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3. Wrap the seeds in a damp paper towel and seal them in a bag
Place the seeds about 2cm apart on paper towels and cover them tightly with another paper towel.
Wrap them gently and spray the paper towel until it is damp.
Then, seal everything in a plastic bag and write today’s date on the bag.
It is normal to leave some air inside the bag, in fact, most online tutorials recommend this practice because seeds need moisture, heat and air to germinate.
4. Place the bag in a warm and shady place
Your lemon seeds do not need light at this point, but they do need a lot of heat and humidity, as mentioned above. Keep them away from cold or drafty places in your home to speed up the germination process.
After 2 to 4 weeks or when the roots are at least 3 to 5 cm long, the seeds are ready to be planted in the ground.
5. Prepare the soil and a pot for each plant
Pots should be at least 7 cm in diameter and at least 10 cm high.
The ideal soil should have a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
You can use the special citrus potting soil mix or make your own using the ingredients listed above in equal quantities.
6. Carefully separate the seedlings from the paper towels
It doesn’t matter if they only have roots, the plants will grow if they receive the proper care described below. Also, paper towels stuck to the roots is not serious, it has happened to my seedlings too and it does not affect growth. Don’t risk breaking a root just because there’s a little paper stuck to it, it’s not worth it.
7. Plant seedlings about 3 cm deep
When making holes in the soil, also take into account the length of the roots. When covering the seedlings, gently pat the soil.
Don’t press too hard or you could break the roots. Allowing the soil to be slightly loose gives adequate access to nutrients, moisture and air and helps plants develop healthy root systems.
8. Keep the soil moist at all times until 4-5 leaves appear on each plant
In the meantime, gradually move the plants to a sunny window in your home. The perfect spot for a lemon tree is right in front of a south-facing window for maximum sun exposure, so try to move them closer and closer to their future location. Remember to move the plant regularly until it reaches the ideal spot. Be careful, however, not to burn them!
9. Then let the first 2 cm of soil dry (but no more) between watering
Don’t let the entire pot of soil dry out, it will surely kill your plant because lemon trees are tropical plants and love humidity.
Once large enough you can transplant it to your garden, but be careful of frost if you live in a cold region, remember to protect it from any risk of frost.
Finally, a frequently asked question, how long does it take for a lemon tree grown from seed to produce lemons?
After planting your lemon tree, you need to wait about three years before it can produce lemons that you can actually pick and use for consumption. When growing a lemon tree from seed, regardless of the method, you must wait three to six years before it can produce edible fruit. The secret is to take care of your lemon tree with the utmost attention.
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