Plant lemon (lat. Citrus limon)- a species of the Citrus genus of the Rutaceae family. The homeland of lemon is China, India and the tropical Pacific islands. Most likely, the lemon tree is a hybrid plant that occurred accidentally in nature, which developed as a separate species of the Citrus genus and was introduced into cultivation in India and Pakistan in the 12th century, and then spread throughout North Africa, the Middle East and Southern Europe. Today, lemon is widely cultivated in countries with subtropical climates - the annual harvest of its fruit is approximately 14 million tons. Among the leaders in lemon cultivation are countries such as India, Mexico, Italy and the USA.

The plant is also of interest for indoor floriculture - homemade lemon has been popular in many countries around the world for more than three hundred years. Lemon is grown indoors not only because of its decorative value: the fruits of some varieties of homemade lemon are as tasty as the fruits of lemons ripening under the southern sun.

Planting and caring for lemon

• Bloom: at home - at different times.
• Lighting: short day plant. The best place in the apartment is the southern and eastern window sills with shading from the sun in the afternoon. In order for the lemon to develop symmetrically, it must be rotated around its axis by 10˚ every 10 days. In winter you will need additional artificial lighting for 5-6 hours daily.
• Temperature: during the growth period - 17 ˚C, during the budding period - no more than 14-18 ˚C, during fruit growth - 22 ˚C or more. In winter – 12-14 ˚C.
• Watering: from May to September - daily, then no more than 2 times a week.
• Air humidity: It is recommended to periodically spray the leaves with warm boiled water, especially in the summer heat and in winter when they are working heating devices.
• Feeding: comprehensive mineral fertilizers. During the period of active growth, young plants are fed once every one and a half months, adults - once every 3-4 weeks. From mid-autumn, feeding is gradually reduced: if a lemon grows in a heated room in winter, it is fed once every month and a half; if the tree has entered a dormant period, it does not need feeding. The fertilizer solution is applied to the pre-moistened substrate.
• Rest period: in winter, but not clearly expressed.
• Transfer: in spring, at the beginning of active growth. Young lemons are replanted once every year or two, mature ones - once every 2-3 years, when the roots appear from the drain holes.
• Reproduction: seeds, cuttings and grafting.
• Pests: spider mites, whiteflies, root and common aphids, mealybugs, scale insects.
• Diseases: chlorosis, tristeza, citrus canker, homoz, scab, anthracnose, leaf viral mosaic, root rot, melseco.

Read more about growing lemons below.

Homemade lemon - description

Indoor lemon- a perennial, evergreen, low-growing plant with strong, thorny branches. The tops of its young shoots are purple-violet. Lemon leaves are leathery, green, oblong-oval, toothed, with a large number of glands containing essential oil. Each leaf lives 2-3 years. The plant's buds take about five weeks to develop. An open lemon flower lives from 7 to 9 weeks, and all this time the lemon blossom is accompanied by a wonderful fragrance.

Fruit ripening from the formation of the ovary to full maturity can last more than nine months. The fruits of indoor lemons are ovoid in shape with a nipple at the top, they are covered with a yellow, pitted or tuberous peel with a strong characteristic odor. The greenish-yellow, juicy and sour pulp of the fruit is divided into 9-14 segments. White, irregularly ovoid-shaped lemon seeds are covered with a dense parchment shell.

We will tell you about how to create conditions for growing lemons in an ordinary apartment, how to grow a lemon from a seed at home, how to water a lemon, why lemon leaves turn yellow, what pests and diseases of homemade lemons are most dangerous, how to plant a lemon at home , what valuable properties have lemon fruits, and you will definitely want to decorate your home with this beautiful and useful plant.

Indoor lemon from seed

How to grow lemon at home

The easiest way to grow homemade lemon is from a seed. Seeds for germination can be taken from fruits purchased in the store. The fruits must be ripe and uniform yellow color, and the seeds in them are mature and formed. A lemon from a seed needs a substrate of a certain composition: mix in equal parts peat and flower soil from the store to make the composition light and permeable. The soil pH should be within pH 6.6-7.0.

How to plant a lemon

Place a layer of drainage material and substrate in a suitable container and plant lemon seeds in it to a depth of 1-2 cm immediately after removing them from the fruit. Keep the crops in a bright place at a temperature of 18-22 ºC, keeping the soil slightly moist, and the seeds will germinate in about two weeks.

How to care for lemon seedlings

At home, lemon from the seed is watered with water at room temperature, the soil in the pots is carefully loosened, and when the sprouts develop a pair of true leaves, the strongest seedlings are transplanted into separate pots with a diameter of 10 cm and covered to create the desired microclimate glass jar. Once a day, the jar is removed briefly to ventilate the seedlings. The lemons can be kept in this container until they reach a height of 15-20 cm, after which they are transplanted into larger pots. Lemon planting is carried out by transshipment.

Before replanting a lemon, remember that each subsequent pot for an adult lemon should be 5-6 cm larger in diameter than the previous one, since in a container that is too spacious, the soil not occupied by roots begins to sour from moisture. Be sure to lay a thick layer of drainage at the bottom of the pot - expanded clay, broken polystyrene foam, charcoal or pebbles. A flower mixture from a store or garden soil fertilized with humus is quite suitable as soil. When replanting, do not bury the root collar into the ground - this may cause it to rot.

Caring for a lemon in a pot

Conditions for growing indoor lemon

How to grow homemade lemon? Growing homemade lemons is not easy, but rewarding. First of all, you need to create for it optimal conditions. Since lemon is a short-day plant, it tolerates a lack of lighting. Long daylight hours stimulate the rapid growth of lemons, but delay the onset of fruiting. The best place for plants in an apartment is southern and eastern window sills, but in the afternoon the windows need to be shaded. To prevent the tree from growing one-sided, turn it every 10 days around its axis by 10º.

IN winter time, if the lemon does not rest, it is advisable to organize artificial lighting for it every day for 5-6 hours.

Temperature for lemon

For lemon leaves to grow, 17 ºC is enough. The most comfortable temperature for lemon during the period of bud formation - 14-18 ºC; in hotter conditions, lemon sheds ovaries and buds. And during fruit growth, it is advisable to increase the temperature to 22 or more ºC. When warm days arrive, the lemon can be taken out into the garden, onto the balcony or onto the terrace, but make sure that the plant is not damaged by sudden temperature changes - wrap it up or cover it at night.

In winter, lemon is comfortable in a room with a temperature of 12-14 ºC, away from heating devices, where the plant will remain dormant in order to gain strength for the next fruiting.

Watering the lemon

Lemon in room conditions needs daily watering from May to September, the rest of the time the frequency of moistening is approximately twice a week. Saturate the substrate with moisture, but let it dry before the next watering. It is advisable to use filtered water or at least let it sit for 24 hours. The temperature of the water for irrigation should be the same as the room temperature. If for any reason the lemon is exposed to waterlogging for a long time, you will have to completely replace the substrate in which it grows.

Growing lemon at home requires spraying the leaves plants with warm boiled water, especially in winter, when the heating appliances in the room are working at full strength. However, moderation must be observed in this matter, otherwise problems caused by fungal diseases may arise. If the lemon rests in a cool place in winter, the leaves do not need to be sprayed.

Lemon fertilizer

Lemon at home needs regular feeding. Complex mineral compositions can be used as fertilizers. Young plants are fertilized once every month and a half, adults more often: the frequency of fertilizing in the spring is summer period– once every two to three weeks. From mid-autumn, fertilizing is reduced: if your tree grows without rest all year round, in winter, fertilize an adult lemon once every month and a half, and if it rests in winter, it does not need fertilizing at all. Two hours before adding fertilizer, be sure to water the substrate in the pot with clean water.

Among organic fertilizers, lemon prefers ash extract, infusion of quinoa or birch leaves (half a jar of crushed leaves is filled with water and left for 2-3 days), infusion diluted 5-6 times fresh manure. The frequency of applying organic matter is the same as for mineral fertilizers.

If you notice that there is intensive growth of green mass, but fruiting does not occur, remove the nitrogen component from the fertilizing and increase the phosphorus component.

Lemon trimming

Lemon care includes regular pruning. The crown of a lemon is shaped depending on what it is grown for. If you need it as an ornamental plant, then the crown is formed compact and small in size, but if you need lemon fruits, then the crown is formed differently.

A fruiting lemon must have a certain number of main branches and the required mass of growing shoots, and most of these shoots must consist of fruit wood. The crown is formed by pinching: as soon as the first zero shoot stretches to 20-25 cm, it is pinched, the next pinching of the shoot is done at a height of 15-20 cm from the previous pinching, leaving 4 developed buds in the segment between two pinches, which subsequently form 3-4 main escape aimed at different sides. Shoots of the first order are pinched after 20-30 cm, and when they ripen, they are cut about 5 cm below the pinching point. Each subsequent shoot should be approximately 5 cm shorter than the previous one.

The formation of the crown on the shoots of the fourth order is completed. If you do not prune a lemon, its branches grow too long, and the formation of shoots of the third and fourth order, on which the fruits form, is delayed.

Pruning, in addition to its formative function, also has a sanitary function: as necessary, weak shoots and those branches that grow inside the crown should be removed.

Pests and diseases of lemon

Lemon turns yellow

Amateur flower growers often ask us why lemons turn yellow. There are several reasons for this phenomenon. Lemon turns yellow:

• if the air in the room is dry;
• if the plant lacks nutrition;
• if in winter it is in a too warm room;
• when affected by spider mites.

All reasons, except the last one, are easily removable, and as for spider mites, drugs such as Actellik, Akarin, Kleschevit and Fitoverm will help to cope with them. Do not violate the rules for caring for your homemade lemon, keep it cool in winter, do not forget to humidify the air in the room where the lemon grows, apply the necessary fertilizers on time, and your tree will be healthy and green.

Lemon falls

To the question of why lemons fall, which our readers often ask, the answer is also ambiguous. We are, of course, not talking about lemon fruits, which can hang on the tree after ripening for up to two years. The phrase “lemons are falling” in letters from readers refers to the loss of leaves by a plant. Lemon leaves fall off, eaten by spider mites, which feed on the cell sap of plants. We described how to combat these pests using insecticides in the previous section. But you can, without resorting to pesticides, treat lemon with a two-day infusion of a teaspoon of grated onion in a glass of water.

Leaves and sometimes lemon buds fall off due to lack of moisture in the soil and in the air around the plant. Don't forget to water and spray the tree regularly, especially during the hot season.

Lemon dries

It happens that the tips of lemon leaves dry out and become Brown color. The reason for this is lack of moisture or dry air. And if the leaves dry out and curl, this is evidence that you are not caring for it correctly. Review the rules for caring for the plant again: lemon needs bright lighting with shading during the midday hours, humid air, frequent but moderate watering, regular feeding and proper winter rest.

Lemon pests

In addition to spider mites, lemons can be harmed by whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs and scale insects. As folk remedy To get rid of pests, many use an infusion of 150-170 g of chopped garlic in a liter of water. Infuse the garlic in a tightly closed container for five days, after which 6 g of the strained infusion is diluted in 1 liter of water and the lemon is processed. The product is effective only if there are few insects. If the lemon is infested with a large number of pests, you will have to resort to insecticide treatment.

Indoor lemon - reproduction

Lemon from cuttings

In addition to the seed method of propagating lemon, indoor floriculture Cuttings and grafting are also used. For cuttings, take shoots at least 4 mm thick and 10 cm long. The lower cut should pass directly under the bud, and the upper cut should pass above the bud. Each cutting should have 2-3 leaves and 3-4 formed buds. Treat the cuttings with a root formation stimulator and lower them with the lower cut half their length into water.

After 3 days, the cuttings are planted to a depth of 3 cm in pots with a soil mixture consisting of equal parts of coarse sand, humus and flower soil. Since the lack of roots in cuttings does not allow them to receive moisture from the soil, it is necessary to spray their leaves with warm, settled water several times a day. The soil in the pot should be slightly moist. Optimal temperature for rooting cuttings 20-25 ºC. At proper care The roots of the cuttings will develop in a month and a half, and then it will be possible to plant them in separate containers.

How to graft a lemon

To graft a lemon, it is important to have a good rootstock. This is a two- to three-year-old seedling grown from a seed with a trunk diameter of no more than 1.5 cm. Lemon is also grafted onto the rootstocks of other citrus fruits. Scion cuttings are taken from mature but not lignified annual shoots of healthy trees. The leaves are cut from the prepared cuttings, leaving only their petioles with buds in the axils. Before grafting, cuttings can be stored wrapped in a damp cloth for 2-3 days in a cool place or for 2-3 weeks in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator, but it is better to cut them immediately before the procedure.

Grafting is carried out during the active growth of lemon, and the most suitable time for this is spring. Best tool- a budding knife, but if you don’t have one, you can get by with an ordinary sharply sharpened and sterilized knife.

How to plant homemade lemon? Make a T-shaped cut in the bark on the rootstock stem and carefully bend its corners. Cut a bud from the scion cutting along with the petiole and scutellum - part of the bark with a thin layer of wood - so long that it fits into the T-shaped cut. Taking the scion by the petiole and without touching the cut with your hands, place the shield under the folded bark in the T-shaped cut, then press the bark tightly and wrap the rootstock trunk above and below the bud with budding tape or plaster.

To be on the safe side, it is better to vaccinate two or three kidneys at the same time. Engraftment lasts for three weeks. If the petiole of the grafted bud turns yellow and falls off, then the grafting was successful. In this case, cut the scion trunk 10 cm above the grafting site, remove the budding tape and remove the shoots that appear on the stem below the grafting.

In addition to bud grafting, budding methods such as cutting grafting and lateral grafting are used.

Types and varieties of homemade lemon

At home, low-growing and medium-growing varieties of plants are usually grown. Lemon varieties differ, in addition to the size and shape of the crown, the degree of adaptability to growing conditions, as well as the quality, appearance and fruit size. We offer you an introduction to the most popular varieties of homemade lemon:

Pavlova lemon

This is a variety of folk selection, which was bred more than a century ago in the village of Pavlovo near Nizhny Novgorod. Pavlovsk lemon is the most common variety in indoor cultivation. The trees of this variety reach a height of 1.5-2 m and have a compact rounded crown up to 1 m in diameter. The fruits, the number of which reaches from 20 to 40 pieces per year, are distinguished by high taste qualities, superior to those of lemons grown in open ground.

Often the fruits of Pavlovsk lemon do not have seeds or contain a small number of them, although there are fruits that contain from 10 to 20 seeds. The thickness of the shiny, smooth and only slightly bumpy or rough skin of the fruit is about 5 mm. It can be eaten along with the pulp. The length of the fruit is about 10 cm, the diameter is from 5 to 7 cm, the weight is 120-150 g, but in some cases the weight of the fruit can reach 500 g;

Meyer lemon

Or Chinese dwarf was brought from China first to the USA, and after it gained recognition in America due to its productivity, it became popular in Europe. It is believed to come from the red-orange Cantonese lemon, although another version says it is a natural hybrid between lemon and orange. This is a small plant 1-1.5 m high with a densely leafy spherical crown and a small number of spines. Fruits weighing up to 150 g are covered with thin orange or bright yellow peel. The pulp is slightly acidic, slightly bitter, juicy. The variety is distinguished by its productivity and early ripening;

Novogruzinsky

A young, productive, tall variety - the tree height can reach 2 m or more. The crown is spreading, with numerous thorns. The yellow fruits are round or elliptical in shape, weighing up to 150 g, with a thin shiny skin and have a pleasant taste. Every year, with good care, the tree can produce from 100 to 200 fruits, while the New Georgian lemon is one of the most undemanding varieties of the crop;

Lisbon

This lemon comes from Portugal, and it gained popularity only when it came to Australia. This is a fast-growing tree, reaching a height of 2 m, with a dense crown, strong branches with a large number of thorns. In a year, the tree can produce up to 60 fruits weighing an average of 150 g, although fruits weighing up to half a kilogram can occur. The fruits of this variety have a classic oval shape with a slightly beveled top; their peel is thick, slightly ribbed, and yellow in color. The pulp has a pleasant sour taste. The variety is characterized by good adaptability to growing conditions, which helps the plant to tolerate low air humidity;

Genoa

A productive variety of Italian selection brought to us from America. The height of the tree of this variety reaches only 130 cm. The crown is dense, and there are practically no thorns in it. Small fruits weighing up to 120 g elongated shape with rough skin greenish-yellow color with aromatic, juicy, pleasant-tasting pulp appear on the tree several times a year. In total, the variety produces up to 180 fruits per year;

Lemon Maykop

It reaches a height of 130 cm, is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and high productivity, and has several forms. The weight of the fruit is 150-170 g, the shape is oval-oblong, with a slight thickening in the lower part. The skin of the fruit is thin, ribbed, shiny;

Anniversary

This variety was obtained by Uzbek breeders as a result of crossing the Novogruzinsky and Tashkent varieties. This hybrid is unpretentious, shade-tolerant and early-bearing. The fruits of the Yubileiny variety are large, round shape, with thick yellow skin. The weight of the fruit reaches 500-600 g;

Ponderosa

A natural hybrid of citron and lemon. This is one of the most unpretentious citrus fruits, resistant to drought and heat. Plants of this variety reach 1.5-1.8 cm in height and have a spreading crown. Ponderosa fruits are oval or round, weighing up to 500 g, with a thick, bright yellow, rough peel. Their pulp is juicy, has a pleasant sour taste, and is light green in color. The variety is distinguished by early fruiting and demanding soil composition;

Lunario

A decorative and high-yielding hybrid of papeda and lemon, bred in the century before last in Sicily. The name of the variety is due to the fact that it blooms on the new moon. Lunario are trees no more than half a meter high with a large number of small thorns. The fruits are ovoid or oblong-elliptical in shape with a smooth and shiny skin of a rich yellow color and contain weakly juicy but aromatic flesh of a greenish-yellow hue with 10-11 seeds;

Villa Franka

Variety American selection, which is an almost thornless tree up to 130 cm high with a large number of emerald green leaves. Smooth, oblong-oval with a blunt nipple, wedge-shaped fruits with juicy, aromatic, pleasant-tasting light yellow pulp reach a weight of only 100 g. The peel of the fruit is dense, almost smooth to the touch;

Irkutsk large-fruited

A recently bred light-loving Russian variety, which is a medium-height tree with a crown that does not require shaping. The fruits with medium-thick, lumpy skin are very large - weighing up to 700 g, but some can reach one and a half kilograms;

Kursk

Also a Russian variety, obtained through experiments with the Novogruzinsky variety. The Kursky variety is distinguished by early fruiting, drought resistance, shade tolerance, relative cold resistance and high yield. Plants of this variety reach a height of 150-180 cm. The weight of thin-skinned fruits reaches 130 g;

Commune

A very popular Italian variety in its homeland, characterized by increased productivity. This is a medium-sized plant with a dense crown and a small number of small thorns. The fruits are large, oval, almost free of seeds, with juicy, aromatic, tender pulp with a very sour taste. The peel is medium thick, slightly lumpy.

The indoor lemon varieties New Zealand, Tashkent, Moscow, Mezen, Ural indoor and others are also successfully grown in cultivation.

Properties of lemon - harm and benefit

Beneficial properties of lemon

In popular literature beneficial features lemon are described repeatedly. But since it is always pleasant to write about good things, we are ready to once again cover in detail the topic “The harm and benefits of lemon.” So, what are the benefits of lemon? Its fruits contain:

• citric and malic acid;
• trace elements iron, potassium, copper, manganese and iodine;
• Sahara;
• pectins;
• flavonoids and phytoncides;
• fiber;
• vitamins A, B, P, D, C and group B – B2, B1, B9.

Due to the presence of these components in lemon fruits, it has:

• tonic;
• refreshing;
• antipyretic;
• bactericidal;
• strengthening effect.

In addition, lemon juice is a source of citrine, which, in combination with vitamin C, has a beneficial effect on redox processes, metabolism and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Having a strong bactericidal effect, lemon helps the body cope with the flu, but for this it must be consumed with tea made from mint, plantain, horsetail and sage.

By restoring digestive processes, lemon helps remove toxins and waste from the intestines, helps cope with respiratory tract infections and oral cavity, relieves or alleviates migraine pain, eliminates rashes and boils on the skin. In addition to the listed advantages, it must be said that lemon is a good diuretic.

Despite its sour taste, lemon can reduce the acidity of gastric juice. Lemon juice and its peel are excellent antiseptics, and the leaves of the plant are successfully used to lower the temperature. Due to its high vitamin C content, lemon has a strengthening effect on the immune system.

Lemon is included in many medicinal preparations that relieve inflammation, kill germs and helminths, heal wounds, strengthen the body and reduce the manifestation of sclerosis. Eating lemons is indicated for atherosclerosis, lung diseases, poisoning, vitamin deficiency and hypovitaminosis. It is useful even for pregnant women.

Baths with lemon juice relieve sweating and tired feet; rinsing your mouth with lemon juice strengthens your gums and tooth enamel. If you regularly eat lemons, diseases such as colds, tonsillitis, sore throat, vitamin deficiency, urolithiasis and cholelithiasis, gout, atherosclerosis and diabetes will not pose a danger to you. And this is not a complete list of health problems that the yellow sour fruit will save you from. Isn't this a good enough reason to grow indoor lemons at home?

Lemon - contraindications

What can be the harm of lemon, and for whom can it be harmful? Lemon is contraindicated for hepatitis, hyperacidity of the stomach, gastritis, inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, gall bladder and intestines. Moderation in the consumption of lemon fruits should be observed by hypertensive patients and patients with pancreatitis. In rare cases, eating lemons can cause an allergic reaction, since supplying companies treat the fruits with chemicals that extend their shelf life. For some, lemon can cause heartburn, and for people with a sore throat or nasal mucosa, lemon juice will almost certainly cause irritation.

You can grow citrus from a seed on your own balcony or loggia. If you want to get a strong, beautiful plant, you need to know all the features of planting and caring for it. Fruiting depends on the variety and planting method.

Lemon can be grown from a seed

Benefits of growing lemon

A large amount of vitamin C and trace elements allow this citrus to be used in the fight against cold symptoms. Its use helps to normalize hormonal levels and the activity of the gastrointestinal tract.

Lemon is a very sour but aromatic fruit that can be eaten fresh or processed into juices, jams, tea, etc.

Lemons grow in countries with warm climates, for example, Georgia, Turkey, northern Africa and Asia. But you can try to grow citrus at home. It will not be possible to plant citrus in open ground, because it does not tolerate temperature changes, so it will quickly die at the first cold snap.

For growing, use a balcony equipped with a heating system or a glass greenhouse. If a tree is grown in such conditions, then in a few years you can expect a harvest.

Popular indoor varieties of lemon

It is best to plant the following varieties in an apartment:

1. Pavlovsky. Very tall and beautiful tree. It often reaches 2 m in height. The fruits have a sweetish taste, and their weight can reach 400–450 g.
2. Meyer lemon. A hybrid obtained by crossing with grapefruit. Does not take up much space on the balcony or in the room. One plant can produce up to 2 kg of fruit per season. The weight of each citrus reaches 150 g.
3. Ponderosa. Known for its bitter taste of fruits and large number of seeds. This tree is very beautiful because it blooms most of the season.
4. Genoa. It is unpretentious in care, so it is often grown by novice gardeners. It bears fruit in the 5th year of life, and blooms in the second year.
5. Anniversary. One of the highest yielding varieties. Its fruits have a thick skin.

Ponderosa lemon produces slightly bitter fruit

Seed selection

A lemon grown from a seed can produce up to 8 kg of fruit per season if the planting material was chosen correctly and the care met all the requirements. Anyone who decides to grow lemons needs to choose the right planting material:

• choose seeds only of a fruit-bearing variety that can be grown at home;
• You can remove seeds only from ripe fruit;
• For sowing you will need 10–15 large seeds.

We must not forget that the correct choice of variety determines how the tree will grow. Don't expect active fruiting right away. The first harvest will appear only 5–8 years after planting.

The seed should be taken from a ripe fruit

Planting a lemon

To grow, you will need a container for lemon, soil, fertilizers, and plastic film.

Before planting seeds, it is advised to soak them in a solution of monosodium glutamate and a growth stimulator for 24 hours.

After this, the planting material is dried. Landing:

1. Soil preparation. You can buy it in a specialized store or mix it yourself, using compost, peat and soil, and river sand in equal proportions.
2. A thin layer of drainage is laid on the bottom of the pot: broken brick, on top of which the prepared soil is poured.
3. Plant seeds to a depth of 2–2.5 cm in pre-moistened soil.
4. Cover the pot with plastic wrap.

Such greenhouses should be kept at room temperature 18–22 °C. There is no need to moisten the soil: excess water can cause the seeds to rot.

The lemon is kept in the greenhouse until the first shoots appear. After this, the pots are placed in a well-lit place. The film is removed from the pots only when the first leaves appear. Before this, you should ventilate the greenhouse for 2–3 hours a day, opening part of the film.

Lemon sprouts should be ventilated regularly

Young tree care

In order for a lemon to grow and develop, you need to feed it with mineral fertilizers no more than once every 3 months.

When the tree reaches 15–20 cm in height, you can transplant it into a larger pot. For active fruiting, it should be replanted 2 times a year.

Care is as follows:

1. Formation of the tree crown. The first pruning is carried out when the main stem reaches 20–22 cm. It is shortened to give the plant strength to form side shoots. Further pruning is carried out every spring.
2. Trunk banding. Copper wire is used, which is tied at its base. As the citrus grows, it will cover the binding with bark. In this place, useful substances will accumulate in large volumes, which will affect the yield.
3. Watering. Lemon loves moisture, but does not tolerate its excess. More attention needs to be paid to spraying. They are carried out once every 2–3 days. Regular watering is carried out with room-settled water no more than once every 2 weeks.
4. Cleaning. Mature trees become covered with indoor dust. It negatively affects the quality of tree growth. Dust should be wiped off with a damp cloth or washed off with a shower, which can be used no more than once a year, using only warm water.

The tree can bear fruit within 3 years, but experts advise removing the first blossoms from the tree, leaving only 2–3 flowers. A young lemon cannot yet withstand heavy loads. By cutting off the inflorescences, a person allows the tree to grow stronger.

Copper wire is used to trim lemons

Protection from diseases and pests

Preventive measures:

• bathing in the shower;
• wiping leaves with soapy water;
• spraying with Fitosporin solution.

Regular preventive procedures help protect citrus from scale insects, mealy mites and spider mites.

They reduce the yield of the tree or destroy it. Prevention is necessary for both adult and unfruitful lemons.

How to get a good harvest

Whether a lemon will bear fruit depends on many factors. If all requirements are taken into account, then after 4–7 years of plant life you can obtain good harvest. Grafting allows you to accelerate the growth of the tree and reduce the waiting time for the first harvest. Most often it is carried out by budding or splitting.

Lemon, despite its tropical origin, is very popular in our country. Its fruits are actively used in cooking, medicine and cosmetology.

Lemon, despite its tropical origin, is very popular in our country.

Many lovers of this fruit are interested in how to grow a lemon from a seed so that it not only becomes a decoration for the room, but also bears fruit.

Is it possible to grow lemon at home?

Lemon successfully takes root in an apartment if the rules of care are followed.

Lemon is an evergreen hybrid shrub, a representative of the citrus genus, the rue family. The fruits of this plant have a similar name. They have a rounded oblong shape. Their color can be bright yellow or greenish. Lemon is native to Southeast Asia, Spain and Italy.

The subtropical climate is the most favorable environment for the growth of shrubs. But if you create the appropriate conditions for a lemon, you can get its fruits in 4–5 years even in an ordinary apartment.

Video: briefly about the features of growing a citrus tree at home

Required tools and materials

To plant a lemon, you will need:

• a small pot with a drainage hole;
• crushed charcoal or expanded clay;
• biostimulator Epin-Eustra or Zircon;
• fluorescent lamps;
• polyethylene film;
• foil;
• tweezers.

Step-by-step instructions for growing lemons from seeds

Lemons grown using this method are more resistant to negative factors than citrus fruits obtained by cuttings.

Preparing the seeds

Preparing lemon seeds using a biostimulant solution

To get seeds for planting, two lemons will be enough. But pay attention Special attention on the quality of the fruit. They must be ripe, without damage or deformation.

Rinse lemons under running water and cut into two halves. Select the largest seeds.

In order for the root system of the future plant to develop well, the seeds must be treated with biological stimulants before planting. The preparations Zircon or Epin-Extra are suitable for this. Add one drop of biostimulator to 250 ml of water and place the seeds in the solution for 12 hours. You can do this overnight and start planting in the morning. After this procedure, the immunity of the bones will increase, they will be easier to tolerate dry air or lack of lighting.

How to plant a plant

Shallow containers will be required for planting. You can buy ready-made pots or make them yourself from scrap materials. Suitable for this purpose plastic cups 5–6 cm high. You can also cut the bottles to required size. Don't forget to make holes for drainage in your homemade pots.

Before you start sowing, you need to prepare the soil. Lemons prefer loose, nutritious, slightly acidic or neutral soil with a high phosphorus content. A mixture for planting citrus fruits is available in any flower shop. But you can prepare the soil yourself:

1. Mix humus, turf soil and peat in equal parts. It is allowed to use ordinary soil from the garden.
2. To make the soil loose enough, it is recommended to sift it through a sieve with a mesh size of 2–4 mm, then mix thoroughly.

Simply place the seed in a pot and slightly moisten the soil

The most suitable period for planting is the end of January or the beginning of February. And the process itself is performed in the following sequence of actions:

1. Place a 1.5 cm thick layer of drainage on the bottom of the container. Crushed coal or expanded clay is suitable for this.
2. Then fill the pot with soil and moisten it a little.
3. Make holes 2–3 cm deep and place the seeds in them. Use several seeds at once. This will allow the strongest ones to germinate.
4. Planted seeds need light watering. Excessive amounts of moisture can cause root death. The soil only needs to be sprayed twice a week.

Important! If the seeds are placed deeper than 3 cm in the soil, they may rot, and if planted shallowly, they will die from drying out.

The temperature level in the room where the pots are located should not fall below 18 °C, otherwise the seeds will not germinate. If the room is cool, cover the containers with film. But not hermetically sealed; the seeds need access to air. Place the pots in the warmest place in the room. Leave them there until shoots emerge.

Video: master class on planting lemon seeds

Plant care

When the shoots sprout, they need to create the appropriate conditions. Lemon is a capricious plant. In order for it to fully develop, you need to strictly follow all the recommendations.

Transfer

Lemon transplantation must be timely

Select the strongest sprouts and move them to a pot bigger size. It should be 5 cm larger than the container in which the seeds were planted. To determine the most viable seedlings, focus on the following criteria:

1. Inspect the crown of the sprout. It should be quite dense. This parameter corresponds to shoots on which the buds are located on minimum distance from each other.
2. Do not choose a seedling with a lot of needles.
3. A good shoot has strong leaves that do not fall off at the slightest wind fluctuation. The more there are on the sprout, the better.

Important! If you find seedlings with thin shoots and few leaves, you can remove them immediately.

Do not hesitate to replant, otherwise the roots of the sprouts will begin to branch and become tangled with each other. Also keep in mind that you should not take a pot that is too large. Some do this, believing that in this case there will be no need for a transplant for a long time. It's a delusion.

The lemon root system develops on the surface layers of the soil. Its growth occurs in the horizontal direction. If used excessively large capacity, the roots will come into contact with the side walls of the pot and follow their contour. And the deep layers of the soil will remain untouched and will begin to sour. As a result, the lemon will begin to hurt, and if the situation is not corrected, it may die.

The most the right time For transplantation it is February or June. The process itself is performed in the following sequence:

1. Fill the bottom of the pot with 2 cm of drainage, then fill it with soil. The distance between the soil surface and the edge of the container should be 1 cm.
2. Make a hole in the center, place the plant and cover it with soil. Replant the lemon together with the earthen ball.
3. Lightly compact the soil by tapping the sides of the pot. Do not press down the soil from above.

During the first year, the lemon is replanted 2 times. Then this period needs to be increased. Plants up to three years old are moved to new containers every 12 months. Adult lemons are replanted after three years. Each time, a pot is selected that is 5–6 cm larger in diameter than the previous one.

Video: instructions for transplanting a lemon

Crown formation

Shaping will allow you to get a three-dimensional tree

You need to start this procedure from the first months. Do not allow the seedling to become stick-like as it develops. Using tweezers, pinch the top of the lemon. You need to achieve lateral branching. Leave 2–3 leaves on the branches, and top part delete.

For uniform development of the crown, the lemon must be periodically rotated, but no more than 10°. Also remove branches that grow vertically and inward.

If the lemon begins to bloom in the first year, cut off all the buds. Some people ignore this rule. But otherwise, the seedling will expend all its energy on flowering. Then it becomes unviable and begins to fade.

Important! A lemon should bloom after there are 15 or more leaves per flower.

Lighting and humidity

Low humidity and good light are important for lemon

Lemon requires good lighting Therefore, it is important to follow the following recommendations:

1. Place the lemon on the windowsill on the west or east side. But the sprouts should not be exposed to direct sunlight - this will lead to their death.
2. From October to March, organize additional lighting using fluorescent lamps. To get a more pronounced effect, build a foil reflector for them.
3. Do not use incandescent lamps; they are not powerful enough.
4. Provide the plant with additional light - 2 hours in the morning and 3 in the evening.

Lemons do not tolerate dry air well. Its humidity level should be 40–50%. Do not use spraying; this procedure will not give the desired result when grown indoors. It is better to fence off the plant on the windowsill with plastic film or place a humidifier next to it.

Temperature

In warm weather, lemon should be kept at a temperature of +18°C..+23°C. With the onset of winter, when the plant goes into a dormant state, this indicator should be reduced to +10 °C. In such conditions, the development of lemon occurs more intensively. At low temperatures, fruit seeds are laid.

In the summer, it will be beneficial for lemon to stay in the fresh air. Take it outside, where the plant can better absorb carbon dioxide. The temperature in summer should not rise above +30 °C.

Watering

You can water the lemon with filtered water.

The features of this process can be reduced to the following aspects:

1. Artesian or well water cannot be used for irrigation - it contains a high concentration of salts, which increase the level of alkali in the soil.
2. Tap water is also not suitable due to its high chlorine content. This substance has a poisonous effect on citrus fruits, including lemon.
3. Use only filtered water. Before watering, add nitric acid to it at the rate of 3 ml of the substance per 10 liters of liquid. As a result, the water will become softer.
4. Nitric acid can be replaced with oxalic acid (1 teaspoon) or acetic acid (3 tablespoons).
5. There are no clear instructions regarding the amount of watering. Focus on the degree of soil moisture. Place your finger into the soil. If the soil is dry at the depth of the phalanx, the plant needs to be watered.
6. Do not use cold water. Its temperature level should be at least +5 °C.
7. Do not allow water to remain in the tray.

Important! Can't stand lemon large quantity moisture.

Top dressing

There is no need to feed lemon sprouts for the first two months after their appearance. Next, start fertilizing every two weeks.

Prepare a mixture of mullein and water. Mix the components in a ratio of 1:10. Apply fertilizer at the rate of 70 ml of solution per 1 liter of soil. With the onset of the cold period, feeding is stopped until next spring.

Stimulation of fruiting

This method will help stimulate the formation of fruit buds:

1. Prepare copper wire.
2. Pull the two main branches and the lemon trunk so that the wire is pressed slightly into the bark.
3. The plant is slightly deformed as a result of this procedure, but this should not cause concern. The number of kidneys will increase.

Possible diseases and pests

Lemon is susceptible to fungus and gommosis

Lemon can be affected by mites, aphids and scale insects. These pests feed on its greens and juice, which leads to deformation of the stems and drying out of the leaves. Inspect the bush daily, so you can notice the problem in a timely manner and eliminate it. If you find pests, take a soft toothbrush or a cotton swab, soak it in a soapy solution and remove the insects.

If not properly cared for, the lemon will begin to suffer from gommosis or sooty fungus. In the first case, the bark is affected, then the branches dry out. If sooty fungus is present, a gray coating forms on the leaves, after which they curl.

To get rid of gommosis, remove plaque from the damaged areas, then treat them with 1% Bordeaux mixture. Next, apply garden varnish and disinfect with copper sulfate.

A 1% Bordeaux mixture will also help cure lemons affected by sooty fungus. Treat the affected areas and remove diseased leaves.

Important! Do not place the lemon near other plants, this will help reduce the likelihood of infection.

To get the first fruits, you need to care for the lemon for several years. But the plant will begin to benefit long before this time. Its leaves secrete phytoncides - substances that prevent the development of pathogenic fungi and bacteria. In addition, home-grown lemons are hardier than store-bought ones. You will be able to select the strongest specimens for planting and receive unpretentious plants, maximally adapted for indoor conditions.

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

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

For growing indoor lemon You will only need the largest seeds, which should be removed from fresh lemons.

They should be planted in the ground immediately after removal from the fruit, since dried seeds germinate much more poorly. To grow lemon seedlings from seeds, you will need small flower pots with a hole for draining water. A layer of drainage should be poured onto the bottom of each pot, followed by fertile, loose soil.

The seeds must be planted to a depth of about 1.5-2 cm. It is best to plant several seeds at once, so that later you can choose the strongest and healthy plant. The soil should be moist during seedlings. After the seeds are buried in the ground, the pots should be covered with transparent film.

It is not recommended to water the planting: if it is over-watered, the roots of the future lemon may rot and the plant will not grow. It is best to spray the planting periodically. Illumination does not play a big role in the emergence of seedlings, and the temperature should be constant, within 18-20 Celsius. After a few weeks, the first lemon shoots from the seed should appear.

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

For the first 2-3 months, the seedlings do not need feeding; they are able to grow without it. But when the lemons grow a little, in the warm season you should definitely apply a solution of mineral and organic fertilizers weekly. You should not overuse fertilizing - an excess of fertilizers is just as harmful to plants as a lack of them. Lemon is a very capricious plant and does not tolerate temperature changes well, so it is best not to take it out onto the balcony, even with the onset of winter. warm days. In response to changes in environment and temperature, it can shed almost all of its leaves.

Lemon from the seed. Varieties of indoor lemons

Unique varieties of lemon plants have been bred for planting in houses and apartments. They are very unpretentious and do not take up much space in height. The aroma emanating from lemon leaves improves performance, tones and effectively relieves stress.

Indoor lemon has many varieties, each of them has both pros and cons. The only differences between the plants are their height, the taste of the fruits and the fruiting.

1. Pavlova lemon - the most popular variety, without requiring much attention, reaches one and a half meters and produces about 16 fruits per year.

2. Kursk lemon - most high grade, reaches 1.7 meters.

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

4. Genoa - is one of the most capricious, requiring care and attention.

5. Meyer - low-growing lemon, a hybrid plant with an orange, maximum height 1 meter. Requires constant light and is a capricious variety.

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

Choosing a seedling

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

If you choose an indoor lemon tree, you need to check with the seller whether the plant is grafted. However, it is better to buy a seedling, since young tree quickly gets used to the surrounding atmosphere and temperature, and a change of environment can simply destroy it.

Transplanting and forming a lemon crown from a seed

When young lemons grow a little, they need to be transplanted into larger flower pots, being careful not to damage the delicate root system of the plants. Preference should be given to those lemons whose crown is the most branched and dense - such a plant is most likely to produce many new side shoots. This point is important, since indoor lemon develops normally only when it has side branches in addition to the stem.

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

The indoor lemon will not produce its first fruits right away, not earlier than after a few years, and with proper care.

Such manipulations should be carried out until fourth-order shoots appear, which with a high degree of probability will successfully bear fruit. But to wait for the first lemon fruits from the seed, you should wait a few more years.

Perhaps lemon can be called one of the least demanding citrus fruits grown indoors. There are several ways to grow lemons on your own. If you have time, desire and patience, then you can start from scratch and try to get a lemon tree from a seed.

Indoor trees are interesting! However, a more rational way of propagating this citrus plant is propagation by cuttings.

When propagating by cuttings, you should choose an adult and strong mother 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. After 2-3 weeks, the cuttings take root, showing good indicator survival rate: out of ten cuttings, about 7-8 take root.

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

This method of growing lemon at home is the most effective. Cuttings should be taken from mature plants that are at least 10-15 years old. In this case, only branches of the third to fifth order should be used, and the shoot itself should be slightly woody.

There should be several leaves on the branch, and the lowest leaf must be carefully removed, and the rest must be cut in half, leaving only the top leaf intact. The cuttings planted in nutritious soil should be covered with a glass jar and placed in a well-lit place, maintaining a temperature of 20-22 C.

The cuttings should not be watered very abundantly, but regularly, every other day: abundant moisture, just like its lack, has a detrimental effect on the development of the plant. During the first few waterings, the substrate can be slightly compacted. As soon as the first leaf appears on the planted cuttings, the jar can be removed from the flower pot.

For young plants, any small growing container is suitable. From the age of three, indoor lemons need flower pot made from soft wood. The period from October to April is very important for citrus fruits; at this time, their care should be especially careful.

The optimal temperature at this time will be 8-10 C, and during the flowering period - 18-20 C. Indoor lemon does not tolerate being in the vicinity of others. ornamental plants, it is best to place it alone.

An indoor lemon grown with your own hands will not only decorate any room, but will also be able to “thank” the owners with juicy and fragrant fruits

The basic rules for growing lemons include maintaining temperature conditions, regular watering and spraying in the hot season, periodic fertilizing and protection from drafts.

The article discusses a step-by-step process for growing lemon at home from a seed. Watch also the video on how to graft a lemon into a cleft for quick fruiting.

The content of the article:

Grow lemon Tree It won’t be a big problem at home, but waiting for it to bear fruit is very difficult. Typically, a lemon begins to bear fruit in the seventh, tenth, or even twelfth year. If you want to see fresh yellow fruits (read about) at home, then you should take good care of them. decorative tree and vaccinate it to get fruit faster.

But usually the lemon tree is grown not for its fruits, but for exoticism in one’s apartment. After all, the leaves citrus tree(lemon) has the property of releasing phytoncides - biologically active substances, which prevent bacteria and various fungi from developing. Also, a pleasant, fresh aroma will refresh the room and empower everyone present. positive mood. There is no point in chasing the fruits; there are plenty of them in all stores and on market stalls. Another advantage of this tree is that it is evergreen.

Lemon can be grown from a seed, or it can be grafted. In this article we will look at the first option in a step-by-step sequence. He's even more interesting. By the way, all citrus fruits are grown from seeds.

Stage 1: preparing the soil and pot

The pot for our future green “brainchild” can be small to begin with, but it must have a hole at the bottom. You need to put one and a half to two centimeters of drainage on the bottom. Next, fill the pot with soil. You can immediately buy it in a specialized flower shop and don’t have to worry about it, there is a special soil for citrus fruits, it will be perfect.

If you refuse to buy, then you can make a mixture of loose soil: half humus soil and half turf. If desired, you can add a little coal or peat.

Stage 2: selection of planting material

When the place for planting lemon is ready, you can go to the store or market to buy a suitable one. planting material. You need to choose the ripest and yellowest lemon. The fruit must not be damaged. We cut the purchased lemon and take out the largest seeds; it is better to choose two at once. So then you can choose the most actively growing tree and leave it.

The seeds need to be moist and fresh fruit, dry ones are not suitable, they lose their viability over time.

Stage 3: planting a lemon from a seed

Moisten the soil in the pot with a little water so that it is moist, and place it 1–1.5 centimeters deep into the seed. Next, if desired, you can cover the top of the pot with film. The temperature of the house should not be less than 18 degrees Celsius, otherwise the tree will not be visible. If it’s cool here, then you should definitely cover the workpiece with film and put it in a warm place. The amount of light does not play any role on seedlings. It is impossible to water, otherwise the oversaturation of moisture will destroy our lemon, and the resulting roots will rot. But you need to spray it every 2-3 days. You can water the soil a little only if it is very dry.

Stage 4: growing lemon from seed

Then we just have to wait for the sprout to appear for about 2 to 3 weeks, or even longer if the apartment is not very warm. The film can be removed if it was used to cover the pot after the second pair of leaves appeared. Now you need to move the emerging sprout to a bright place, just don’t put it in strong sun, the young tree may burn. Now all that remains is to observe the watering regime for the plant: do not fill it with water and do not let the soil dry out. Water only with water that has settled at home and at room temperature. You can use rain water, just not cold water!

There is no need to feed lemon during the first months. In spring and summer, you can add a little fertilizer every two weeks. Here, as with water, without fanaticism, everything is in moderation and less is better than more. Lemon is a capricious tree and any measurements in care and maintenance can have a detrimental effect. The tree should be carefully taken out onto the balcony; if there is wind or strong sun, it is better not to do this, otherwise all the leaves may fall off in the morning. Also with a sharp drop in temperature.

In autumn and winter, you need to water the lemon less often: as soon as upper layer the earth has dried up. Fertilizing should be done more than once a month.

Stage 5: lemon transplant

Young lemons should be replanted no more than twice a year, and an adult plant should be replanted only once every 3 or 4 years. Such periodic replanting is due to the fact that the roots of the tree become entangled and, due to lack of space, growth at home will stop. With each change of “new home” you need to take a pot larger than the previous one by 3-6 cm in diameter. When replanting, be careful with the roots, do not break them.