It is possible to grow lemons at home , even if you don’t have a green thumb. Therefore, it is possible that delicious and fragrant lemons will grow between the walls of your house, and in the spring, even wonderfully fragrant flowers. Think how nice and healthy it would be to pluck a juicy lemon without leaving your home and have it immediately available for squeezing or other use in the kitchen. Just follow some small recommendations.
1) Plant the lemon seeds
Choose a vase that is at least 30 cm deep. and fill it with fresh, nutrient-rich soil. With four fingers, make a small hole under the surface and insert the lemon core, then pour gently and let it sit. After a month or at most a month and a half, you will see the sprout coming out of the soil in the pot. Let it grow to a height of 15 to 20 cm and then transfer it to a larger pot. Attention, do not carry out this procedure before winter, otherwise a too young plant could be affected by temperature fluctuations.
2) Store the plant in the most suitable place
Do not leave a lemon plant on the balcony if your house is in an area where temperatures are too cold. In this case, it is better to bring the plant indoors or cover it with a protective cover or a small greenhouse. If you want to take it indoors, avoid places near radiators. Therefore, choose a ventilated but not cold place. Stairs if available or a small space by the window if there is no radiator nearby would be ideal.
3) Fertilization
Like any living thing, the lemon tree plant needs to be fed. This is necessary in the spring when the flowers and later the fruits appear. Make sure that the lemon is not lacking in primary minerals such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, but more rarely in secondary minerals such as copper, zinc, iron, molybdenum and manganese. Mixtures suitable for pouring into water can be found in specialized stores. Even a light home fertilizer, if available, can contribute to healthy lemon tree growth.
4) Water regularly
Some caution is required here, as you shouldn’t overdo it, but you also shouldn’t leave the plant alone. Regular watering means only once a week in winter. From spring, increase the frequency of watering the plant every two or three days. In summer, it is necessary to keep the plant under control so that the soil is always moist. Therefore, it is advisable to carry out a quick check every day and top up the water if necessary. READ ALSO: Yeast and lemon juice in the oven, everyone does it: Here’s why!
5) Replace the vase if necessary
The lemon plant grows and the diameter of the leaf of the plant exceeds the diameter of the pot by several times. It’s time to decide; Do this only in the spring, as the roots can freeze in the winter and dry out in the summer. The most reasonable time interval is at first every two to three years and then every four years. Always choose terracotta pots, not plastic, so the roots can breathe.
6) Cut the plant only when necessary
Nature can make any plant grow harmoniously, but it can happen that over time some branches become weak and wither, or the plant inside becomes too dense and does not let in light and air. In these cases, you can proceed with pruning, which is never too invasive and always gentle. If you need to prune a branch, do it at a node or bud, half an inch past the fork. However, if you really need to remove something, cut it first, but without affecting the trunk. Use sharp scissors or perfectly clean branch cutters.
7) parasites
Even if the plant lives in the house or on the balcony, it can be attacked by parasites, such as a fungus that dries up the branches and leaves. If you notice this, immediately cut off the affected branches. If you notice dark, sticky spots on the bark, this is another type of fungus that is spreading to the roots and causing them to rot. For effective intervention, it is necessary to remove the entire affected part of the bark and then apply a preparation based on copper salts to the exposed areas. The last and most common enemy is the mealybug. You can tell by the white formation that can be seen on the leaves, at first they are small white dots that later expand. As soon as you notice this, immediately wipe each leaf with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. If possible, spray the leaves with a protective spray after treatment.
