The Best Way to Plant A Lemon Seed Easily

By Calin Oancea

4/22/20244 min read

We found that planting a lemon seed is quite simple but you need the right technique to avoid lemon seeds that don't sprout

The best way to plant a lemon seed is to first extract and wash the seeds, then plant them in a potting mix for citrus, and provide proper care for germination like providing much sunlight and regularly watering.

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lemon seeds that got planted and sprouted
lemon seeds that got planted and sprouted
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Preparing to Plant Your Lemon Seeds

  1. Select a Fresh Lemon: Choose a lemon from a healthy tree. We tried this multiple times and found out that the fresher the lemon, the better the chance is that your seed will germinate.

  2. Extract the Seed: Cut the lemon and remove one or more seeds. Wash it under cool water, cleaning off any pulp.

  • Pro Tip: A clean seed is less likely to rot.

The Right Soil and Container to Plant

  1. Choose a Pot: Start with a small pot with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, which can doom your seed before it sprouts.

  2. Soil Selection: Unlike plating perennials or starting annuals, use a potting mix that is designed for citrus or make your own with the same nutrients and qualities. This ensures good drainage and aeration.

a Lemon tree with multiple yellow Lemons
a Lemon tree with multiple yellow Lemons

Planting Your Lemon Seed Correctly Step-by-Step

  1. Plant Immediately: Exactly like us you will see that lemon seeds dry out quickly and need to be planted right away to maximize germination chances.

  2. Depth and Position: Plant the seed about half an inch deep in the center of the pot. Cover it lightly with soil, but don’t press down too hard, this also applies to growing herb seeds or growing flowers from seeds.

  3. Water Wisely: Water the soil properly until it is damp but not soaking. Consistent moisture is key, but you don’t want standing water.

Caring for Your Seedling

  1. Sunlight: Place the pot in a warm, sunny spot. Lemon seeds need plenty of light and warmth to germinate like most other plant seeds.

  2. Patience is Key: It can take a few weeks for a lemon seed to sprout, but you need to keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.

  3. The First True Leaves: Once your seedling has several sets of leaves, you can start feeding it with a diluted, balanced liquid fertilizer every few weeks so that you can later on successfully grow your lemon tree and harvest lemons.

a few Lemon seeds that need to be planted
a few Lemon seeds that need to be planted
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one small Lemon plant seedling with a few leaves
one small Lemon plant seedling with a few leaves
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Do lemon seeds need to be soaked before planting?

No, lemon seeds do not require soaking before planting, they should be planted fresh and moist directly from the lemon similar to when planting and growing basil seeds.

How do you grow lemon seeds in a cup?

Fill a cup with a well-draining potting mix, plant the seed half an inch deep, water gently, and place in a warm, sunny spot, ensuring the soil remains moist.

How long does a lemon seed take to sprout?

We texted this multiple times and found out that a lemon seed typically takes 2 to 3 weeks to sprout, provided it's kept in the right conditions of warmth and moisture.

a big Lemon tree grown from seed
a big Lemon tree grown from seed
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Sources

Nature and Sustainability uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies to support the facts we describe in our articles. Please read our editorial policy to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. The ideal soil, watering and care for lemon seeds: How to Grow a Lemon Tree from Seed (bhg.com), How to Grow a Lemon Tree From Seed (marthastewart.com)

  2. Preparing your seeds: How To Grow Lemons From Seeds (southernliving.com)

  3. Planting lemon seeds: 3 Ways to Plant a Lemon Seed - wikiHow, Growing a Lemon Tree from Seed (thespruce.com)

  4. FAQ and more general information about lemon seeds: How To Grow A Lemon Seed Into A Healthy Tree | Gardening Know How, Lemon Tree from Seed (nmsu.edu), Lemon - Wikipedia

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Calin Oancea
Calin Oancea
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Calin is in the garden industry for 5 years now and knows a lot about gardening and plants. He is the owner of this website and responsible for most of the content.