
You'll need:
- Organic lemon (non-organic lemons often contain non-germinating seeds)
- Fertile potting soil
- Natural fertilisers
- Seedling pot that is about 24 inches wide by 12 inches deep
- Planting pot that is six inches wide and six inches deep (this comes in handy further down the track)
- A sunny, indoor growing location
Method:
1. Moisten the potting soil so that it is damp, but not soaked, all the way through.
2. Fill the smaller pot with soil, all the way up to an inch below the rim.
3. Cut open your lemon and remove a seed. Remove all of the pulp from its surface. A good way to do this is to simply suck on it until it is clean.
4. Quickly plant the seed. Make sure the seed is still moist when burying it in the soil in the smaller pot. Plant the seed about half an inch deep in the middle of the pot.
5. Next, spray the soil that is directly above the seed gently with water from a spray bottle.
6. Cover the pot with clear plastic wrap, seal the edges with a good rubber band, and poke small holes in the top with a pencil.
7. Place the pot in a warm, sunny location.
8. Spray on more water occasionally, to prevent the soil from drying out. But don't cause water to puddle!
9. After about two weeks, when you should see the sproutling emerging, take the plastic covering off. If you need additional light for your lemon plant, you can use a grow light to supplement the sun's light.
10. When the plant outgrows its small pot, put it in the larger pot. You will go through much the same procedure when you replant it as when you first planted.
Tips to keep in mind to ensure healthy growth of your lemon tree:
- Remember to keep the soil damp; avoid waterlogging!
- Also never forget that the young plant needs at least eight full hours of light per day.
- Apply moderate amounts of organic fertiliser like compost.
- Keep an eye out for bugs or diseases as they can stunt the growth of the lemon tree.
- Trim off brown, dead leaves when necessary.
Goodluck – and don't forget to enjoy the process!
