Meyer lemon trees (Citrus x meyeri) make an ideal choice for an ornamental plant because of their glossy leaves, sweet-smelling blossoms and eye-catching yellow fruit. Most gardeners purchase Meyer lemon trees as young saplings or start their own by taking a cutting from an older tree. Gardeners don't typically start lemon trees from seed because they take years to mature, and fruit that develops may not taste the same as fruit that came from the parent plant. Lemon trees grown from seed still make lovely decorative plants, however. Lemon seeds have many of the germination requirements of other citrus seeds, including adequate soil and water.
Cut a Meyer lemon in half and extract the seeds, using a clean, sharp knife. Rinse the seeds well with lukewarm water.
Spread the seeds out on a paper towel, and allow them to dry if you can't plant them immediately. Keep the seeds away from direct sunlight.
Put the seeds in a plastic or polyethylene bag if you need to store them then seal the bag. Put the bag in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator and keep the seeds at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Soak the seeds in a glass of warm water for two to three hours before planting. Discard seeds that float, since they aren't viable.
Fill 2- to 3-inch pots with sterile potting mix. Plant the lemon seeds in the soil at a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Water the lemon seeds gently until the entire surface of the soil feels damp. Continue to water the seeds whenever the top 1 inch of soil feels dry.
Place the lemon seeds in a warm location, such as on top of your refrigerator. Lemon seeds germinate best when the temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Watch for germination in about two weeks. When germination occurs, move the seedlings to a sunny location, or provide adequate artificial light.
Things You Will Need
- Paper towel
- Plastic or polyethylene bag
- 2- to 3-inch pots
- Potting mix
- Plant Meyer lemon seeds as soon as possible once you've removed them from the fruit. Seeds that dry out have a decreased chance of germination.
- If you're trying to germinate lemon seeds outdoors, cover the containers with clear plastic wrap to provide extra warmth to the seeds and protect seedlings from the cold.
- It can take about 15 years from the time of germination for a seed-grown lemon tree to mature and produce fruit.
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