With a mild sour taste and cool aroma, lemons are many people’s favorite spice and drink.
They are a familiar fruit in our lives, but have you ever wondered how they are born? What are the lemon tree flowering stages, and how long does it take to harvest?
The article below will answer all your questions. Check it all.
What Do Lemon Tree Flowering Stages Include?
Lemon is a familiar plant belonging to the family of citrus trees (the same family as orange and mandarin trees).
It can adapt to good outdoor conditions and is widely grown in many places.
Its growth and fruiting speed is faster than other plants of the same family. Lemon growing stages start from germination to fruiting and consist of 7 sets.
Understanding each period helps growers find the best care.
Germination
Germination is the physiological transition of seeds from dormant to active state. The seeds will change shape and grow into a new plant during this stage.
The lemon seeds are initially small, creamy white, or bluish, with a smooth rind and slightly pointed at the tip. In favorable conditions, they will germinate in about 5-7 days.
This is the time that marks the lemon tree fruiting cycle through the formation of roots and leaves.
Physiologically, this is a rather complex process involving metabolic activities inside the granulosa cells.
“Favorable conditions” are environments with enough water (humidity) and air (oxygen) in a suitable temperature range with enough light.
Suppose the planting season is unreasonable (unfavorable climatic conditions such as low temperature and lack of moisture).
In that case, the time of sprouting and rooting is significantly affected, the germination rate is not guaranteed, and the quality of sprouts is poor.
Young Seedling
As the germination process goes well, you will begin to see small cotyledons emerge from the soil. A typical seedling consists of three parts: the cotyledon, the sub-cotyledon, and the cotyledon.
Since lemon is a flowering plant and is a dicotyledon, you will find it has two young leaves. Essentially, these two leaves are formed by two parts of the seed embryo.
When the plant begins to germinate, the plant will not produce leaves like an adult plant. Cotyledons are leaves that provide nutrients for the plant to grow and grow green leaves.
One thing to note is that the seedlings are very fragile at this stage, so you need to water enough, especially on hot days.
Don’t forget to choose a sunny spot in the garden as they also need plenty of sunlight.
Youth
The next stage is the seedling stage, which develops into a mature tree.
At this time, you need to protect them from cold weather, especially frost, so the plant can spread the canopy, increase the trunk size and produce thorns on the branches.
Many people often think that watering a lot of water helps the plant grow quickly, but this is a big mistake because it can cause the plant to become waterlogged, root rot, and die.
To have a healthy plant, it must provide nutrients, direct sunlight, and water in moderation.
Flowering and Fruiting
Lemon is a fast-growing plant. A typical plant in good growing conditions will begin to sprout after two years, usually in winter.
In the spring, you will see beautiful flowers from the buds as the temperature rises. They are small, white flowers, and lightly scented.
The flowering period of the plant can last until early summer. Lemons can self-pollinate without any outside help. After pollination, the lemon blossom will turn into fruit!
When fruiting, provide plenty of water a little more to make the lemon fruit more succulent. If growing the plant in a pot, make a small hole in the bottom to let excess water out.
Ripening
The fruits take 4 months to harvest. During this time, keep the plants sufficiently watered and fertilize them regularly.
It would help if you also were looking for pests that can attack young fruit, such as aphids – the biggest enemy of this plant.
You can spray pesticides to keep bugs out, but whole-food bio-weeds would be a better choice.
When the fruits are ripe enough, they have an elongated head, smooth skin, and an eye-catching yellow color.
The size of the lemon depends on the growing conditions and the type. Their size may vary slightly depending on the cultivar you grow.
Harvesting
Please wait until the fruit is ripe enough to harvest because the unripe ones cannot grow after being picked.
Drying
Overripe fruit that is not harvested will begin to turn brown and shrivel (meaning it is losing its water content). After a while, they will fall off on their own.
Your lemon plants will continue to flower and bear fruit until it ages.
What Factors Influence The Lemon Tree Life Cycle?
Stages of lemon growth cycle depend on water, especially in the seedling, flowering, and fruiting time.
It would help if you watered the tree regularly, especially in the dry season, because it lacks water to make small fruit and has a low fruit set rate.
However, this plant does not tolerate water logging because it makes the tree vulnerable to death. When it rains long, you need to take measures to drain quickly.
Weeds around the base of the plant are also a concern. Clear them out so they don’t compete with your plants for nutrients.
The rest of the grass makes the soil loose and airy, making it easier for the roots to breathe and absorb nutrients, so cutting is unnecessary.
Lemon tree stages also need warm climates and enough light, so you should plant them in a place with lots of light and open space.
Pruning small, weak branches helps to create a healthy frame for the tree, helping to receive a good morning.
This also helps balance the canopy and the roots to help the tree live longer, increasing the ability to bear fruit.
FAQs:
How Long Does It Take To Grow A Lemon Tree?
Depending on the care and variety of lemons, the growth stages of a lemon tree will be different. Usually, 2 to 3 years after planting, lemon trees will start to bear fruit.
What Is The Flowering Season For Lemons?
Flowers usually bloom in February-March every year, but for lemon flowers to be out of season to sell at the desired price, there should be some measures to affect the tree.
Conclusion
Above is detailed information about lemon tree flowering stages. Our sharing will help readers understand more about the development of this familiar tree
And you can plant one yourself in the future.
