Many people might think that growing citrus fruit at home sounds like a wacky idea. But just like other produce, fruits like lemons and limes can thrive in the right conditions and with proper care. What’s even better–– growing these fruits at home can significantly help you save a couple bucks at the supermarket and help you reduce your carbon footprint.
For people who are new to gardening, getting started can be a little difficult. But with the right tools, the proper guidance, and enough determination, anyone can soon have their own thriving lemon trees in no time.
If you’re looking to cultivate lemons of your own, there are a few things you need to know before beginning. Lemons thrive in Mediterranean climate, specifically dry and warm summers. Therefore, it’s ideal to grow these outside if you live in an area that has dry, sunny summers. However, you can certainly still grow lemons indoors with a little bit more effort.
Here are some of their health benefits:
- Lemons lower the risk of strokes and heart disease, and improve heart health, and lower cholesterol levels
- The citric acid in lemons regulates the pH levels of the urine, and prevents the formation of kidney stones
- The high iron levels prevent anemia, and vitamin C and citric acid in lemons improve its absorption in the body
- Lemons are high in soluble fiber and simple sugars, so it improves digestion and regulates blood sugar
- Lemons contain potent anti-carcinogenic compounds that lower the risk of cancer
- Lemons are rich in pectin, which creates a feeling of fullness, polyphenols, that prevent fat accumulation in the body, and accelerate metabolism, so they are excellent for weight loss
Therefore, wouldn’t it be amazing to have an unlimited supply of these citrus fruits at hand all the time, in an almost cost-free way? Well, it is time to learn how to grow your organic lemons at home!
Here are the advantages of growing lemons at home:
- When you have your own produce grown at home, you are much more likely to eat a healthier diet and pick up healthier dietary habits
- Freshly picked fruits and veggies are richer in nutrients than the ones we buy at grocery stores
- When you grow your own lemons, you can pick them at the moment they reach the ripeness you prefer
- You can control the entire process of growing your own fruits, and limit the use of fertilizers, so you will be completely sure of the quality of the fruits you consume
- You will get the opportunity to eat a lemon that has been just
Start by gathering these ingredients:
- One lemon
- A pot
- Potting soil
- Plastic film (so your soil can breathe)
- A spot that gets ample amount of sun (or grow lights)
- A bucket
- Any kind of watering device
Here’s how to begin your planting:
- Prepare your soil by placing the potting soil inside a bucket. Pour a little bit of water to slightly dampen the soil.
- Next, fill up the pot with the dampened soil and leave about an inch of empty space at the top.
- Cut your lemon and remove just one seed. Make sure you get rid of the flesh on the seed, but keep it moist to pot it.
- Plant the moist lemon seed in the spot about half an inch under the soil.
- Using a watering can or squirt bottle (whichever works best), slowly water your planted seed. Make sure to not dampen the soil too much.
- Cover the pot up with the plastic film and place the pot somewhere where it can receive lots of sun or light.
In about one or two weeks, you will begin to see your seed sprout. Once you see this, take the plastic cover off. You do not have to keep your pot in direct sunlight, but you should keep it somewhere warm.
Ensuring the lemon seed sprouts into a beautiful tree can require lots of time and dedication. You’ll need to make sure the soil it is placed in is always damp, and it should be receiving approximately 8 hours of sunlight a day. As it continues to grow, you might want to move the sprout into a larger pot or another container, and eventually your yard where it may grow more comfortably.
Despite how much work you will have to put in, there are many benefits to growing your own lemons. For one, you have control over the fertilizer you may use, so you’re not putting unknown chemicals into your body. Having control over your homegrown produce means you can also pick them at whatever time you want, meaning they can be as fresh or ripe as you want. Freshly picked fruits and vegetables also pack a lot more nutrients in them, as they’re getting ample amounts of sun and care. Moreover, having your own lemon tree saves money on constantly buying lemons at the grocery store. While it does take a lot of time to see the benefits, growing your own lemons is a fulfilling investment to consider.
