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Do you also love to add a dash of lemon to every dish? But buying lemons feels like a task. There is a certain pride in being able to cook with ingredients you have grown from scratch. But the thought of toiling to obtain a citrus fruit may feel like a lot to you. Well, do not worry; growing a lemon tree in your backyard is an easy task and more fun.
Growing a lemon is easy; you just need proper sunlight, good air ventilation, and irrigation. Well-drained, loamy, sandy soil that is moist and has a balanced pH will help grow nutritious nimbu ki kheti.
Characteristics Of A Lemon Tree
New leaves are reddish, while mature leaves are dark green. There will be sharp thorns on the twigs. The fragrant flowers will be red in colour and bloom in clusters. Single flowers may also be noticed on a tree. The fruits of lemon tree plants are oval and aromatic. It contains multiple oil glands dispersed on the tough, exterior skin. Now that you are aware of the trees, here is a step-by-step guide to growing lemon plants from seeds.
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Soil Preparation
Sandy loamy, well-drained, and moist soil with plenty of sunlight and proper irrigation is what lemon cultivation needs indoors and outdoors. Prepare the potting soil in separate pots so it improves the growth. Transfer some dirt into a bucket with water and keep it damp.
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Mix the soil evenly with your hands and ensure moisture. Do not use excess water; otherwise, seed rotting will get affected. Inculcate pasteurised clay, which removes the early-stage bacteria that kills the lemon seeds.
Vermiculite, peat, perlite, and organic fertiliser provide the right amount of nutrients, maintain the pH level, and keep it moist.
Step-By-Step Process Of Growing Lemon
- Fill the pot about one inch below the edge and moisten the soil.
- Take a lemon, cut it, and keep its seeds. Keep the seeds moist when buried.
- Bury the seed half an inch deep in the pot and spray the water lightly.
- Seal the edges, cover the pot, and create holes for air circulation in the pool. Now place it in direct sunlight and don’t let the soil dry or overwater.
- Until the seeds germinate, keep the pot in a warm place, like around a window, to get sunlight and moisture from the air. Light is not necessary for the first phase, but lemon cultivation needs light in the growing phase. At least 6-8 hours of light every day to grow into healthy fruit.
- After two weeks, remove the lid and keep the soil moist.
- Eight-hour sunlight and organic fertiliser boost growth.
- Once the lemon plant matures, limit the watering but keep it moist.
- Water Requirement
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The key to high yield is to irrigate the lemon tree in the right amount at the right time. Maintain moist and well-drained soil and avoid water logging. If the lemon plants get insufficient water, natural salts will leach into the ground.
Before using stagnant water, check the pH level and lower it if necessary. In one gallon of water, mix 15 ml of white vinegar. If the lemon fruit is dropping, then water is needed.
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Harvesting Lemon
November-March is the right season for the harvest of lemon post-cultivation. The soil must be moist and prevent freezing to ensure a high yield. In spring, lemon starts to ripen and continues to ripen completely until winter.
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For indoor lemon cultivation, please protect it from excess heat or cold temperatures. If you are shifting the lemon tree inside your house to save from the weather, try to keep the air moist. The indoor lemon fruits can be handpicked with care.
