
How long does it take for a lemon tree to fruit?
A lemon tree will not bear fruit until it becomes a mature tree. It takes between 1 and 3 years for a lemon tree to fully mature. Even if you experience fruit during the 2nd and 3rd years, the fruit will be of poor size and taste! After the three years when the lemon tree is mature, it can refocus its energy.
Can you grow a lemon tree from a seed?
Growing a lemon from seed will produce fruit but not the same as the fruit you got it from, a good chance it will be inferior and have a smaller crop. Also growing a lemon tree from seed will take longer to produce fruit …probably 5–6 years as opposed to 2–3 years from a small tree from a garden center than has been grown from a cutting.
How many lemons does a lemon tree produce?
The amount of fruit your lemon tree produces will vary by age, variety, location, and quality of care given. According to Purdue University, 3 boxes of lemons per tree is considered a satisfactory yield in Florida. On the other hand, a 9-year-old lemon tree in India bore over 3,000 lemons in one year!
When do lemons ripen on a lemon tree?
Eureka lemons – these produce the most fruit in spring and summer Lisbon lemons – these produce the most fruit in the summer and fall Don’t get too excited when you see fruit form on a lemon tree – you may be in for a long wait! According to the University of Maryland Extension, lemons take 6 to 9 months to ripen fully.

How long does a lemon tree take to fruit from seed?
After their third year, healthy lemon trees begin to produce fruit. One that happens, a tree can yield a harvest consistently every year under the right climate and soil conditions. After a tree starts blossoming, it takes 4-12 months before a harvest, which usually takes place between summer and winter.
Will a lemon tree bear fruit from a seed?
Can You Grow a Lemon Tree From Seed? Yes, indeed. Propagating lemon seeds is a relatively easy process, although you may need to pack your patience and realize that you may not get the exact same lemon from your experiment in lemon seed propagation.
How long does it take for a lemon tree to bloom from seed?
After a period of 1 to 3 years, your lemon tree might begin to produce fruit.
How long does it take for lemon to produce fruit?
Lemon tree fruiting occurs at three to five years old, depending upon the rootstock. When growing lemon trees, problems like blossom drop can be frustrating. Many of the newly forming fruits will fall off well before they can begin to grow.
Can you grow a lemon tree from a grocery store lemon?
Depending on the cultivar, freshness of the seed and growing conditions, fruit production from seed-grown lemon trees can take from five to 15 years. Lemons from the grocery store can inexpensively provide seeds to grow lemon trees.
Can one lemon seed produce two plants?
A lot of citrus seeds have several embryo's in them, so its normal to get one, two, three, four or even five sprouts from one seed.
How often do you water lemon seeds?
Water your plant regularly, about 2 or 3 times per week. When the seedling has 4 developed leaves, let the surface of the soil become dry before you water again. Don't let the soil dry out completely, however; it should be moist if you stick your finger into it.
Do lemon trees grow true to seed?
Normally citrus will grow true from seed. Occasionally, some citrus varieties produce multiple seedlings from one seed – a phenomenon called 'polyembryony. If this happens, one seedling is the result of pollination and may grow a completely new hybrid plant.
How big is a 2 year old lemon tree?
2-3 Ft2-3 Year Old (Approx. 2-3 Ft) Meyer Lemon Tree.
Do you need 2 lemon trees to produce fruit?
Lemon trees are self-pollinating, so you don't require an additional tree for the production of fruit. Don't worry if you notice your tree loaded with blooms that don't produce fruit and instead fall from the branches. It's normal for some of the blooms to be sterile and drop from the tree.
How do I know if my lemon tree will bear fruit?
If your lemon tree is planted outdoors, when it first begins to fruit at around age 3, you can expect it to bear around 40 lbs or fruit that year, if it is healthy and thriving. As it grows, a lemon tree's yield will increase with each year, until it reaches full maturity at about 5 or 6 yrs old.
How often should lemon trees be watered?
Water any newly planted lemon trees every other day for the first week, and then one or two times a week for two months. In the first two years of life, water new lemon trees every five days or so during dry periods. Water mature lemon trees only about every seven to 14 days when the season is dry.
Does citrus grow true from seed?
Citrus trees grown from seed are usually used as rootstock, because they do not grow true to type, are not as prolific, and can take up to ten years before bearing fruit.
Can I grow Meyer lemon from seed?
Meyer lemon trees are easy to grow from seed. But you won't find a package of lemon seed at the garden centre. Citrus seeds are only viable for a short time. You must plant your lemon seeds as soon as you harvest them from fresh organic lemons.
How do you start a lemon seed?
Gather the seeds. ... Peel off their skin (OPTIONAL) ... Prepare the pots and soil. ... Plant the lemon seeds about 1 inch deep. ... Seal the pot with cling wrap and poke a few small holes. ... Remove the cling wrap when sprouts come out of the soil and place in a warm, sunny location.
How long does it take for a lime tree to bear fruit from seed?
While it's possible to grow a lime tree from seed, don't expect to see any fruit right away. The downside to growing lime trees from seed is that it can take anywhere from four to ten years before they produce fruit, if at all.
Basic Description
Given the proper growing conditions and the appropriate care, lemon trees grow robustly and attain a mature height of up to 20 feet relatively quickly, depending on the cultivar, with a spread almost equal to the tree’s height.
Lemon Fruit and Development
Of all the various types of citrus, lemons are one of the most acidic, having the lowest pH.
Lemon Production Amounts
Lemon trees generally produce their first crop of roughly 38 pounds of fruit around 3 years of age. The amount of fruit produced quickly increases with age, however, and 4- to 5-year-old trees are able to produce a crop of over 100 pounds yearly.
Preferred Fruit-Producing Conditions
For top-notch growth and production of flowers and fruits, lemon trees require certain basic conditions for the best development.
Harvesting and Storing Your Bounty
Harvesting your bounty of lemons is as easy as grabbing a lemon and giving it a slight tug and twist to release it from the branch and into your anticipating hands. Not all the lemons produced are ripe at the same time, so be sure only to harvest the ones that are ripe and whose peels are entirely yellow or have a slight greenish tinge.
How to grow lemons
If you want to harvest your own citrus fruit, then growing a lemon tree from seed is not the best option. This is because the seeds do not necessarily reflect the parent plant. Of course, you may strike lucky and your lemon tree will produce deliciously tangy yellow lemons.
How to grow lemon from seed
Learning how to grow lemon from seed is an easy and affordable way to fill your home with beautiful lemon trees. So long as you have a lemon with pips, a pot of soil and a warm, light windowsill then you are good to go.
Can you germinate lemon seeds in paper towel?
Yes, you can germinate lemon seeds in a paper towel and it's pretty easy to do.
How long does it take to grow a lemon tree from seed?
It takes around three to six years to grow a mature lemon tree from seed, with fruit starting to be produced at around year five. However, it only takes a few months to get a small lemon tree that will look pretty in a pot in your home.
Can you plant lemon seeds from a store bought lemon?
Yes, you can plant lemon seeds from a store bought lemon. It is, however, worth bearing in mind that not all store bought lemons will have seeds, or viable seeds.
Will dry lemon seeds germinate?
No, dry lemon seeds will not germinate. You are best planting the seed as soon as possible after harvesting the pips from the fruit. If you need to wait, however, you can put the seeds in a glass of water overnight and then plant the following day.
Should I grow my lemon tree in the ground or in a container?
Unless you live in a place with very warm temperatures all year around and no risk of frost, then you should grow your lemon trees in containers rather than in the ground.
How to Grow a Lemon Tree from Seed: What You Need
Without further ado, here are the items you should have at hand before planting lemon seeds:
How to Grow a Lemon Tree from Seed: Method 1
I tried planting lemon seeds with the paper towel method during this winter and I was surprised by how simple and effective it is. I had a 90% success rate with germinating lemon seeds in a paper towel.
How to Grow a Lemon Tree from Seed: FAQs
The answers below will also help you have a clear and simple picture of how to grow a lemon tree from seed.
Conclusion
Now you know how to grow lemon trees from scratch! I hope you’ll have as much success as I did with germinating and planting lemon seeds.
When Does A Lemon Tree Produce Fruit?
According to the Clemson University Extension, a lemon tree needs 1 to 3 years to grow out of the “juvenile” stage and become a mature tree. At that point, the mature tree will start producing good fruit.
What Kind Of Lemon Tree Should I Buy?
When selecting a lemon tree, make sure to choose one that you can grow in your climate! For more information, check out the USDA Zone Hardiness map to see what zone you are in.
How Long Do Lemon Trees Live?
Lemon trees can live for decades. However, they may stop producing fruit before the end of their lives.
Conclusion
Now you have a good idea of when lemon trees are mature enough to produce fruit, how long it takes for lemon trees to bear fruit, and what time of year to expect fruit. You also know a bit more about how to take care of lemon trees and how to avoid the problems that can affect your harvest.
5 Step Process on How to Grow a Lemon Tree from Seed in Containers
The very first step in propagating a lemon tree from seeds is to ensure you choose the best juicy and tasty lemon fruit. You can taste two or three fruits and select the best. The fruit should be organic since their counterparts contain seeds that do not germinate.
Pests
The symptoms of an aphid-infested lemon tree are curly leaves and the twigs and leaves are covered in gluey substance that may grow sooty mold. The number of aphids usually declines naturally as the leaves grow older. Application of pesticides is not recommended due to resistance.
Diseases
Lemon tree leaves will show signs of chlorosis and start dropping from the tree. The trees may show signs of wilting and the whole canopy will be affected if the roots get damaged. You will also notice mushroom clusters forming at the bottom of the tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Growing lemon trees indoors is totally fun. Start your seeds in small pots and once they outgrow the pots, transplant them into larger containers. Regardless of the climate, lemon trees will grow excellently provided that you select the right tree and ensure it meets its special requirements.
Conclusion
Now you must be excited about quenching your thirst using that lemonade! Whether you are growing your lemon tree indoors or outdoors, expect a good yield, provided you follow all the instructions carefully.
Causes for Lack of Fruit on Lemon Trees
Lemon trees commonly don’t produce fruit if they’re not mature yet, if it’s not the fruiting season, or if they have improper watering or nutrients. A big factor is if your lemon tree grew from a seed or a graft. Grafted lemon trees can take 2-3 years to fruit, while those grown from seed can take 10 years or more.
5 Ways To Encourage Lemon Trees to Fruit
Maturity is by far the most common reason why lemon trees (and other citrus trees) won’t fruit.
More Tips To Encourage Fruiting on Lemon Trees
Compost: Adding 1-2 inches of compost will do wonders for your tree and the amount it flowers and fruits. Just make sure to only apply the compost once at the start of each growing season and check that it isn’t touching the tree’s trunk directly as this can introduce mold.
