lemon trees

[olive tree]

Hi can anybody give me any advice on whether its possible to grow a lemon tree from seed? I really fancy one but they are quite expensive to buy at my local garden centre.Thanks Annette

[olive tree]

Thank you i shall give it a go

[Mrs Dobby]

Keep an eye out come the autumn in the Garden Centers, we got a lemon tree and an orange tree last autumn at half price, £12 each! Already had some fruit from them, have others ripening and more flowers opening all the time!

They need to be watered infrequently, let them really dry out then give them a really good soaking, and feed with a winter feed in winter and a summer feed in summer!

Good luck!

[Dobby]

rember they are to getthe wricht compos think its 3.49 for a small bag dontknow if they have a website try golden days gatly/chedle

[olive tree]

Thanks for the advice,don't suppose you could give me any tips on keeping olive tree? I got one on sunday from work was a bargain at £12.99,its about 4ft tall and very healthy looking and in flower.I don't want to kill it!

[Mrs Dobby]

Dont know owt about keeping Olive Trees, tho I suspect my Mum who emigrated to Greece 6 years ago does! lol!

Heyasson says nothing about them either, or at least nothing in any of our books, sorry! I have a feeling one or two of the more knowledgeable grapes may be along with some info soon tho!

[SimonCole]

Planted a few seeds back in December and my 9 lemon trees are now about 2ft high. I cannot see for the life of me why people buy from garden centres... Just last week I was trying to get a 4 inch plastic pot and they were 46 pence each! It was only two years ago when they were 15p. Anyway, back to lemons:

Sowing requires you to first wash the seed in water that is not too cold. Similarly, you need a warm, light windowsill. I would recommend at least 5 hours sun each day. Plant them at their own depth and keep very moist and warm (22 degrees Celsius-ish). I disagree with normal watering guidelines and would recommend standing the pots in bowls of water, keeping the compost always moist. This is because the roots develop slowly and a slight breeze can cause the plant to desiccate. Always ensure the watering is at room temp.
Compost is a good medium, pH 6-7 is the way to go. Nothing with lime chips or soil mixed in, go for a good 100% organic mix like that Miracle Grow moisture control stuff. That said, I may swap to a soil-based mix later on.
Growth is fast and from what I've been told, you should not pinch them but let them grow to full height (7-10ft)... which would require a greenhouse.
They are unlike those small, rootstock-grown, ornamental varieties you find in garden centres. Such are all imported from warm, very bright climates and forced to grow that way... these need a good height to develop fruit.

The great thing is that you don't know what you'll end up with... all-sorts of leaf shapes and growth styles... you'll see what I mean.

[olive tree]

lemon trees

Thank you so much for the advice it was very informative i shall pick some miracle grow compost up before i go to work tonight and get started.Am also very tempted to try oranges aswell,does the same advice apply? Its just that my hubby thinks he can put any seed in the groud and it will produce! Thats because his dad's a farmer in Turkey and cos they have the climate to achieve it he thinks we can do it in sunny England! Oh well it makes a very interesting hobby doesn't it?


Regards Annette

[blue-and-green]

I have grown a few Lemon trees this year

Hi, i love Lemon Trees and planted a few pips this year, i ended up with more lemon trees than wanted and swapped them for berries and gave to friends, oh yes, you can grow from seed!!
and yes they are too pricy in the shops, havent seen anything under £30.
but gorgeous when in blossom and fruiting.
i used seed and cutting compost, and when i started giving up on them, not watering them anymore, thats when they germinated. so be patient.
happy days!!

[SimonCole]

I think oranges are very similar Annette. I cannot seem to get orange seeds because most plants are self-fertile and you rarely find pips, but Mandarins are to the contrary and I have germinated them with some success. It's just a matter of planting enough seeds in different ways to germinate a few plants. They say that agriculture originated from the Orient and such certainty must be the right ethos!

[kernowyon]

this thread has given me great ideas and thanks Simon for the tips on getting things started. shall be giving both oranges and lemons a go now!

[brogusblue]

Hello

In the latest sainsburys magazine there is an offer for patio orange & lemon trees for £14.98 for the pair inc delivery they come from thompson & morgan.

Cheers
Brogusblue

[olive tree]

Brogusblue
Morning and a jolly nice one it is! Just finished work and read your latest post on the lemon tree offer.Have planted a few pips but this offer sounds very tempting so may have a look and see what its all about.
Thanks muchly Netty

[brogusblue]

Hello

They have some good offers on like 10 herbs and pouches for only £3.25, Blueberry plant £7.99, Tomazing Cherry toms 3 for £5.99, Lavender 5 for 7.99 10 for £9.98

Cheers
Brogusblue

Ps i am going to order these today

[tai haku]

FWIW I wouldn't bother with seed grown plants. We've had great success with lemons (in the uk not here - that would be easier!) but grow named varieties. Meyer in particular is worth seeking out. It stays smallish, fruits heavily even when small, has good flavour and generally seems well suited to uk cultivation in the house or under glass. We had 20 fruit on our largest at one point.

Getting named varieties also means they are probably grafted onto poncirus trifoliata and hence potentially a little hardier than seedlings should you cop a bit of a chill. Reads nursery has a good range and sells MEyer for example for 15 quid. Worth the extra in my opinion.
http://readsnursery.co.uk/a1commerce...page=2&sort=2a