Homemade lemons: planting and care at home, how to water and fertilize

The lemon tree has been known to mankind since time immemorial. Its fruits have become the property of not only culinary arts masters, but also physicians. This plant is native to Indonesia. The inhabitants of this particular country first domesticated citrus and began to study its properties. Now homemade decorative lemons can often be found in city apartments, but not all of their owners know that under certain conditions a beautiful tree can not only please with lush flowering, but also bear fruit.

Varieties suitable for home growing

Lemon is not just a decorative bush in the house. With proper care and observance of the conditions of agricultural technology, as well as the right choice of variety, you can get a harvest of useful fruits from it and secure a supply of vitamins for the winter. However, not all species are suitable for growing in apartment conditions.

Meyer

The fruits of this variety are distinguished by their small size, rounded shape and rich yellow color, close even to orange. The peel is very thin, there is no tuberosity. Meyer is an early ripe lemon that can be harvested as early as 8 months after the appearance of the buds.

According to reviews, its fruits do not tolerate transportation over long distances, and also have high acidity.

Pavlovsky

This variety in room conditions begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting. The ripening period of lemons ranges from 9 to 10 months, and if the level of lighting is insufficient, then the process lasts about 1 year.Fruits are yellow in color, very juicy, often do not have seeds at all. When overripe, they tend to lose marketable and taste qualities, so experienced florists recommend harvesting lemons in a timely manner.

Citrofortunella Volcano

The variety needs plenty of sunlight and moisture. These conditions must be taken into account, although it has minimal requirements for the soil. In the summer, it is good to take homemade lemon outside. Fruits in length reach 4 cm, which compares favorably with competitors.

Anniversary

This lemon is able to bloom in the first year after planting. Fruiting is plentiful, the fruits are large, in the stage of technical ripeness they have a yellow color. The variety prefers shade for growing, tolerates dry apartment air well.

Lunario

With proper care, this lemon can produce two crops in a year. The plant is very unpretentious, has a high yield. The fruits are medium in size, may vary depending on the time of year. In the stage of technical ripeness, they have a yellow color.

We plant lemon at home

In order for a lemon to please the owners with its decorative qualities and useful fruits, it is necessary not only to plant it correctly, but also to provide optimal conditions, as well as follow the rules of agricultural technology.

Variety selection and seed preparation

It must be remembered that the lemon does not tolerate acclimatization well. If it was decided to buy a ready-made tree right away, then you should immediately make sure that it was not brought from warm countries, but propagated from a houseplant growing in a similar climate. There are two ways to propagate the culture:

vaccination;
cutting.

It is worth buying seedlings only in reputable outlets that value their reputation. Preference should be given to those lemons that have been grafted onto Trifoliate. They are considered the most suitable for our region.

As for the variety, the best choice would be:

Lisbon;
Maikop;
Meyer;
Genoa;
Pavlovsky;
Kursk;
Lunario.

In room conditions, these varieties of lemons show the best results and do not cause much trouble to the owners.

Optimal soil composition

Soil for growing lemons can be used both purchased and prepared with your own hands. At the same time, a drainage layer is laid on the bottom of the pot, consisting of a mixture of ash and sand.Next, a nutrient soil mixture is prepared, consisting of forest soil, humus, wood ash and river sand.

The ratio of the components is as follows:

forest land - 2 cups;
sand - 1 cup;
humus - 3 tablespoons;
wood ash - 1 tablespoon.

The resulting soil mixture is mixed with water until a thick mass is obtained, resembling sour cream in consistency. It is poured into a pot until the roots of the lemon are completely closed.

Pot size

The material from which a pot for growing a lemon is made can be any. But there is an important requirement regarding the size: the upper diameter of the container should not exceed 15 cm. Its height is selected in the range from 15 to 20 cm.

Plant pattern

Planting a lemon begins with the fact that the pot is filled with a third of the prepared soil mixture. After that, the tree is carefully inserted into the container, the roots are straightened and covered with the same mixture. There should be some space left to the edge of the pot to allow further watering. The root neck of the lemon is buried 5 mm into the ground, so that it does not rot with abundant and constant watering.

Stages of tree development

How long a lemon tree grows before it begins to bloom and bear fruit depends on the variety and the chosen propagation method. The average term is 5 years. Some plants bring joy in a couple of years, but others are expected to produce a miracle within a decade.

Growth period

Lemon is actively growing and increasing its green mass for the first 4 years. At this time, it is undesirable for him to give fruit, so that the sprout does not lose vitality. In subsequent years, when the tree bears fruit, growth will no longer be so active. Fruits take away many useful substances and microelements, as a result of which growth processes are suspended.

Flowering

Some varieties of lemons bloom in the first year after planting. Sprouts grown from seed do not bloom for 8 years.

To speed up this procedure, it is recommended to graft the plant. This procedure is carried out at the age of 1-1.5 years.

Fruiting

When does a grafted lemon seedling begin to bear fruit? As a rule, 3 years after the scion. Some varieties delight the first harvest in the second year. The fruits of lemons ripen from 5 to 10 months, and with a lack of light, these terms can be delayed for several months.

Indoor tree care

You need to be able to properly care for a homemade lemon so that it pleases not only with its decorative qualities, but also with useful fruits. The plant must be fertilized in time, properly irrigated and pruned, and replanted from time to time.

Lighting

Uniform lighting is recommended for growing lemon. It is difficult to provide it in a residential apartment, so experienced florists recommend turning the plant pot daily. For the normal development of citrus fruits, a 12-hour light day is ideal. In winter, it is better to artificially put the tree into a dormant state.

Humidity and temperature

In an apartment it can be difficult to create ideal conditions for growing lemons. A constant air temperature is important to them, since the plant reacts very painfully to changes.During the growing season, this indicator is maintained at a level of 22-24 ° C, and during fruit ripening - about 18 ° C. Lemons hibernate at +10 °C. As for humidity, in the warm season, its level should not fall below 60%, and in the cold - below 40%.

Irrigation

How often do you water citrus fruits in summer? Lemons need regular watering. The formation of a dry earthy coma in the upper part of the pot is unacceptable. In hot weather, daily irrigation may be required Do not use tap water containing a lot of chlorine to irrigate citrus plants. This can lead to various diseases, including leaf chlorosis. It is better to use well or rain water with a temperature of 30 - 35 ° С.

The lemon is irrigated until water flows from the lower holes of the pot. Excess liquid is simply drained from the pan. A couple of times a day, the foliage is sprayed with a spray bottle.

Crown formation

Pruning of a lemon tree is carried out mainly in spring, although it is allowed to carry out this work in autumn and winter. Crown shaping is essential because a thickened tree needs more daylight and also bears little fruit. The first time the seedling is cut when it reaches a height of 20 cm. Initially, the main trunk of the tree is cut at a height of 30 cm.

Over time, lateral shoots grow in this place, from which skeletal branches are formed. Lemon fruits will form and ripen on them.

The branches of the 1st and 2nd order are cut at a height of 25 cm, the 3rd - 15 cm, the 4th - 10 cm. Subsequent orders are not cut at all. Those processes that interfere with the growth of young branches must be completely removed.

Transfer

The lemon is subject to transplantation in the following cases:

the plant has grown and it became cramped in the old container;
revealed signs of root rot;
the pot accidentally broke;
the tree has ceased to grow actively and bear fruit abundantly.

The transplant procedure itself is similar to landing. Transshipment is carried out together with a clod of earth, while carefully examining the condition of the root system of the lemon tree. If an unpleasant putrefactive odor emanates from it, or other signs of root rot are noticed, then all damaged roots are immediately removed.

Fertilizers

How to feed a lemon to activate growth processes and accelerate fruiting? A suitable option would be a complex fertilizer, but it must be used as carefully as possible, strictly follow the instructions and recommendations. Otherwise, an overdose will occur, and instead of the desired result of healing, the plant will begin to wither, get sick, or even disappear altogether.

Mineral

Of the mineral fertilizers for lemons, s altpeter is most often used. It helps eliminate nitrogen starvation, activates growth processes. It is advisable to add potassium s alts there. Superphosphate will relieve phosphorus deficiency. It can be laid in the soil where the lemon grows, in the form of granules, or dissolved in water and watered the plant. However, this fertilizer takes a long time to dissolve.

Organic

From organic matter, only 2 types are suitable for growing lemons: diluted mullein and chicken droppings. Due to its rich composition, mullein provides a supply of all the necessary vitamins and minerals, as a result of which the lemon tree fully grows and develops. Rarely, urea is used to feed plants. To prevent the development of diseases and neutralize the acidity of the soil, it is sprinkled with wood ash. It is not only a natural antiseptic, but also a wonderful top dressing.

You can not combine mineral and organic fertilizers, because it is fraught with burns of the lemon root system.

Signs of micronutrient deficiency

Lack of various trace elements in lemons manifests itself in different ways. With a nitrogen deficiency, the tree stops growing, changes the color of the leaves. From a lack of phosphorus, the plant cannot bear fruit abundantly. After the abundant flowering of the lemon tree, ovaries do not form, in the acute form, blackening and leaf fall are observed.

Lack of potassium is reflected in the lack of elasticity of the fruit, their long aging, discoloration of the leaves. Potassium deficiency affects the development of the lemon root system, which leads to malnutrition. As a result, the top shoots begin to die off.

When there is a lack of trace elements in the soil, light specks appear on lemon leaves, and over time they fall off.

In order for the plant to be he althy and please the owner, one must carefully monitor these signs and take preventive measures in a timely manner.

Fruit ripening and harvesting season

How long does a lemon ripen on a tree? On average, harvesting begins 3-4 months after the end of flowering. As a rule, this time falls on the beginning - the middle of winter. Fruit maturity is determined by color and taste. If the bush bears fruit abundantly, then you can pick one fruit, cut it and taste it. If there is too much acid, then you will have to wait a couple more weeks.

It is not recommended to leave a ripe lemon crop on the tree longer than January, otherwise fruiting may be delayed next year. In addition, the fruits are wrinkled by this time, which indicates their overripe.

What problems do they face when growing

Like any plant, the lemon tree is susceptible to a number of diseases and pests. Florists have invented ways to prevent and combat them.

Pests

The main pests that cause problems for growers who grow lemons at home are:

spider mite;
aphid;
shield;
whitefly;
mealy bugs.

You can save yourself from them if you prepare a tincture of garlic and periodically treat a lemon tree with it. In case of mass damage, they resort to the use of chemical insecticidal preparations.

Diseases

What does a diseased lemon tree look like? As a rule, it has yellowed leaves, drooping branches. Such symptoms can be caused not only by the negative impact of pests, but also by improper care or non-compliance with the elementary conditions of agricultural technology.Lack of lighting, violations of the temperature regime or temperature and humidity of the air should be immediately eliminated. Otherwise, the lemon may completely wither.

Lemon dries and does not grow

Troubles sometimes occur with a young lemon tree in the form of stunting and drying of shoots. They are caused by both a lack of nutrients and a banal lack of space in the pot. If the lemon roots are not cramped in their capacity, there are no signs of root rot on them, then care should be taken to ensure that the plant receives the entire complex of essential trace elements and minerals.