Growing a lemon tree at home from a seed is far more easier than peeling a lemon off, trust me. You can grow your own lemon tree from a seed within a few simple steps. If you stick with me till the end of this post, you are sure to have a gorgeous lemon tree in a few weeks’ time breathing right there in your balcony.
Before we go to the instructions part, let’s look at some of the awesome health benefits of lemon and why should you grow this yellow beauty instead of grabbing it from the market.
The best thing about this customized guide is, that you can grow any citrus fruits using this same method. From lemon to grapefruit to key lime, you are all covered.
Evidence-based health benefits of lemon
From remedying a common cold to treating oily skin and stimulating the liver functionality, the lemon is one natural capsule packed with tremendous health benefits. If you are a home remedy enthusiast, you have already seen this God-sent fruit popping up in every recipe.
So, let’s list some of the best health and beauty benefits of this citrus fruit scientifically named as lemon citrus Osbeck or Citrus x lemon. Yup, its scientific name is a bit like a mathematical equation.
You may also want to check this: Drink Lemon Water for 7 Days and These 9 Amazing Things Will Happen to Your Body
1. Ensures Cardiovascular Health
Potassium is essential for a clean and healthy circulatory system. And lemons, they are rich in potassium. This makes lemons one of the best ingredients to keep a healthy heart and a smooth blood circulation.
Potassium helps adjust blood pressure levels and relaxes both the nerves and body tissues. Vitamin C in the acid also helps keep the heart in the best shape.
A study published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health celebrates further on the benefits of citrus flavonoids for cardiovascular and metabolic health.
2. Fights kidney stone formation
Kidney stones are formed when your urines contains calcium, oxalate, and uric acid in concentration. Lemon contains citric acid in sufficient concentration to erode these crystal-forming substances. Citrate combines with calcium and devoids it from crystallization.
Dr. Eisner, a gastroenterologist at Sentara CarePlex Hospital, Hampton, VA recommends drinking a 1/2 cup of lemon juice concentrate diluted in water or simply the juice of two lemons to effectively reduce the risk of developing a kidney stone.
4. Treats scars and spots
Due to its permeable properties, lemon juice can help treat various types of scars and skin spots immediately. Use the juice from a freshly squeezed lemon on the affected area and see the scars fading away.
Simply apply lemon juice on the affected area, gently massage with your finger, let it sit for over 5 minutes and wash off with water.
5. Disinfects and smoothens the respiratory tract
Vitamin C is vital for a healthy immune and respiratory system. And the fruit is packed with the vitamin. A 100 grams of lemon contains 53 mg of vitamin C while the lemon peel alone contains a staggering 129 mg of it.
If you have breathing difficulties or asthma attacks, simply pour 3 drops of lemon juice in a glass of hot water and inhale it. You can also drink a glass of lemon juice+warm water as a remedy to bronchial and lung infections like flu, colds and cough.
Because the list is long, let’s summarize it to save you time.
- Helps lose weight: Drink a glass of lemon water (water obtained by boiling unpeeled lemons cut in half) or lemon juice on an empty stomach to burn excess fat. Check this simple lemon juice recipe for weight loss.
- Protects against anemia: Lemon facilitates iron absorption by the body. Drink half a glass of lemon juice after your meal to ensure maximum iron absorption.
- Sparkle whitens teeth: Take half a tbs of baking soda and squeeze a chunk of lemon over it. Add the solution on to your toothbrush and fast brush for 10 seconds. Rinse your mouth with water. Make sure you don’t exceed the 10-second limit to avoid tooth erosion.
- Strengthens hair, enhances hair growth: When applied directly to the scalp, lemon juice fights pathogens and scalp infections. Apply the juice from a freshly squeezed lemon to the scalp, massage for 10 minutes and wash off. Thick shiny hair awaits.
- Promotes skin health, ingredients to many anti-aging recipes: There are countless skin benefits of lemons which can’t be discussed here. As mentioned above, lemon juice helps fight acne and other scars, skin spots and treats oily skin. You can also prepare your anti-wrinkles face mask by masking only three ingredients i-e Lemon, yogurt and sandalwood powder. Check the complete recipe here.
- Zipping things further, lemon is rich in antioxidants and aids in proper digestions, helps fight inflammation, detoxifies the body, relaxes nerves, and strengthens the body’s immune system.
Why not buy lemons and grow at home instead?
Well, because it’s such a nice idea and has countless benefits. BTW, I am sorry! I never expected this post would get this lengthy. Here are some of the obvious benefits of growing your own lemons:
- It’s a healthy activity and growing lemons at home is easier than you think.
- it’s lovely to see a gorgeous lemon tree growing in your balcony.
- A healthy lemon tree, or actually any green tree especially with fruits on it, has the potential to lift your spirit and provide balm to your soul.
- Caring for your lemon tree in the morning or in the late afternoon will leave meditating effects on your mind.
- A balcony teeming with green plants absorbs pollution, synthesizes oxygen and if you listen closely, you may even hear the plants singing joyful songs.
- Lemons you buy from the market are treated with all sorts of chemicals.
- You save tons on the much-needed fruit.
Enough reasons to grow your own lemon tree(s) right? Now let’s start with the actual process of growing a healthy lemon tree from seeds.
How to grow your own lemon tree from seeds?
Starting from a lifeless seed to a gorgeous lively lemon tree, these simple instructions will guide you through the process.
I am diving the process into 3 stages for further convenience.
Grow your own lemons stage-1: You will need:
- A lemon.
- A sharp knife.
- A paper towel.
- Water spray.
- A small plastic bag with the current date labelled on it.
Instructions:
Take the lemon and cut the edges. Cut the lemon in half. Further cut the halves into two.
Take out as many seeds as you can using your knife’s sharp edge. Don’t care for the damaged seeds as you will have enough of the healthy ones.
Now peel the seeds with your fingers. Remove the outer covering using your nails alone.
Take your paper towel, fold it in half and thoroughly spray water until fully wet. Place your seeds and fold again. Spray water again to moisturize from the outside.
Take your labelled plastic bag and put the seeds inside. Close the bag and place it in a dark place for the next 10 days. The place under your bed or kitchen sink should be the ideal one.
Welcome back after 10 days! Let’s move on to the next.
Grow your own lemons Stage-2: You will need:
- An empty water bottle with a hole in the bottom.
- A toothpick.
- Water spray.
- Soil
Instructions:
Fill the water bottle with soil. Take out the seeds, dig two to three small holes using the toothpick, place the seeds with roots facing down. Make sure to keep the whole seed exposed except for the root part.
Spray water thoroughly and place the bottle in a place with sufficient light but not exposed to direct sunlight. Let it stay there for the next 3 and a half months.
Don’t forget to keep the soil moist with adequate watering. After a few weeks, you can pull the less grown ones and discard them leaving more space for a single plant in one bottle.
After three and a half months, here is what you will have in your hands-a beautiful lemon sapling. Now is the time to transport it to a bigger pot where it will eat, drink, grow and sing.
Grow your own lemons stage-3: You will need:
- A large size clay or plastic pot with a hole in the bottom.
- Scissors
- Pudding soil.
- Bark
- Water
Instructions:
Take your pot and fill it with one part bark and two parts pudding soil. Mix it thoroughly with hand.
Squeeze out the sapling or cut through the bottle using scissors. Dig a hole in the pot with your hand deep enough to cover the entire root part of the sapling. Place the sapling and cover it from all sides with soil. Gently pat down around the entire area.
Finally, water it thoroughly and place it in your balcony or any other place where it gets sufficient sunlight during the day. Rewater it once the first 1 and half inch soil dries up. Enjoy caring for your little sapling. Wish you a great time together!
While our plant still has a long way to go to produce fruit, this is how it will look like once it does. Beautiful right!
You may also want to check this: Easiest Way to Grow Avocados at Home, Step-by-step Instructions
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