Germinating lemon seeds

[Zellephant]

My neighbours have a lemon tree that carries extremely well. I have been trying to germinate some of its seeds, but they end up rotting or mouldy every time before I get them to germinate. What is the trick for getting lemon seeds to germinate?

I have had lots of success with other seeds placed on some damp paper towel in a ziplock. But this doesn’t seem to work with the lemon seeds.

Do you dry them completely to crack. the husks after harvesting?

Do you soak them, after drying, but before placing on the paper towel?

Should I rather try doing it in open air on paper towel instead of in a ziplock? But that would mean monitoring the moisture levels constantly for 14 days.

Do lemons work better being planted directly into a potting mix?

 

[werfie]

Take one of the lemons, cut in half, scoop out the fruit while keeping the peel intact (forming a cup), then add some soil and the seed in the existing peel halve. Leave in sun.

 

[Dimpie (JIGSAW)]

I find that the seeds sprout inside the lemon if you leave the whole lemon in sun for a good few weeks.

...but your method should work ... watch a few YT videos

 

[airborne]

Very few fruit bearing trees are still grown from seeds, the fruit from seeds can vary significantly from the parent trees and hence why they rather graft cuttings from the parent trees onto root stock to ensure that you get the same fruit as the parent trees.

 

[B-1]

Even if its a tree thats not been grafted chances are it won't be the same.
But considering you have access to many seed just plant a bunch in a pot and water every second day and then select the strongest one and cut the rest.

 

[airborne]

Even if its a tree thats not been grafted chances are it won't be the same.
But considering you have access to many seed just plant a bunch in a pot and water every second day and then select the strongest one and cut the rest.

That may get you a strong plant but it'll still be a total gamble as to what fruit it will bear and you'll only really find that out in a year or two

 

[B-1]

That may get you a strong plant but it'll still be a total gamble as to what fruit it will bear and you'll only really find that out in a year or two

Try closer to 5-7 years.

 

[Zellephant]

That may get you a strong plant but it'll still be a total gamble as to what fruit it will bear and you'll only really find that out in a year or two

That’s also okay. This is all being done just to say I grew it from seed. I just find it strange the lemon seeds get mouldy so quickly/easily. I have had major success with peppers, pumpkins etc with the moist towel and ziplock bag method, but it just didn’t want to work with the lemons.

I will do the next batch of seeds straight in a big pot of potting mix and keep the strongest sprouts.

 

[joker08]

My lemon tree that I bought from stodels for R250 3 months ago already has lemons on it. I won't recommend growing from seeds.

 

[Zellephant]

My lemon tree that I bought from stodels for R250 3 months ago already has lemons on it. I won't recommend growing from seeds.

Thansk, I get that, but this is more of a want than a need thing. If all I wanted was a lemon tree, I would go and buy one. It’s the challenge of growing it from seed and seeing how it turns out thats exciting.

 

[Snotface]

Thansk, I get that, but this is more of a want than a need thing. If all I wanted was a lemon tree, I would go and buy one. It’s the challenge of growing it from seed and seeing how it turns out thats exciting.

Coco coir (2), perlite (1) and vermiculite (1). Sterile, no fungus gnats, less damping off.
After they germinate and get a leaf or two, move them to a slightly bigger pot containing potting mix (2), perlite (1), compost (1), not in full summer sun. Use quarter-strength fertiliser until you put them out into the garden (or a large pot). Don't put into clay soil.