Grow Citrus Fruit

Growing lemon trees from seeds is fun, especially for children, and although they flower as quite young plants, it takes a number of years before they fruit. In the meantime, they make attractive, highly fragrant container plants.

When to Start: Spring
At Its Best: All year round
Time to Complete: 30 minutes

Materials Needed:

• lemon pips
• pots
• seed potting mix
• soil-based potting mix

Prepare to Plant

Cut open a lemon, remove the seeds and dry them. Plant several seeds per pot, 1/2 inch deep in seed potting mix. Water them in and put the pots in a warm spot. Keep them well watered.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How to Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Pot On

Once the young seedlings are growing well, remove them from their pots and carefully tease their roots apart. Pot them on individually into their own small pots in soil-based potting mix, and water them in well.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How to Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Aftercare

Place pots in a sunny spot outside and keep well watered. Grow in a cool room indoors, or in a greenhouse, over winter; place outside in summer and early fall until the first frosts are forecast. Water with rainwater, if possible, and watch out for aphids, scale insects and mealy bugs.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - How to Grow Practically Everything © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited