Lemon is a species of the genus Citrus, cultivated on an industrial scale in regions with a subtropical climate. In nature, the lemon tree reaches a height of 8 m, while the indoor representative of the species is represented by low-growing plants whose branches are covered with thorns. A lemon in a pot is valued not only for its fruits - during long flowering(about 2 months) bloom beautiful flowers, captivating with its wonderful aroma.

As a result of the continuous work of breeders, many varieties have been developed, both for agriculture and indoor floriculture. There are varieties that can bear fruit all year round, and also exclusively decorative. There are short and tall forms.

Among the most popular varieties adapted to apartment conditions are:

  • Meyer Lemon - early ripening variety with two or three blooms throughout the year. A plant with a height of up to 1.5 m produces fruits weighing up to 150 g with slightly acidic pulp.
  • “Pavlovsky” is the result of domestic selection, so the variety is well adapted to home cultivation and is the most common among flower growers.
  • “Lisbon” - the variety is characterized by good adaptability to the apartment environment, which gives it the ability to cope with dry air. A fast-growing plant up to 2 m tall produces fruits weighing 150 g.
  • “Genoa” is a productive variety of Italian selection that is capable of bearing fruit several times a year. The maximum height of the tree does not exceed 1.5 m.
  • “Kursky” is a domestic variety that is distinguished by drought resistance, shade tolerance and fairly high yields. The average fruit weight is 120 g.
  • “Kyiv large-fruited” is a low-growing variety with fruits up to 1.5 kg, which can be harvested every season with proper care, including systematic pruning.

Optimal conditions for growing lemon

The easiest way to grow a lemon tree is from a seed.

To do this, it is enough to purchase a ripe fruit in the store without visible damage with mature seeds.

Correct soil composition

A lemon tree needs a light, permeable substrate with a slightly acidic reaction (pH 6.6-7.0), which can be easily prepared by mixing peat and universal flower soil in equal quantities.

What is the best way to grow a lemon tree?

When choosing a pot for a lemon tree at the initial stages (planting and 2 subsequent transplants), you can choose plastic. However, due to its disadvantages, which are lightness and waterproofness, preference should be given to wooden tubs.

Despite its fragility, wooden utensils have all the necessary qualities for growing lemons:

  • water permeability;
  • ease of disinfection;
  • sustainability.

Before filling the selected container with the substrate, it is necessary to place a drainage layer of expanded clay, crushed stone or gravel at the bottom.

Attention! The diameter of each new container should not exceed the same parameter of the previous pot by more than 6 cm. Soil that is not occupied by roots tends to sour.

How to choose a plant location

Lemon is a short-day plant, which allows it to tolerate low light levels normally. In the case of long daylight hours, the tree will grow more actively, but the fruiting phase will come later. The optimal place in the house would be the windowsill of an eastern or southern window with light shading in the afternoon. IN winter time When cloudy weather prevails, an artificial light source is installed, operating about 6 hours a day.

Advice! In order for the plant to develop equally on all sides, you should turn the pot clockwise 10° every 10 days.

Lemon tree: care at home

Care lemon tree must be constant and include a number of important events, without which fruiting, which indicates the health and strength of the plant, is simply impossible.

Watering and air humidity

An inhabitant of the subtropics from late spring to early autumn needs daily watering, which should be carried out with purified water at room temperature.

During other periods, it is enough to moisten the lemon twice a week so that the substrate has time to dry out slightly. Exotic plant, despite its adaptation to low humidity, daily spraying is required, which can only be stopped when the tree is cool in winter.

Temperature

To increase green mass, it is enough for a lemon tree to provide temperature regime within 17°C.

  • During the formation of buds and ovaries, the mercury column should not rise above 18°C, otherwise this may threaten the dropping of future fruits.
  • But when citrus fruits ripen, the temperature increases to 22°C and higher.
  • With the arrival of winter, if possible, it is worth organizing the lemon tree into a dormant stage at a temperature of 12-14°C so that the plant can accumulate energy before the coming season.

Feeding and fertilizer

To save vitality lemon needs regular feeding, which is carried out for young plants every 6 weeks, and for adults - every 3 weeks using complex mineral fertilizers. In winter, the interval between fertilizing increases. If the plant is at rest, then they stop altogether.

Carefully! An excess of nitrogen fertilizers can delay the onset of the fruiting phase due to the active growth of green mass.

How to properly prune a lemon tree

For decorative lemon, the crown is formed compact and small in size.

If the goal is to obtain fruits, then the formation is carried out according to the following scheme:

  1. When the seedling reaches a height of 25 cm, pinching is carried out.
  2. After the stem grows another 20 cm, it is pinched a second time so that between the pinches there are 4 growth buds from which skeletal branches will develop.
  3. Shoots of the first order are pinched at intervals of 25 cm, and after they ripen they are shortened below the pinching by 5 cm.
  4. Each subsequent branch should be 5 cm shorter than the previous one.
  5. Formation is completed by pruning the fourth order of shoots.

In addition to shaping haircuts, if necessary, sanitary pruning is carried out: weak, injured shoots growing inward are removed.

Plant transplant technology

Lemon transplantation is carried out before the pot volume reaches 10 liters. Then only the top layer of the substrate is updated.

Among the pests on lemon shoots, damage to spider mites, whiteflies, scale insects, mealybugs and aphids are noted. When identifying harmful insects, it is worth resorting to insecticide treatment, since traditional methods are not always effective, especially with heavy population.

What difficulties can you encounter when growing

Growing a lemon tree often raises many questions, to resolve which the cause must be established:

  • Yellowing of lemon. The problem occurs for a number of reasons - low humidity levels, nutritional deficiencies, high temperatures in winter period or due to plant colonization spider mite.
  • Fall of leaves and ovaries. If such a difficulty arises, you should pay attention to the level of soil and air humidity. As a rule, this occurs due to moisture deficiency.
  • Curling of leaves. If the leaf blades on the lemon begin to dry out and curl, this is due to a violation general requirements by content. A review of ongoing activities will identify the cause.

So, despite the fact that growing lemons is quite a troublesome task, the result is worth it: high decorative value, wonderful aroma during flowering and healthy fruits rich in vitamins will certainly inspire the gardener to new experiments.

Lemon is a citrus fruit from the Rutaceae family. The plant's homeland is considered to be Argentina, Mexico and the subtropical forests of the Mediterranean. IN wild environment he can also be found in Central Asia, USA and the Caucasus.

They learned about such a tree in Rus' at the end of the 16th century, and the word “lemon” itself was borrowed from the Persian language. But the plant gained particular popularity among the Russian population only in the 18th century.

Today, Russians use lemon to make confectionery, icing, jams and drinks.

Many people like to add citrus slices to tea. In the West, this drink is even called “Russian tea.”

Lemon is often consumed as a snack with vodka and cognac.

Lemon pulp should be consumed with caution, since it can cause a strong allergic reaction, which is not always associated with the substances contained in the fruit. Sometimes this is caused by chemical residues that remain on the skin of the fruit after treating the trees to protect them from pests. Therefore, purchased lemons must be washed well before eating.

They are not recommended for use as food by people who suffer from any gastrointestinal diseases, as well as high stomach acidity. Hypertensive patients should also avoid lemons. Everyone else can start growing their own citrus tree right on the windowsill to enjoy fresh fruits, untreated with chemicals.

Plant lovers grow citrus fruits even on the windowsill. What factors do you pay attention to in order to see flowering and enjoy exotic fruits?

You can grow a beautiful tree that will delight you with fragrant fruits at home. But this plant has a whimsical character and requires attention not only to watering, but also to the temperature regime of the room where it is located. An obligatory element of care is fertilizing, which is carried out in accordance with certain rules. Air humidity, lighting, and timely replanting are also important. If all elements of care are performed regularly and efficiently, the plant will bear fruit and delight with ovaries.

Factors that affect lemon growth

The lemon that is grown on your windowsill may be slightly different from those sold in the markets. This is due to the fact that indoor varieties are chosen for home breeding. Particularly prized are small lemons, which have very thin peels. In addition, they look very bright and beautiful on the window. Larger fruits will have a dense and thick skin, and will look no less exotic.

The difficulty of caring for this fruit-bearing tree is that it is accustomed to the subtropical climate where it comes from. This means that its comfortable air temperature should not be more than 17-18 degrees. In an apartment in winter, due to heating, this figure is higher. The presence of batteries also affects humidity. It becomes below 70%. And compliance of the indicators characterizing the air with the standards is very necessary for the tree to grow.

No less important for the growth of lemons is the level of illumination in the room. Right place For a tree indoors, it is chosen taking into account the fact that it does not like direct sunlight. The most ideal location will have a good amount of light throughout the day, but this light will be diffuse.

Dishes for the tree are also important. To enter the phase of active growth and formation of the ovaries of future fruits, it should be placed in a tighter pot. If the root system is too spacious, the flowering phase will be delayed indefinitely. Dishes made from natural materials are ideal for planting plants. This clay products or boxes made of wood.

Land is not particularly important for growth. But it must meet the qualities of air and water permeability. The soil mixture may contain peat and sand. Fertility will add humus. The soil should be loosened.

Moisture has a direct effect on growth. Therefore, abundant watering in spring and summer time when the ambient temperature tends to rise. In winter, watering frequency is reduced. Older trees require more moisture. It is advisable that watering be carried out with prepared water. Pre-filled in a container and left to stand will do. You can also use thawed water, although most perfect option- rain.

In order for the lemon tree to bear fruit, it is fed. Any of the organic or mineral types of fertilizers will be suitable. The frequency of this procedure should not be too intense. The optimal period of time is after 20 days.

Lemon care at different times of the year

To grow a lemon, caring for the plant at home must take into account some differences depending on the time of year. In the spring season, it begins a phase of active growth, and then forms buds, which will subsequently become fragrant fruits. The temperature should be in the range of 14-18 degrees. An excessively warm room will cause the buds and ovaries to drop. And such an event can provoke the death of the entire tree.

Fresh air is good for the natural growth of lemongrass. From the moment the air temperature outside the window stabilizes at 13-14 degrees, the plant can be placed on the balcony or terrace for the entire warm period. However, they monitor possible temperature changes due to possible further frost and a decrease in temperature at night. To avoid the death of the plant, it is wrapped.

In summer, open sunlight poses a danger to the lemon tree. Therefore, this situation is carefully controlled to avoid burns.

Winter time for lemon is characterized by the stage of final ripening of the fruit. Optimal conditions for this period include moderate temperatures (16-18 degrees). Definitely support optimal humidity(about 70%). Another important condition good condition trees in winter are an exception to air flows that come from heating sources. The pot with lemon is removed away from heaters and radiators. It is also provided with a light source for at least 12 hours.

The lemon tree is quite capricious to care for. Not too suitable for him high temperatures, as well as too low. Watering should be moderate, but very dry soil should be avoided. The plant does not like direct sunlight, but requires prolonged exposure to diffused light throughout the day. Without taking into account and fulfilling all these conditions, it is impossible to achieve the appearance of ovaries, which will subsequently delight you with fragrant fruits. Timely watering and fertilizing, proper soil are also of great importance.

Plant lemon (lat. Citrus limon)- a species of the Citrus genus of the Rutaceae family. The homeland of lemon is China, India and the tropical Pacific islands. Most likely, the lemon tree is a hybrid plant that arose accidentally in nature, which developed as separate species genus Citrus and in the 12th century it was introduced into culture in India and Pakistan, and then spread throughout North Africa, Middle East and Southern Europe. Today, lemon is widely cultivated in countries with subtropical climates - the annual harvest of its fruit is approximately 14 million tons. Among the leaders in lemon cultivation are countries such as India, Mexico, Italy and the USA.

The plant is also of interest for indoor floriculture - homemade lemon has been popular in many countries around the world for more than three hundred years. Lemon is grown indoors not only because of its decorative value: the fruits of some varieties of homemade lemon are as tasty as the fruits of lemons ripening under the southern sun.

Planting and caring for lemon

  • Bloom: at home - in different time.
  • Lighting: short day plant. The best place in the apartment is the southern and eastern window sills with shading from the sun in the afternoon. In order for the lemon to develop symmetrically, it must be rotated around its axis by 10˚ every 10 days. In winter, additional artificial lighting will be needed for 5-6 hours daily.
  • Temperature: during the growth period - 17 ˚C, during the budding period - no more than 14-18 ˚C, during fruit growth - 22 ˚C or more. In winter – 12-14 ˚C.
  • Watering: from May to September - daily, then no more than 2 times a week.
  • Air humidity: It is recommended to periodically spray the leaves with warm boiled water, especially in the summer heat and in winter when heating devices are running.
  • Feeding: complex mineral fertilizers. During the period of active growth, young plants are fed once every one and a half months, adults - once every 3-4 weeks. From mid-autumn, feeding is gradually reduced: if a lemon grows in a heated room in winter, it is fed once every month and a half; if the tree has entered a dormant period, it does not need feeding. The fertilizer solution is applied to the pre-moistened substrate.
  • Rest period: in winter, but not clearly expressed.
  • Transfer: in spring, at the beginning of active growth. Young lemons are replanted once every year or two, mature ones - once every 2-3 years, when the roots appear from the drain holes.
  • Reproduction: seeds, cuttings and grafting.
  • Pests: spider mites, whiteflies, root and common aphids, mealybugs, scale insects.
  • Diseases: chlorosis, tristeza, citrus canker, homoz, scab, anthracnose, leaf viral mosaic, root rot, melseco.

Read more about growing lemons below.

Homemade lemon - description

Indoor lemon is a perennial, evergreen, low-growing plant with strong, thorny branches. The tops of its young shoots are purple-violet. Lemon leaves are leathery, green, oblong-oval, toothed, with a large number of glands containing essential oil. Each leaf lives 2-3 years. The plant's buds take about five weeks to develop. An open lemon flower lives from 7 to 9 weeks, and all this time the lemon blossom is accompanied by a wonderful fragrance.

Fruit ripening from the formation of the ovary to full maturity can last more than nine months. The fruits of indoor lemons are ovoid in shape with a nipple at the top, they are covered with a yellow, pitted or tuberous peel with a strong characteristic odor. The greenish-yellow, juicy and sour pulp of the fruit is divided into 9-14 segments. White, irregularly ovoid-shaped lemon seeds are covered with a dense parchment shell.

We will tell you about how to create conditions for growing lemons in an ordinary apartment, how to grow a lemon from a seed at home, how to water a lemon, why lemon leaves turn yellow, what pests and diseases of homemade lemons are most dangerous, how to plant a lemon at home , what valuable properties lemon fruits have, and you will definitely want to decorate your home with this wonderful and useful plant.

Indoor lemon from seed

How to grow lemon at home

The easiest way to grow homemade lemon is from a seed. Seeds for germination can be taken from fruits purchased in the store. The fruits must be ripe, uniformly yellow in color, and the seeds in them must be mature and formed. A lemon from a seed needs a substrate of a certain composition: mix peat and flower soil from the store in equal parts to make the composition light and permeable. The soil pH should be within pH 6.6-7.0.

How to plant a lemon

Place a layer of drainage material and substrate in a suitable container and plant lemon seeds in it to a depth of 1-2 cm immediately after removing them from the fruit. Keep the crops in a bright place at a temperature of 18-22 ºC, keeping the soil slightly wet, and in two weeks the seeds will germinate.

How to care for lemon seedlings

At home, lemons from seeds are watered with water at room temperature, the soil in the pots is carefully loosened, and when the sprouts develop a pair of true leaves, the strongest seedlings are transplanted into separate pots with a diameter of 10 cm and covered with a glass jar to create the desired microclimate. Once a day, the jar is removed briefly to ventilate the seedlings. The lemons can be kept in this container until they reach a height of 15-20 cm, after which they are transplanted into larger pots. Lemon planting is carried out by transshipment.

Before replanting a lemon, remember that each subsequent pot for an adult lemon should be 5-6 cm larger in diameter than the previous one, since in a container that is too spacious, the soil not occupied by roots begins to sour from moisture. Be sure to lay a thick layer of drainage at the bottom of the pot - expanded clay, broken polystyrene foam, charcoal or pebbles. A flower mixture from a store or garden soil fertilized with humus is quite suitable as soil. When replanting, do not bury the root collar into the ground - this may cause it to rot.

Caring for a lemon in a pot

Conditions for growing indoor lemon

How to grow homemade lemon? Growing homemade lemons is not easy, but rewarding. First of all, it is necessary to create optimal conditions for it. Since lemon is a short-day plant, it tolerates a lack of lighting. Long daylight hours stimulate the rapid growth of lemons, but delay the onset of fruiting. The best place for plants in an apartment is southern and eastern window sills, but in the afternoon the windows need to be shaded. To prevent the tree from growing one-sided, turn it every 10 days around its axis by 10º.

In winter, if the lemon does not rest, it is advisable to organize artificial lighting for it every day for 5-6 hours.

Temperature for lemon

For lemon leaves to grow, 17 ºC is enough. The most comfortable temperature for a lemon during the period of bud formation is 14-18 ºC; in hotter conditions, the lemon sheds ovaries and buds. And during fruit growth, it is advisable to increase the temperature to 22 or more ºC. When warm days arrive, the lemon can be taken out into the garden, onto the balcony or onto the terrace, but make sure that the plant is not damaged by sudden temperature changes - wrap it up or cover it at night.

In winter, lemon is comfortable in a room with a temperature of 12-14 ºC, away from heating devices, where the plant will remain dormant in order to gain strength for the next fruiting.

Watering the lemon

Lemon in room conditions needs daily watering from May to September, the rest of the time the frequency of moistening is approximately twice a week. Saturate the substrate with moisture, but let it dry before the next watering. It is advisable to use filtered water or at least let it sit for 24 hours. The temperature of the water for irrigation should be the same as the room temperature. If for any reason the lemon is exposed to waterlogging for a long time, you will have to completely replace the substrate in which it grows.

Growing lemon at home requires spraying the leaves plants with warm boiled water, especially in winter, when the heating appliances in the room are working at full strength. However, moderation must be observed in this matter, otherwise problems caused by fungal diseases may arise. If the lemon rests in a cool place in winter, the leaves do not need to be sprayed.

Lemon fertilizer

Lemon at home needs regular feeding. Complex mineral compositions can be used as fertilizers. Young plants are fertilized once every one and a half months, adults more often: the frequency of fertilizing in the spring-summer period is once every two to three weeks. From mid-autumn, fertilizing is reduced: if your tree grows without rest all year round, in winter, fertilize an adult lemon once every month and a half, and if it rests in winter, it does not need fertilizing at all. Two hours before adding fertilizer, be sure to water the substrate in the pot with clean water.

Among organic fertilizers, lemon prefers an ash extract, an infusion of quinoa or birch leaves (half a jar of crushed leaves is filled with water and left for 2-3 days), an infusion of fresh manure diluted 5-6 times. The frequency of applying organic matter is the same as for mineral fertilizers.

If you notice that there is intensive growth of green mass, but fruiting does not occur, remove the nitrogen component from the fertilizing and increase the phosphorus component.

Lemon trimming

Lemon care includes regular pruning. The crown of a lemon is shaped depending on what it is grown for. If you need him as ornamental plant, then the crown is formed compact and small in size, but if you need lemon fruits, then the formation of the crown is carried out differently.

A fruiting lemon must have a certain number of main branches and the required mass of growing shoots, and most of these shoots should consist of fruit wood. The crown is formed by pinching: as soon as the first zero shoot stretches to 20-25 cm, it is pinched, the next pinching of the shoot is done at a height of 15-20 cm from the previous pinching, leaving 4 developed buds in the segment between two pinches, which subsequently form 3-4 main escapes directed in different directions. Shoots of the first order are pinched after 20-30 cm, and when they ripen, they are cut about 5 cm below the pinching point. Each subsequent shoot should be approximately 5 cm shorter than the previous one.

The formation of the crown on the shoots of the fourth order is completed. If you do not prune a lemon, its branches grow too long, and the formation of shoots of the third and fourth order, on which the fruits form, is delayed.

Pruning, in addition to its formative function, also has a sanitary function: as necessary, weak shoots and those branches that grow inside the crown should be removed.

Pests and diseases of lemon

Lemon turns yellow

Amateur flower growers often ask us why lemons turn yellow. There are several reasons for this phenomenon. Lemon turns yellow:

  • if the air in the room is dry;
  • if the plant lacks nutrition;
  • if in winter it is in a too warm room;
  • when affected by spider mites.

All reasons, except the last one, are easily removable, and as for spider mites, drugs such as Actellik, Akarin, Kleschevit and Fitoverm will help to cope with them. Do not violate the rules for caring for your homemade lemon, keep it cool in winter, do not forget to humidify the air in the room where the lemon grows, apply the necessary fertilizers on time, and your tree will be healthy and green.

Lemon falls

To the question of why lemons fall, which our readers often ask, the answer is also ambiguous. We are, of course, not talking about lemon fruits, which can hang on the tree after ripening for up to two years. The phrase “lemons are falling” in letters from readers refers to the loss of leaves by a plant. Lemon leaves fall off, eaten by spider mites, which feed on the cell sap of plants. We described how to combat these pests using insecticides in the previous section. But you can, without resorting to pesticides, treat lemon with a two-day infusion of a teaspoon of grated onion in a glass of water.

Leaves and sometimes lemon buds fall off due to lack of moisture in the soil and in the air around the plant. Don't forget to water and spray the tree regularly, especially during the hot season.

Lemon dries

It happens that the tips of lemon leaves dry out and become Brown color. The reason for this is lack of moisture or dry air. And if the leaves dry out and curl, this is evidence that you are not caring for it correctly. Review the rules for caring for the plant again: lemon needs bright lighting with shading during the midday hours, humid air, frequent but moderate watering, regular feeding and proper winter rest.

Lemon pests

In addition to spider mites, lemons can be harmed by whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs and scale insects. As folk remedy To get rid of pests, many use an infusion of 150-170 g of chopped garlic in a liter of water. Infuse the garlic in a tightly closed container for five days, after which 6 g of the strained infusion is diluted in 1 liter of water and the lemon is processed. The product is effective only if there are few insects. If the lemon is infested with a large number of pests, you will have to resort to insecticide treatment.

Indoor lemon - reproduction

Lemon from cuttings

In addition to the seed method of propagating lemons, cuttings and grafting are also used in indoor floriculture. For cuttings, take shoots at least 4 mm thick and 10 cm long. The lower cut should pass directly under the bud, and the upper cut should pass above the bud. Each cutting should have 2-3 leaves and 3-4 formed buds. Treat the cuttings with a root formation stimulator and lower them with the lower cut half their length into water.

After 3 days, the cuttings are planted to a depth of 3 cm in pots with a soil mixture consisting of equal parts of coarse sand, humus and flower soil. Since the lack of roots in cuttings does not allow them to receive moisture from the soil, it is necessary to spray their leaves with warm, settled water several times a day. The soil in the pot should be slightly moist. The optimal temperature for rooting cuttings is 20-25 ºC. At proper care The roots of the cuttings will develop in a month and a half, and then it will be possible to plant them in separate containers.

How to graft a lemon

To graft a lemon, it is important to have a good rootstock. This is a two- to three-year-old seedling grown from a seed with a trunk diameter of no more than 1.5 cm. Lemon is also grafted onto the rootstocks of other citrus fruits. Scion cuttings are taken from mature but not lignified annual shoots of healthy trees. The leaves are cut from the prepared cuttings, leaving only their petioles with buds in the axils. Before grafting, cuttings can be stored wrapped in a damp cloth for 2-3 days in a cool place or for 2-3 weeks in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator, but it is better to cut them immediately before the procedure.

Grafting is carried out during the active growth of lemon, and the most suitable time for this is spring. Best tool- a budding knife, but if you don’t have one, you can get by with an ordinary sharply sharpened and sterilized knife.

How to plant homemade lemon? Make a T-shaped cut in the bark on the rootstock stem and carefully bend its corners. Cut a bud from the scion cutting along with the petiole and scutellum - part of the bark with a thin layer of wood - so long that it fits into the T-shaped cut. Taking the scion by the petiole and without touching the cut with your hands, place the shield under the folded bark in the T-shaped cut, then press the bark tightly and wrap the rootstock trunk above and below the bud with budding tape or plaster.

To be on the safe side, it is better to vaccinate two or three kidneys at the same time. Engraftment lasts for three weeks. If the petiole of the grafted bud turns yellow and falls off, then the grafting was successful. In this case, cut the scion trunk 10 cm above the grafting site, remove the budding tape and remove the shoots that appear on the stem below the grafting.

In addition to bud grafting, budding methods such as cutting grafting and lateral grafting are used.

Types and varieties of homemade lemon

At home, low-growing and medium-growing varieties of plants are usually grown. Lemon varieties differ, in addition to the size and shape of the crown, the degree of adaptability to growing conditions, as well as the quality, appearance and size of the fruit. We offer you an introduction to the most popular varieties of homemade lemon:

Pavlova lemon

This is a variety of folk selection that was bred more than a century ago in the village of Pavlovo near Nizhny Novgorod. Pavlovsk lemon is the most common variety in indoor cultivation. Trees of this variety reach a height of 1.5-2 m and have a compact rounded crown up to 1 m in diameter. The fruits, the number of which reaches from 20 to 40 pieces per year, are distinguished by high taste qualities, superior to those of lemons grown in open ground.

Often the fruits of Pavlovsk lemon do not have seeds or contain a small number of them, although there are fruits that contain from 10 to 20 seeds. The thickness of the shiny, smooth and only slightly bumpy or rough skin of the fruit is about 5 mm. It can be eaten along with the pulp. The length of the fruit is about 10 cm, the diameter is from 5 to 7 cm, the weight is 120-150 g, but in some cases the weight of the fruit can reach 500 g;

Meyer lemon

Or Chinese dwarf was brought from China first to the USA, and after it gained recognition in America due to its productivity, it became popular in Europe. It is believed to come from the red-orange Cantonese lemon, although another version says it is a natural hybrid between lemon and orange. This is a small plant 1-1.5 m high with a densely leafy spherical crown and a small number of spines. Fruits weighing up to 150 g are covered with thin orange or bright yellow peel. The pulp is slightly acidic, slightly bitter, juicy. The variety is distinguished by its productivity and early ripening;

Novogruzinsky

A young, productive, tall variety - the tree height can reach 2 m or more. The crown is spreading, with numerous thorns. The yellow fruits are round or elliptical in shape, weighing up to 150 g, with a thin shiny skin and have a pleasant taste. Every year at good care a tree can produce from 100 to 200 fruits, while the New Georgian lemon is one of the most undemanding varieties of the crop;

Lisbon

This lemon comes from Portugal, and it gained popularity only when it came to Australia. This is a fast-growing tree, reaching a height of 2 m, with a dense crown, strong branches with a large number of thorns. In a year, the tree can produce up to 60 fruits weighing an average of 150 g, although fruits weighing up to half a kilogram can occur. The fruits of this variety have a classic oval shape with a slightly beveled top; their peel is thick, slightly ribbed, and yellow in color. The pulp has a pleasant sour taste. The variety is characterized by good adaptability to growing conditions, which helps the plant to tolerate low air humidity;

Genoa

A productive variety of Italian selection brought to us from America. The height of the tree of this variety reaches only 130 cm. The crown is dense, and there are practically no thorns in it. Small, elongated fruits weighing up to 120 g with a rough, greenish-yellow skin with aromatic, juicy, pleasant-tasting pulp appear on the tree several times a year. In total, the variety produces up to 180 fruits per year;

Lemon Maykop

It reaches a height of 130 cm, is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and high productivity, and has several forms. The weight of the fruit is 150-170 g, the shape is oval-oblong, with a slight thickening in the lower part. The skin of the fruit is thin, ribbed, shiny;

Anniversary

This variety was obtained by Uzbek breeders as a result of crossing the Novogruzinsky and Tashkent varieties. This hybrid is unpretentious, shade-tolerant and early-bearing. The fruits of the Yubileiny variety are large, round in shape, with thick yellow skin. The weight of the fruit reaches 500-600 g;

Ponderosa

A natural hybrid of citron and lemon. This is one of the most unpretentious citrus fruits, resistant to drought and heat. Plants of this variety reach 1.5-1.8 cm in height and have a spreading crown. Ponderosa fruits are oval or round, weighing up to 500 g, with a thick, bright yellow, rough peel. Their pulp is juicy, has a pleasant sour taste, and is light green in color. The variety is distinguished by early fruiting and demanding soil composition;

Lunario

A decorative and high-yielding hybrid of papeda and lemon, bred in the century before last in Sicily. The name of the variety is due to the fact that it blooms on the new moon. Lunario are trees no more than half a meter high with a large number of small thorns. The fruits are ovoid or oblong-elliptical in shape with a smooth and shiny skin of a rich yellow color and contain weakly juicy but aromatic flesh of a greenish-yellow hue with 10-11 seeds;

Villa Franka

A variety of American selection, which is an almost thornless tree up to 130 cm high with a large number of emerald green leaves. Smooth, oblong-oval with a blunt nipple, wedge-shaped fruits with juicy, aromatic, pleasant-tasting light yellow pulp reach a weight of only 100 g. The peel of the fruit is dense, almost smooth to the touch;

Irkutsk large-fruited

A recently bred light-loving Russian variety, which is a medium-height tree with a crown that does not require shaping. The fruits with medium-thick, lumpy skin are very large - weighing up to 700 g, but some can reach one and a half kilograms;

Kursk

Also a Russian variety, obtained through experiments with the Novogruzinsky variety. The Kursky variety is distinguished by early fruiting, drought resistance, shade tolerance, relative cold resistance and high yield. Plants of this variety reach a height of 150-180 cm. The weight of thin-skinned fruits reaches 130 g;

Commune

A very popular Italian variety in its homeland, characterized by increased productivity. This is a medium-sized plant with a dense crown and a small number of small thorns. The fruits are large, oval, almost free of seeds, with juicy, aromatic, tender pulp with a very sour taste. The peel is medium thick, slightly lumpy.

The indoor lemon varieties New Zealand, Tashkent, Moscow, Mezen, Ural indoor and others are also successfully grown in cultivation.

Properties of lemon - harm and benefit

Beneficial properties of lemon

In popular literature beneficial features lemon are described repeatedly. But since it is always pleasant to write about good things, we are ready to once again cover in detail the topic “The harm and benefits of lemon.” So, what are the benefits of lemon? Its fruits contain:

  • citric and malic acid;
  • trace elements iron, potassium, copper, manganese and iodine;
  • Sahara;
  • pectins;
  • flavonoids and phytoncides;
  • fiber;
  • vitamins A, B, P, D, C and group B – B2, B1, B9.

Due to the presence of these components in lemon fruits, it has:

  • tonic;
  • refreshing;
  • antipyretic;
  • bactericidal;
  • strengthening effect.

In addition, lemon juice is a source of citrine, which, in combination with vitamin C, has a beneficial effect on redox processes, metabolism and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Having a strong bactericidal effect, lemon helps the body cope with the flu, but for this it must be consumed with tea made from mint, plantain, horsetail and sage.

By restoring digestive processes, lemon helps remove toxins and waste from the intestines, helps cope with respiratory tract infections and oral cavity, relieves or alleviates migraine pain, eliminates rashes and boils on the skin. In addition to the listed advantages, it must be said that lemon is a good diuretic.

Despite its sour taste, lemon can reduce the acidity of gastric juice. Lemon juice and its peel are excellent antiseptics, and the leaves of the plant are successfully used to lower the temperature. Due to its high vitamin C content, lemon has a strengthening effect on the immune system.

Lemon is included in many medicinal preparations that relieve inflammation, kill germs and helminths, heal wounds, strengthen the body and reduce the manifestation of sclerosis. Eating lemons is indicated for atherosclerosis, lung diseases, poisoning, vitamin deficiency and hypovitaminosis. It is useful even for pregnant women.

Baths with lemon juice relieve sweating and tired feet; rinsing your mouth with lemon juice strengthens your gums and tooth enamel. If you regularly eat lemons, diseases such as colds, tonsillitis, sore throat, vitamin deficiency, urolithiasis and cholelithiasis, gout, atherosclerosis and diabetes will not pose a danger to you. And this is far from full list health problems that the yellow sour fruit will save you from. Isn't this a good enough reason to grow indoor lemons at home?

Lemon - contraindications

But what can be the harm of lemon, and for whom can it be harmful? Lemon is contraindicated for hepatitis, increased acidity stomach, gastritis, inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, gall bladder and intestines. Moderation in the consumption of lemon fruits should be observed by hypertensive patients and patients with pancreatitis. In rare cases, eating lemons can cause an allergic reaction because the companies that supply them process the fruits. chemicals, extending shelf life. For some, lemon can cause heartburn, and for people with a sore throat or nasal mucosa lemon juice will almost certainly cause irritation.

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Anyone who wants to grow a lemon tree at home on a windowsill can do so without much difficulty. After all, to plant a plant, you only need seeds from a fresh lemon fruit or a cutting from an adult plant. Caring for a plant at home does not involve any complex manipulations, but has its own characteristics. And with proper care, already in the seventh year after planting, you can achieve a stable, rich harvest.

Caring for a lemon tree is not particularly difficult.

We create the best conditions for growing lemon at home

A homemade lemon planted in a regular pot often reaches a size of one and a half meters (some varieties can be taller). Lemon looks like a small tree with oval, dark green, dense leaves. A lemon in a pot looks impressive, but the tree makes a greater impression when the fruits ripen on it. Planting and growing a homemade lemon tree is not difficult, but in order for a lemon flower to begin to bear fruit, certain conditions must be met.

Choosing a place in the room

The lemon tree is a rather unpretentious plant, but you won’t be able to simply place the pot on the balcony and forget about it. It is necessary to monitor temperature changes, because indoor lemon is very sensitive to changes of this nature. It is best to place the lemon on a windowsill in a room where there are no drafts. So the lemon will get sufficient quantity natural solar lighting during the day, and the temperature will remain stable throughout the day.

If you place a lemon next to a heater or radiator, then the thermal masses will conflict with the temperature in the room and the plant will feel a constant temperature difference. This negatively affects the plant and it drops its leaves, sometimes even dying. If it's on the street hot weather and the sun's rays fall on the lemon, the plant will have to be watered regularly and unwrapped daily.

It is best to place the lemon in a bay window or a room with a glass roof, where a constant temperature is maintained without sudden changes and there is high humidity.

Lemon Genoa, like other varieties, does not like drafts

Selecting the right container

To grow a beautiful lemon at home, you need to choose the right container. The pot material can be anything (plastic, ceramic or metal). The diameter of the container should not exceed fifteen centimeters, and there must be small drainage holes at the bottom to drain excess moisture. Tall pots are not suitable for lemon, as its roots are small.

What soil does a lemon tree need?

It is not difficult to grow lemon at home; to do this, several conditions must be met, one of them is proper soil and drainage. Soil from the garden or soil for lemon seedlings is not suitable. It is best to purchase soil for indoor citrus plants and expanded clay drainage from a specialized store.

Drainage can also be used based on sand and wood ash. If it is not possible to purchase soil for citrus fruits, then ordinary soil can be prepared for planting yourself. To do this, take forest soil with humus, sand from the river bank and wood ash

  1. . There is a special formula for preparing soil for citrus fruits, it looks like this:
  2. Three glasses of forest soil with humus.
  3. One and a half spoons of wood ash.
  4. Half a glass of sand.

Water.

All components are mixed until the mixture reaches a consistency similar to sour cream. After this, the mixture is poured into a container prepared for planting the plant, and the lemon is planted. The roots of the plant should be completely covered with the mixture.

Primer for lemon can be bought in the store.

How to properly care for a lemon tree Caring for a lemon tree is quite simple; you just need to maintain a constant temperature regime and avoid drafts. Then indoor plant will please abundant flowering and juicy fruits. Those who are going to grow lemons at home are interested in the question of whether it is possible to use lemons grown on a windowsill in an ordinary flower pot

, for food. Eating such lemons is possible and healthy. Therefore, growing lemons on the windowsill is not just an exciting activity, but also an investment in your own health.

Watering and fertilizing

Citrus roots need oxygen, so when watering you need to lightly loosen the soil. In addition to moisture, citrus fruits are very sensitive to fertilizers, with proper feeding the lemon will bloom all year round (with a break only in winter). Best used for fertilizer organic fertilizers(chicken droppings or manure), or mineral fertilizers for citrus fruits without chlorine. In winter, citrus fruits do not need fertilizers.

Chicken manure is suitable for fertilizing lemons

Plant pruning

In order for a lemon to delight with flowering, it needs a properly formed crown. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the appearance of new branches and prune them correctly. This is an essential component of plant care, and not just its decorative part.

In the second year of life, the lemon produces many shoots, the top of which must be cut off with the onset of winter, leaving two leaves on each branch. Over time, second-order shoots appear on the branches, on which you also need to remove the tops and leave two leaves. The operation must be repeated until six to eight main branches are formed on the adult plant.

Such branches will eventually give rise to fourth-order shoots, on which flowers and fruits will grow. In this way, you can form a lemon bonsai - a small flowering tree that will produce miniature fruits all year round.

When the crown forms, long fatty shoots appear at the base of the plant. They are easy to identify by their elongated rod-like shape and rapid growth. The shoots must be removed, as they interrupt the feeding process of the upper branches and the plant will not bear fruit.

Pruning a lemon produces a well-shaped crown

Features of transplantation

  1. All citrus fruits do not take well to changing their place of residence, so it is better not to disturb the plants unnecessarily. You can replant plants without flowers every year without harm to it, but if the plant has flowers or fruits, then it is better to leave it alone. If transplantation can be done, then it is performed according to a certain scheme:
  2. The plant is taken out of the old pot along with a lump of earth. You cannot clear the roots of plants from the soil - it may die. IN new pot
  3. pour about five centimeters of drainage, then a few centimeters of fresh soil.
  4. The plant is placed on top along with a lump of earth and sprinkled with fresh soil until the roots are completely covered.

You should not feed lemon for several months after transplanting. The plant needs time to restore fragile small roots that were damaged during transplantation.

If the plant has long shoots, then some of them can be planted in small pots with sand, where they will quickly take root and begin to grow.

When replanting a lemon, do not damage its roots.

The best varieties of indoor lemon for home growing

All varieties of lemon for home grown can be divided into three groups:

  1. Varieties of the usual shape for lemons with a bright sour taste.
  2. Sweet varieties of lemons that are completely acid-free (acid-free varieties).
  3. Large varieties with a shape close to a real lemon.

If you do not divide lemons into these groups, then plants are distinguished by the thickness of the skin, roundness of shape and the presence of seeds (seed or seedless). All types of lemons that are suitable for growing indoors tend to multiply quickly. Cuttings of such plants quickly take root and grow vigorously.

When growing indoor lemons, you need to choose those varieties that are adapted to shady lighting and feel great in the dry air of apartments.

Lisbon

This variety is distinguished by the small height of mature trees, all of them do not reach one and a half meters. The fruits are oval in shape, medium in size, slightly pointed at the bottom. The description notes that Lisbon lemon has excellent tasting fruits and there are few seeds in the pulp. The skin of Lisbon lemons is thin and smooth and glistens in the light. The smell of Lisbon is strong and pleasant. And the branches of the tree are strong, the crown is well formed even without cutting off the upper shoots.

Caring for this variety at home is simple - lisbon easily tolerates dry air and high temperatures and only needs constant good lighting.

Lemon Lisbon does not grow above one and a half meters

New Zealand variety

New Zealand lemon is one of the most beautiful exotic hybrid plants that can be grown on your windowsill. The shape of the New Zealand lemon variety is unknown in origin, but compared to other varieties it has a more attractive appearance. The New Zealand lemon is a close relative of the citron, so it exhibits the following characteristics of this variety:

  1. Large beautiful flower shape.
  2. Presence of thorns.
  3. Narrow lionfish on leaves.
  4. Strong fresh aroma.

This is the most large variety lemons, which can be grown at home. The fruits often reach a weight of eight hundred grams and are egg-shaped with a wide nipple. The skin of the fruit is rough and thick with large bumps. The pulp of the New Zealand lemon is juicy and moderately sour.

The New Zealand lemon has a lumpy, thick skin.

Genoa

The Genoa lemon variety has a naturally beautiful crown shape. Lemon genoa are low-growing trees with few thorns on the shoots (sometimes there are no thorns).

The fruits of this variety are elongated, with a pronounced oval shape. At the end of the fetus there is a small elongated nipple. The description for the variety says that the skin of genoa, although dense, is without bitterness and is suitable for consumption.

The plant thrives at home and can withstand high temperatures and direct sunlight. Best places location for plants - windows on the south side of the building.

Yugoslav early ripening variety

Yugoslav lemon is an early ripening variety that gardeners love. The plant has juicy, aromatic, medium-sized fruits that can hang on the tree for up to six months. The long stay of the fruits on the tree turns them orange; it is for this attractive feature that many people prefer Yugoslavia. Such a plant becomes a decoration for the winter garden. And it grows up to three meters in height. The Yugoslav lemon is very prolific; after just seven years it is capable of producing more than twenty kilograms of fruit per year.

Yugoslav is unpretentious in care, but loves humidity and shade. Therefore, the plant feels best in winter gardens or on the windows of the shady side of the house.

Yugoslavian early ripening lemon is unpretentious in cultivation and very decorative

Difficulties in growing indoor lemon

Although most varieties of homemade lemon are easy to care for, there are certain problems when growing them.

To prevent the tree from getting sick and to bear fruit regularly, it is necessary to water it in a timely manner, feed it and maintain a certain temperature regime in the room. Lighting plays an important role; if it is lacking, the plant withers and sheds its leaves.

Citrus fruits often get sick, so it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the tree and follow all the rules of care. And if any unpleasant changes are detected in appearance plants should carefully study the defect and eliminate its cause.

It is difficult to follow all the details, so most owners advise you to think several times before purchasing a citrus fruit. Although experienced gardeners claim that over the years you can get used to the characteristics of citrus fruits.

Diseases and pests

The most common disease among citrus fruits is yellowing of leaves. Among the causes of this disease are the following:

  1. There is too little moisture in the air containing lemon.
  2. Lemon has not been fertilized for a long time or the bait was incorrect.
  3. In winter, the plant entered a state of artificial dormancy, and it needs a certain temperature (from plus five to minus ten degrees). Increased room temperature during this period causes yellowing of the leaves.
  4. The plant is infected with spider mites.

Sometimes lemon leaves fall off, and often this pathology is associated with the plant being infected with spider mites or a change in temperature.