Lemon - a tree of the genus Citrus , everyone knows its fruit. The homeland of this plant is China, India and the Pacific Islands.
Lemon was first introduced by the Arabs to the Middle East, North Africa, Spain and Italy.
Table of contents
- Is it possible to grow a lemon from a stone at home?
- Suitable variety for house or flat: Pavlovsky, Meier and others
- How to plant the seeds of the plant: highlights
- Does indoor lemon tree produce fruit?
- Optimum conditions for growing, care after planting
- Take care and protect: the main enemies of citrus
- Prevention measures
Is it possible to grow a lemon from a stone at home?
About the benefits of lemon, people know firsthand. Lemon - an excellent remedy for many ailments .It strengthens the immune system, normalizes hormones, improves eyesight, stimulates the digestive tract.
It is used for colds, as it contains a huge amount of vitamin C and many people simply like the sour, fragrant taste.
For a person who decides to plant a lemon at home, it is important to consider the following rules of : :
- the fruit must be yellow, the most ripe, because if the lemon is green, then the germs of the seeds in pitslemon can not sprout;
- for planting it is important to choose several large bones - from 10 to 15 pieces, so that later you can choose a beautiful and actively growing seedling;
- it is important to choose a suitable variety that will grow well at home.
For cultivation, you must choose the right sort of lemon, the fruit must be ripe, the seeds are large A suitable variety for the house or apartment: Pavlovsky, Meier and other
There are a large number of varieties. Below are some of them that are suitable for growing in a house or apartment:
- Pavlovsky - differs from other varieties in its large fruits, which can reach 500 grams, has a sweetish taste, and the tree of this variety is quite large - more than 2 meters. This variety has aromatic leaves. The aroma is so sharp and strong that the whole house will be filled with it.
- Meier - a hybrid of a lemon with a grapefruit, has a sweet-sour taste, a small tree with a rich harvest, the size of one lemon can reach 150 grams, it blooms bunches-clusters, there is a seasonal rest period.
- Ponderosa is a hybrid of lemon with grapefruit, it has a bitter taste, as well as a large number of seeds. I am glad that constantly blooms. According to the people who grow this type of lemon, a very grateful plant and quite unpretentious.
- Genoa is an average tree, yields a big crop already for 4-5 years of life. Fruits with tender pulp, have a sour, fragrant taste. You can also eat peel. This variety is not considered capricious. For 2-3 years the sapling is already blooming.
- Jubilee - a tree of medium size, is considered to be a variety that gives a rich harvest, the fruit is distinguished by its thickness. Very suitable for growing in a house or apartment.
After the stage of grade selection has been passed, it is necessary to proceed to the seed planting in the pot itself.
Varieties that are suitable for growing in a house or apartment: Pavlovsky, Meier, Genoa, Jubilee, Ponderoza How to plant bones: highlights
Some active citrus growers with a wealth of experience, are advised to free the bone from the upper peel .opinion allows you to get shoots in the shortest possible time.
This should be done very carefully, as any damage to the bone can lead to the fact that seed germination will not occur.
But you can plant bones and without the above procedure.
Lemon bones before planting should be wet .It is advisable to soak them for a day in water or in a solution of sodium humate. You can purchase this growth stimulant at any botanical store.
Next, you need to find a suitable small, shallow pot or cup, pour earth into it. In the bottom of the pots there should be holes .They are important so that excess moisture, due to which the roots of sprouts may die, flow down.
Make holes in the bottom of the pot, fill with small pebbles, and primer. Soil for landing can be bought in the store, but you can prepare it yourself. To do this, mix the garden soil, sand, humus and some charcoal. Planting stones is better to a depth of no more than 1.5-2 cm .Soil before planting is important to moisten. It should not be dry, but excessive moisture is also undesirable.
Once every 2-3 days it is necessary to spray the soil with .If the ground is completely dry, then you can water it a little. After the first sprouts appear, the film must be removed.
It is better to rearrange the pot with sprouts in a bright place and water with settled or rain water at room temperature.
The first shoots will grow not earlier than 3-4 weeks after planting.
According to experienced citrus growers, is the best time to plant a lemon - the end of winter, the beginning of spring is .Since the increasing daylight hours will only benefit the emerged young shoots.
Will the indoor lemon tree give fruit?
Many people think that growing lemon from a stone is a thankless job. So how to wait for the fruits of such a lemon will have 5, 7, or even all 15 years and its fruits will be of small size.
In order for not to wait for decades when the lemon tree begins to bear fruit, it is necessary to inoculate .This can be done in two ways in the warm season( summer or warm spring):
- The split is the preferred type of grafting. It is necessary to take a stalk of a cultured fruiting lemon. On the seedling pruned branch, and the remaining stem of the seedling split. On the cutting of a fruiting lemon, wedges are sharpened, which is then injected into the splits in the stem. Next, you need to tie a vaccination with tape. On the stem of a fruiting lemon, 2-4 buds are left, the rest is cut off. Vaccination covered with a plastic bag. When the vaccine grows together the package can be removed.
Grafting a lemon - either by budding or in cleft - is necessary for the speedy fruitingUnder each leaf of the branch there is a so-called “sleeping kidney”.It is necessary to make a cut in front of this kidney. Next, cut the sheet plate, but leave it petiole. Cut the bark on the seedling's “stump” and insert the stalk down there. To tie a place of an inoculation an insulating tape. The scape of the cut leaf plate will serve as an indicator. If the petiole disappears in 2-3 days, then we can assume that the vaccination turned out, if it dries out, it means that the vaccine failed and needs to be repeated. Interestingly, the grown lemon from the stone adapts to home conditions faster and better than the , it is less picky than cuttings and grafted seedlings.
Why a lemon grown from a seed does not bear fruit:
Optimum conditions for cultivation, care after planting
It is advisable to take extra care when a lemon has risen in a pot. When 3-4 leaves appear on the seedlings of the lemon, they are transplanted into separate pots.
Young saplings of lemons are recommended to be transplanted up to 2 times a year. It is advisable to do this very carefully so as not to damage the root system.
And the best solution would be not to change the place of residence of the lemon. The best place for lemon will be the south or south-west side of the apartment. As for the temperature, the lemon can tolerate temperatures from + 14 to + 27.
The best place for lemon will be the south or south-west side in the apartment Lemon create conditions without sharp temperature jumps , as they can kill him. It is desirable to maintain moderate humidity - 60-70%.
Watering an plant is best at room temperature rainwater. Hot summer is better to do it 2 times a day. And on cloudy and cold days it is important to add lighting to the lemon by means of LED or fluorescent lamps.
In summer, can be fed with a seedling solution of humus and liquid mineral fertilizers.
Lemons, like all indoor plants, are susceptible to diseases and attacks by pests .Therefore, they require careful care, and it is recommended that you carefully examine the plant every day in order to detect the occurrence of one or another pest as soon as possible and take the necessary measures in time.
Take care and protect: the main enemies of citrus
Lemon is sick, if you do not follow the rules of care. If the tree is not watered, it will dry. If the ground in a pot overwhelm moisture, then yellow leaves will appear on the lemon, and this will be a sign that the roots of the tree are beginning to rot.
Also, , the appearance of yellow spots on the foliage, after which the leaves dry and fall off , indicate that the tree lacks iron.
Drying ends of leaves indicate that the tree needs phosphorus. A lack of potassium and manganese leads to wrinkling of the leaves and falling off of the ovary.
The following are some common parasites that can attack home-grown lemon:
- Mealybugs, popularly known as "shaggy lice" - can be recognized on a white plaque on the tree. They prefer dry conditions, they are afraid of moisture. A good prevention of this parasite will be regular washing of all the leaves of a lemon.
- Shriver - on the leaves appear small shiny droplets, sticky to the touch. Leaves dry and fall off. Against this pest use soapy or garlic water. Soapy water is prepared as follows: 2 tablespoons of liquid soap are dissolved in 1 liter of water. The resulting mixture is treated the affected tree. An hour after the procedure - wash under the shower. Repeat treatment preferably after 2 days.
- The spider mite is a small, bright spot on the leaf plate. The leaves fold. On their reverse side the web is visualized. If this parasite was found on a lemon, it is necessary to treat the tree with sulfur. In order to prevent lemon washed under running water, paying more attention to the lower side of the leaf plates of the tree. Well helps to deal with mite spraying with a solution of water with soap.
Common parasites that can attack a home grown lemon: mealybugs, scutes, spider mites 
