How to plant a lemon tree

The lemon tree is one of the most popular fruit trees when planting at home, since the care of a lemon tree is not very demanding and it grows very well in many climates. In addition, having a lemon tree at home is the best way to have a source of organic lemons with incredible flavor in each season.

If you want to learn how to plant a lemon tree at home , join us in this gardening guide in which we teach you how to do it step by step from a seedling or a germinated seed and from a branch, as well as various tips and information about when to plant it and how long it is normal for it to take lemons, among other aspects.

What is the best time to plant a lemon tree

When to plant a lemon tree does not have much secrecy, and this tree times preferred shares sowing of most fruit species: the spring. Within these months, most amateurs and experts recommend sowing or planting the lemon tree between March and April

 , since in a Mediterranean climate these months already offer temperatures that are mild enough for the plant to grow properly.

However, you can also plant in June if your area is not excessively hot. If you have passed the spring and you want to try to plant in autumn, you also have a good chance of success, although keep in mind that the lemon tree does not suit the cold very well: if your climate is very cold and you plant it outdoors in autumn, the tree could have serious problems and die.

How to plant a lemon tree step by step

If you wonder how to plant a lemon tree , keep in mind that the process is much longer because you have to germinate the seed and wait for it to grow enough to be able to plant the lemon tree in its final place in the ground or in a larger pot. As a summary we can indicate that the simplest way to germinate a lemon tree seed is to take it from a lemon, clean it thoroughly and, very carefully, open its pointed end with your nails to facilitate germination. Open it a little, without tearing it and only at the end. After this, wrap the seeds in moistened absorbent paper and store them in a dark and somewhat warm place, moistening them again when they dry. Once they have germinated, they are ready to be planted.

When planting the lemon tree , it is best to always do it from an already germinated seed or from a small seedling , which you can buy in a nursery.

1. You can plant the tree outside directly or in a pot, since the lemon tree is one of the fruit trees that can grow in a pot . If you are not very sure of your climate, start by planting it in a pot, so that you can better control its growth and conditions and transplant it later if you are interested. If you still decide to plant in its final location now, keep in mind that the location to plant a lemon tree should be as sunny as possible.
2. Prepare a container with coconut fiber and worm humus , which will form a very light and highly draining substrate as well as rich in nutrients.
3. Locate the seedling being very careful not to damage its root and spray with water after doing so.
4. After this, place the pot in a protected location, where it receives at least 4 hours of light a day.
5. Keep the soil moist but never puddled or soggy, and water often and sparingly.
6. When the plant is large enough, you can transplant it to a larger pot if it was in a seedbed or in a pot that is too small.
7. When the plant is one or two years old, you should move it to a location that is as sunny as possible , since this plant needs a lot of sun to grow well and bear flowers and fruits.

How to plant a lemon tree from a branch

This fruit can be reproduced very well from cuttings made with branches, so if you have someone you know with a healthy tree that you like, you can ask them to make a lemon tree cutting to plant it .

1. You will need a semi-woody branch, from the last year, that is not yet hard like wood. A sucker, which must also be removed for the proper development of the tree, is in fact your best option.
2. Cut the branch to about 20 cm in length and leave it with only two or three leaves.
3. You can help the success of the cutting by soaking its lower part in rooting agent, which you can make in an ecological way at home, which will also be much cheaper.
4. Plant it in a substrate of worm humus and coconut fiber, moisten it and, if your climate is very dry, cover the cutting with a plastic bag to help it retain moisture. Of course, it is very important to lift the bag every 48 hours so that the plant is ventilated and fungal problems do not appear.

How long does a lemon tree take to grow?

Lemon trees are fairly fast growing trees if you are in a mild winters climate. In a year your lemon tree could reach about 30 cm when planted outdoors, and from there its growth will be determined by the climate and the available space.

These fruit trees can reach heights of up to 6 or 7 meters, with the first two decades of life being the ones with the highest growth. Keep in mind that, planted in a pot, the lemon tree will have a slower and limited development.

How long does a lemon tree take to give lemons?

When you want a lemon tree to bear fruit quickly , the most common thing is to resort to grafting , with which we can have lemons in just about 2 years . However, when planting from seed this process takes much longer and it is common for us to take 4 years or more to begin to see fruit in a certain quantity. Also, cold winter climates will make the tree grow more slowly, as will its potted crop.