Has Anyone Else Grown a Lemon Tree?
Other
Some time ago I was chatting on here about my desire to grow a Lemon tree, I believe it may have been with sunny101
Well I opted to be lazy and buy but after pricing between £40 and £60 pounds I gave up on that idea!
Found some tutorials on YouTube about growing from seed but first lot failed, I think the conservatory was far too hot, so tried again. They were meant to show after 10 days but nothing had happened so after two weeks I guessed I had failed again. So glad I didn't ditch them as it is now 3 weeks and two little shoots (out of about a dozen) have popped their heads up. I am thrilled but scared they won't make it lol.
Anyone else successfully grown lemon trees from seed, or any other out of the ordinary fruit and veg?
A baby lemon tree! Well done Lynibis! I remember that chat. I had bought one from Aldi.
I hope it thrives for you.
I am keeping my fingers crossed but the last one that popped up was long and stringey and ended up falling over and dying. However, this one seems to have leaves already.
I buy a lot of lemons not just as food but for cleaning and popping in dishwasher. I chopped a few up for the garden, as they seem to keep the neighbour's cats away, so I used the seeds from them. Strangely there were only two or three in each lemon.
I was recently told that growers deliberately grow seedless fruits to stop Joe Public growing them!
Imnotcheap any citrus peel will do it. I don't bother with peel I just chop them finely and toss all over the gravel and slate chips. They don't even show in the gravel and just disintegrate into it.
Morning Lynibis and, yes, it was me. I have lemons and satsumas grown from seed. The orange shrub flowered but the fruits never set. Because of this problem I bought a lemon plant to compliment my home grown one and now the two can be cross pollinated. Nothing quite like harvesting your own lemons. (grown in a conservatory)
Yes, you inspired me although it took a while to get round to it. Can you give me any tips for fertiliser and/or compost when/if it gets bigger and I need to pot on please?
They look delicious. First thing that came to mind when I saw your photo was a nice lemon drizzle sponge cake.
Lynibis Firstly, don't give up on the other seeds in that pot. Some take weeks to come through and then they appear as multiple spikes that will need to be separated. Even if they don't flower/fruit they are really decorative plants that don't need huge pots. (just beware of the long lethal spikes running along the stems) Look for a feed high in nitrogen or just look up 'citrus feed'. In the first year of being an established plant you will need to give it a feed every 8 weeks or so and barely water during the cold months. Keep us updated. I'm trying to grow ginger at the moment and failing miserably.
RegularComper90 I can't lie........lemon drizzle was the second option that came to mind.
sunny101 hi, wondered if I might ask more advice. I now have 10 tiny seedlings but am not sure when I should pot on. I will soon buy some citrus friendly compost but understand from your advice above not to feed yet.
I am not being lazy lol but Google doesn't seem to give straight answers. Doesn't look like 10 in the pic but some are doubled up and when first lot didn't show I poked second lot in anywhere and obviously on top of previous few!
Lynibis Well done on those pips! I was going to tell you not to feed until they had grown to about 30cms but thought I'd go check.
The two web sites I've added are pretty informative and will give you better advice than my 'home-grower' experience. (the second site is 'grown from a pip' so much more relevant and advises to grow several sets of leaves before feeding) Personally I wouldn't split them up any more as you never know which ones will fail.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/fruit/citrus
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/lemons/propagating-lemon-seeds.htm
Well done with you success at germinating a lemon seed. It is so satisfying growing your own food isn't it?
I personally haven't grown anything from seed before but I have for the first time grown some new potatoes last year. I was so very excited, especially considering that it was my first time at growing my own food.
Thank you. Yes it is satisfying. Congrats on your tatties too! I have often wanted to grow them but now have no earth, although when I am retired I may give it a go in special bins/bags you can get.
Mine have been in 12inch pots for many years as they will never grow to full size in this country. Just googled it - I doubt either of us will need an old barrel......
A new citrus tree will grow fine in an 8-inch diameter container to start. Two to three year old trees will need a 10 to 12 inch diameter container. Eventually, you'll need a 16 to 20 gallon container or one-half whiskey barrel-sized container for long term growth.
I do wish people would stop changing the title of my chats! I kept it short and sweet because it is easier to find on a search, also if they had read my topic the question they have changed it to is answered.
I've managed to grow a couple of lemon trees this year from seeds this year, I've just pinched them out and they seem to be coming on nicely.
Lynibis I'm sure that they will, keep us posted. I started mine off indoors and have now moved them out into the garden. When I rub the leaves the smell is gorgeous. I love having a go at making anything grow on and I currently have dwarf honeysuckle, dwarf buddleia and many different fuchsia cuttings which I'll try to hardy off. I have great pleasure in passing on my cuttings to family and friends once their established.
I now have 7 little seedlings, so glad I heeded the advice of sunny101
For days I have been trying to remember the Lemon Tree song and the first line of the chorus has been buzzing in my head. Finally googled it so hopefully can now lay to rest.
Anyone else remember it?
When I was but a little boy, my father said to me
"Come here and learn a lesson from the lovely lemon tree."
"My son, it's most important," my father said to me
"To put your trust in what you feel and not in what you see."
Lemon tree, very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
Lemon tree, very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat
Beneath that lemon tree one day, my love and I did lie
A girl so sweet that when she smiled, the sun rose in the sky
We spent that summer lost in love, beneath that lemon tree
The magic of her laughter hid my father's words from me
Chorus
One day she left without a word, she took away the sun
And in the dark she left behind, I knew what she had done
She done left me for another man, it's a common tale but true
As sadder man, but wiser now, I sing these words to you
Chorus
Probably not much help but I have grown a cherry tree in my garden and it has done amazingly well.
I am pretty sure cherries are British grown as I think Kent is well known for cherries. Citrus fruit is not native to GB so I am really pleased that I now have 7 seedlings. I would love a cherry tree though, love the fruit and blossom, well done.
Hello everyone, thought I would update on the lemon tree plants, I now have 6 but not sure if they are good, bad or indifferent!
I have just planted some more seeds and hope to have more seedlings by summer.
I read somewhere that it can take the plant 15 years to fruit and if that is true I probably won't be around to see them!
Lynibis I'm good, thank you, January was a very busy month work-wise so I took a break. I'm still catching up on the topics already gone before. (think I missed a few good ones but I'm feeling very refreshed and enthusiastic ) Just remember to protect these plants in the colder months, at the end of the year or bring them inside. or they will fail. I can never resist rubbing their leaves.
This is such a fab post.. I had no idea we could grow lemons over here. I'm going to give this a try myself...will keep you posted if I succeed lol x
Yes, please do, we could start a lemon tree club lol. Do look on YouTube as there are plenty of tutorials and advice. Some say peel the seed others say not necessary but you do have to wash them thoroughly to get the slimy lemon off them first.
I’ve only just seen this thread and you’ve inspired me to have a go. My grandchildren grew a mango from seed, just out of interest, not in the hope of producing fruit.
Nice to know that other members want to give it a try. We can track the plants on here and see how we are all doing. I am going to slice up a tomato today and start planting the seeds.
Lynibis I grow tomatoes every year but I buy the seed so that I know what sort of plant I get. I like the bush type.
Grannyclock I guess they are less likely to topple over in a strong wind! I am going for cherry tomatoes this year.
Thank you for posting this. I have alway wamted to gro my own i tried once years ago and failed so gave up, so i think i will try for a lemon tree or tomoto plant and see how i go thank you
Good luck. I personally would start off any tomato seeds indoors now. I am doing mine today.
The lemon seeds were touch and go, as I mentioned the first lot died due to my neglect and leaving them in a far too hot place. But now I am monitoring them carefully and hopeful that they will continue to flourish.
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter