Planting a lemon seedling in a new orchard is both an exciting and rewarding venture. Using grafted seedlings offers a considerable advantage over starting from seeds, as they yield a faster, more reliable crop. To grow lemon trees from seeds can take up to ten years to bear fruit, and there’s no guarantee the lemons will be of the desired quality. Grafted seedlings not only reduce this waiting period significantly but also provide consistency in fruit quality, allowing you to enjoy a productive harvest much sooner. Additionally, grafted seedlings offer improved disease resistance, enhancing the tree’s resilience against common pests and conditions.
While growing lemon trees from seeds is not typically ideal for harvesting fruit, it can be a cost-effective way to produce rootstock for grafting if you have experience in this technique. Unlike seed-grown plants, grafted lemon trees are specifically designed to thrive in orchard conditions, able to grow even in slightly alkaline soil (pH 7.5 to 8.5) with the right rootstock. Their thorny branches offer natural protection, safeguarding the fruit as it matures.
With proper planning and site preparation, establishing a new orchard from grafted seedlings can lead to a thriving, healthy lemon grove that yields vibrant, vitamin-rich fruit with a refreshing aroma. Hence, try to get healthy grafted lemon seedlings from your nearby nursery to get quick and quality lemon from your plant. To grow lemon tree from grafted seedlings, follow the given steps.
Why Select Grafted Lemon Seedling?
Here are some key reasons to choose grafted lemon seedlings over growing lemon trees from seeds or by cuttings:
Faster Fruit Production
Grafted seedlings typically bear fruit in 2-3 years, while trees grown from seeds may take 5-10 years to produce fruit.
Predictable Fruit Quality
Grafted trees are clones of the parent plant, so they produce high-quality, consistent fruit.
Disease Resistance
Many grafted seedlings are selected for their resistance to common citrus diseases, reducing the need for chemical treatments and increasing the tree’s resilience.
Cold and Drought Tolerance
The rootstock used in grafted plants is often chosen for its ability to withstand cold, drought, or poor soil conditions, making grafted trees harder than seed-grown trees.
Controlled Tree Size
Grafted trees often have controlled growth, making them easier to manage in orchard settings, especially for pruning and harvesting.
Higher Yield
Grafted lemon trees are usually more productive due to the careful selection of both the rootstock and scion, resulting in higher overall fruit yield.
Uniformity
Grafted seedlings provide a uniform orchard with consistent tree height, size, and shape, which helps with spacing and overall orchard management.
Reliability in Variety
Growing from seed can result in genetic variation, meaning you may not end up with the same variety as the parent tree. Grafting ensures you’re getting the exact variety you want.
Step by Step Activities to Grow Lemon Trees
Choose the Right Site
Lemon plants thrive in sunny locations, so it’s important to choose a spot that receives plenty of direct sunlight. Aim for a site where the plants will get 6-8 hours of sunlight each day, as this will support vigorous growth and increase fruit production. Starting with a well-chosen location will set a strong foundation for your lemon orchard and ensure the plants receive the warmth and energy they need.
In addition to ample sunlight, lemon trees prefer well-draining soil. The best soil type for lemons is sandy loam with a slightly acidic pH, ideally between 5.5 and 6.5. This type of soil prevents waterlogging, which can be detrimental to lemon trees by causing root rot and other issues.
Before planting, it’s beneficial to conduct a soil test to evaluate its pH level, nutrient content, and drainage capabilities. Adjust the soil as necessary by adding organic matter, lime, or sulfur to create an environment that promotes healthy root development and nutrient uptake, ensuring your orchard has the best possible start.
Land Preparation
Begin preparing the soil by thoroughly clearing out weeds and any debris, including rocks or large stones, that might obstruct root growth. Tilling the soil to a depth of about 30 centimeters is essential, as it allows for deeper root penetration and improves overall soil structure. During this tilling process, mix in organic compost to enrich the soil, boosting aeration and nutrient availability, which will foster healthier plant growth.
Once the soil is cleared and tilled, focus on enhancing soil quality. If a soil test shows that pH adjustments are needed, add sulfur to lower pH or lime to raise it, aiming for an ideal balance for lemon trees. Also, planning for an effective irrigation system, as consistent and shallow watering is crucial for lemon trees. Installing a drip irrigation system is often the best choice, providing a steady water source without risking overwatering.
Orchard Layout
When establishing a lemon orchard, the square layout is one of the most effective arrangements, particularly for large-scale planting. This layout is designed to maximize the use of available space, providing room for approximately 400 lemon plants per hectare. By positioning each tree at equal distances from its neighbors, the square configuration promotes balanced access to sunlight and airflow for every plant in the orchard.
With uniform spacing, each lemon tree receives sufficient sunlight throughout the day, which is essential for optimal growth and fruit production. The layout also facilitates consistent air circulation around each plant, reducing the likelihood of moisture buildup and pest infestations. This combination of efficient space use, sunlight exposure, and ventilation makes the square layout a highly practical and productive choice for lemon orchards.
Planting the Grafted Seedlings
Follow the given procedure to plant the seedling:
Dig Holes
To prepare planting holes for your lemon trees, dig each hole approximately 60 cm wide and 60 cm deep. This size is ideal, as it provides sufficient space for the seedling’s roots to spread out and establish a strong foundation. Digging a hole that is twice the width and slightly deeper than the root ball ensures that the roots have room to grow without restriction.
The extra depth and width also allow you to add a mixture of fertilizer and nutrient-rich soil, creating a supportive environment that promotes healthy growth for young seedlings. This well-prepared planting hole will enhance root development and help the tree thrive in its early stages.
Position the Tree
When planting your grafted lemon trees, position the grafted section of each tree 2–3 inches above ground level. This prevents the rootstock from producing unwanted shoots, helping the tree maintain its intended growth.
Space each tree 5 meters apart in a grid pattern and orient the rows in a north-south direction to maximize sunlight exposure during the day. This arrangement encourages optimal photosynthesis by allowing sunlight to reach each tree uniformly, supporting consistent growth and healthy fruit development across the entire orchard.
Backfill the Holes Carefully
Backfill the planting hole with the soil you initially removed, gently packing it around the roots. Be careful not to compact it too tightly, as loose soil encourages healthy root expansion. To enhance soil fertility, add a nutrient-rich mix to the hole, including 5–10 kg of well-rotted compost, bone meal, Trichoderma viridae (a beneficial fungus that promotes plant growth), and fertile soil. This combination provides essential nutrients that support robust root establishment, giving young plants a strong foundation for healthy growth.
Planting
For best results, plant your seedlings in the late afternoon when temperatures are cooler to minimize heat stress on the young plants. This timing helps reduce the risk of transplant shock, giving the seedlings a better chance to adapt to their new environment.
Carefully position each seedling in the center of the prepared hole, ensuring that it stands upright. Gently backfill the hole with soil, cover the roots completely, and press down lightly to secure the plant in place without compacting the soil too tightly. This approach creates a stable base for the seedling, allowing the roots to spread out easily while reducing stress on the plant as it begins to establish itself.
Water Thoroughly
Once planted, water each seedling thoroughly to help settle the soil around the roots and ensure good root-to-soil contact. It usually takes 2-3 weeks for lemon seedlings to establish themselves and start absorbing nutrients. During this time, keep the soil consistently moist to encourage healthy root development.
Protect Your Tree
Mulch
Apply a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch around each tree, leaving a few inches of space around the trunk to avoid direct contact. This mulching technique conserves soil moisture stabilizes soil temperature, and naturally suppresses weed growth, promoting a healthier environment for the tree. Various materials can be used for mulching, such as plastic mulch, rice straw, or wood husks.
Wind Protection
If your orchard is in a windy area, consider installing windbreaks to protect young trees from strong winds. Planting trees along the orchard’s boundary can serve as effective wind breaks, helping to prevent plants from tilting or damage caused by heavy winds.
Support Stakes
Support is usually needed during the first year after planting. However, if your seedling is already 1-2 years old, it may not require additional support. When support is necessary, use stakes to stabilize young, grafted trees. Once the trees are strong enough to stand independently, you can remove the stakes.
Regular Care Routine
Weed management
Weed infestation may develop within a few months after planting lemon seedlings. Generally, weeds are controlled either mechanically or by using herbicides. However, one of the best methods for weed control is to grow intercrops between the rows of lemon plants.
Intercrops can be grown for 2-3 years in a newly planted orchard. Different crops such as Legumes like cowpea, mung beans, and soybeans enrich the soil with nitrogen and boost fertility, while vegetable crops such as garlic, onions, radish, and carrots also make excellent intercrops.
Watering
Young lemon trees need frequent, shallow watering until they are fully established. Be careful to avoid waterlogging, as lemon trees are susceptible to root rot.
Fertilization
Use a balanced, slow-release citrus fertilizer and apply it as recommended. Lemon trees particularly benefit from nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Begin fertilizing three months after planting, with applications typically scheduled three times a year: in March, June, and October. Avoid applying fertilizer in winter, as the plants are less active during this period and cannot effectively utilize the nutrients.
Pruning
Lightly prune to remove any suckers below the graft union and shape the tree. Avoid heavy pruning in the first few years, focusing instead on structural stability.
Monitor for Pest and Disease
Common Pests
Lemon trees can attract various pests, including leaf miners, aphids, and certain types of butterflies, which can cause damage to the leaves, stems, and overall health of the tree. To prevent issues, inspect the trees regularly for any signs of pest infestation, such as curled leaves, discolored spots, or visible insects.
If pests are detected in the lemon orchard, they can be managed organically or with chemical treatments. For organic control, consider using neem oil or insecticidal soaps, which are effective and environmentally friendly options. In cases of severe infestation, chemical insecticides may be used, but always follow recommended guidelines for safe application to minimize any impact on the orchard’s ecosystem.
Disease Management
Be vigilant for signs of common lemon tree diseases such as root rot, citrus canker, and citrus gummosis. Early detection of these diseases is crucial, as it allows for easier management and control. If symptoms appear, they can often be effectively managed by applying copper-based fungicides, such as copper oxychloride (COC). Regular monitoring and timely treatment can help maintain tree health and prevent the spread of these diseases throughout the orchard.
Fruit Production
Lemon trees grown from grafted seedlings often bear fruit within 2-3 years, much sooner than trees grown from seed.
Pollination Needs
Most lemon trees are self-pollinating, but you may see an increase in fruit with cross-pollination if you have other citrus varieties nearby.
Fruit Thinning
For young trees, consider thinning the initial fruit to promote stronger branches and better fruit size.
Harvesting
Lemons are usually ready for harvest about 150-160 days after full bloom, which is when the fruit’s color begins to shift to yellow, indicating ripeness. To avoid damaging the tree, do not pull the fruit directly from the branches. Instead, use pruning shears to carefully cut the fruit from the branch, preserving the integrity of both the fruit and the plant.
