Producer: Priyanka Das Editor: Aparna Singh
Lemons are a much sought-after food item, especially during the summer months.
Instead of store-bought lemons this summer, why not grow your own at home? Here is a step-by-step guide.
Buy a good-quality pot to grow lemons. The pot should not be too small. There must be a small hole in its bottom so that excess water can drain out.
You should take good-quality soil. First, put some soil in the pot. Moisten it by adding water. Don’t make it too wet or muddy. Mix the soil well.
Leave one or two inches empty from the top. Make a one-inch hole in the middle of the soil with the help of a wooden stick so that the lemon seeds can be inserted.
It would be better if you put 6-7 seeds at once. This is because sometimes some seeds get spoiled and cannot germinate. So, the remaining seeds can grow.
Before putting them in the soil, wash the seeds with water to remove the stickiness. This will not spoil the seeds. Place the pointed part downwards in the soil and the round part upwards.
Now cover the pot with plastic and make some small holes in it so that the warmth and moisture remain intact. Keep this pot in a sunny place. A plastic cover has to be installed to avoid direct sunlight.
If everything goes well, sprouts will start emerging from the seed in two weeks. When you feel that the soil has dried, remove the plastic cover slightly and pour water. Do not add too much water at once.
Keep watering at a gap of every two days. As the plant grows, it will require water, fertiliser and sunlight accordingly. When the lemon tree grows, depending on its size, it may have to be taken out of the pot and planted in the ground.