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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Georgie on March 10, 2008, 20:40:58

Title: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: Georgie on March 10, 2008, 20:40:58
My friend's children bought me a couple of kits for Christmas.  If I'm lucky enough to get them to germinate, does anyone know what their soil requirements are when it comes to potting them on?  Thanks.

G x
Title: Re: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: debster on March 10, 2008, 20:42:21
i do know you can buy special food for citrus plants one for summer and one for winter if thats any help
Title: Re: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: calendula on March 11, 2008, 17:16:50
whenever I feel like it I just pop the pips into compost and they germinate quite quickly indoors and from then on avoid lime and tap water
Title: Re: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: Georgie on March 11, 2008, 17:39:17
Thanks Calendula.  I had it in the back of my mind that they need an ericaceous compost but I couldn't confirm this doing a quick google.

G x
Title: Re: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: flowerlady on March 11, 2008, 17:59:00
But how long do they take to flower do you think ??? I've lost count of the age of my 'pips' !!  ::) ;D
Title: Re: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: Georgie on March 11, 2008, 20:36:37
My guess would be 4-5 years.

G x
Title: Re: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: Paulines7 on March 11, 2008, 22:20:04
Georgie, the compost has to be 6.5 so not ericaceous.  Two sites I looked at said John Innes but one said number two and the other number three.  They both say add perlite, grit or chippings.  Here are the sites I found:

http://www.davids-exoticplants.co.uk/Citrushints.htm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gardening/2005/01/20/gkich22.xml

I have one grown from a pip and have it in a terracotta flowerpot. 
Title: Re: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: dtw on March 11, 2008, 23:09:29
I've been saving satsuma seeds this week, I'll let them dry out a bit more before giving them a go.
Title: Re: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: budgiebreeder on March 12, 2008, 06:47:50
You could also try planting  nuts.I have grown several Almonds  trees from nuts brought back from Malta.But 5 or 6 foot is  the biggest i have managed to  get one to.
Title: Re: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: calendula on March 12, 2008, 09:30:48
lychee seeds also make lovely houseplants and they germinate very very quickly  :)
Title: Re: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: Georgie on March 12, 2008, 12:31:07
Thanks for that helpful advice, Pauline.  I didn't mention it but the children also bought me a 'grow your own coffee bean plant' which I'm told makes a nice house plant too.  I've had success germinating avocado stones and even a banana plant from seed in the past so I'm hopeful.   :)

G x
Title: Re: Orange and Lemon trees from seed
Post by: allaboutliverpool on March 12, 2008, 22:59:11
I have a tree that I grew from an orange from a souk in the desert in Morocco 13 years ago. It has spent most of its life outside in the garden in soil and is still alive. Unfortunately it has not flowered but that is not surprising despite it being about 5 feet tall.

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage.html
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