Not only children enjoy planting seeds in the ground and nurturing and caring for the little plants and watching them grow. Lemons in particular are quite easy to propagate. You (and your kids) can grow your own lemon tree from seeds or cuttings.
Growing a lemon tree from seed
The way to your own lemon tree is not far at all, because you can easily find everything you need in your local supermarket. The next time you go shopping, simply take a nice, fully ripe lemon, a small bag of potting soil and a few small plant pots or a mini greenhouse with you. At home, you cut up the lemon and use its juice for cooking or baking, collecting the inside seeds. Rinse the seeds briefly under lukewarm running water to remove any pulp. This step is important, otherwise the pulp could become moldy and thus hinder germination. Then stick the cleaned core about one centimeter deep into the pot with soil.
Always keep the soil moist
The soil with the seed core must always be kept moist. Place the pot in a bright and warm place, temperatures around 25 °C are best. Finally, you can put a plastic film (e.g. a freezer bag) over the potty. This ensures a consistently high level of humidity - lemons love this climate. The core will germinate within a few weeks. Be patient - sometimes it can take a little longer.
Propagating lemon trees from cuttings
Perhaps you are already the proud owner of a lushly flowering and magnificently growing lemon tree? Then it is worthwhile to propagate such a wonderful specimen via cuttings. For propagation by cuttings, it is best to choose a lemon tree with good qualities that should be passed on - this works the same way in animal breeding as in plant breeding.
Take cuttings from the lemon tree
And this is how you proceed with the propagation of cuttings:
- Choose a semi-mature shoot (i.e. from the previous year) with multiple buds.
- If possible, this should also have about two leaves that are cut in half.
- Cut off the shoot with a length between 10 and 15 centimeters.
- Dip the cut in rooting powder.
- Put the cutting in a pot with potting soil.
- At least two buds should be underground.
- Water the cuttings properly.
- If necessary, put a clear plastic bag over the pot.
- Put the pot in a warm and bright place.
- Water regularly.
tips and tricks
Please note that lemon trees that you grow yourself do not flower for the first time after eight to twelve years at the earliest - provided they are properly cared for. If you want to shorten this very long period of youth, you should graft the tree.