Plant the seed directly from the fruit into the soil down about a half-inch; I wouldn't do any soaking or drying or anything. Also, the soil must be warm to germinate...are you doing this in a greenhouse?

sorry, correction, i have had no Recent success, lately none of my trees will sprout which is very irritating, but i have done it before, a couple times, but i guess i was just lucky?

I haven't tried lemon seeds but I have grown orange and tangerines from seed. I shop for seeded varities originating in the US and save the seeds from 3-5 pounds of fruit, then I plant all of them and may get 10% growth.
Not a large percentage but enough for 10 plants or more; expect some die-off but 6-8 may make it through their 1st year.
Dan

I could use some help.

well potts24... how so?
and i noticed that while 3 people replied, no1 has tried to answer my question...sigh, but thanks for the advice John_Bonzo, its the thought that counts

call_me_wizfire no one cares about us other than john_bonzo, what ever you do never talk about coconunt husk chips.

Only buy organic fruit: wrong. Makes absolutely no difference to seed viability whether tree has been grown organically or not.
Only water once until seeds start: wrong. If soil dries out completely, growth will never start.
Floating seeds: partly right. No need to soak overnight, an hour in slightly warm water will do. Make sure no bubbles are attached to seeds. The ones that sink will generally be the good seeds. But usually you can see the difference between poor, thin seeds and the fatter healthier ones without soaking.
1. Sow seeds as fresh from the fruit as you can. Viability decreases fast once out of the fruit.
2. Keep growing medium slightly damp, never soggy and never dry. A sterile growing medium reduces chance of moulds and fungus gnats etc.
3. Maintain temperature at around 75F-85F for fastest germination. In colder conditions, a covered, electrically-heated propagator is ideal, otherwise germination can be slow, erratic or never.

Call_me:

Many people here do care. I can tell you that most people do not troll the forums looking for something negative to say about others because we all lead busy lives and can only post on the net once in a while.

Most come here to ask questions, make friends, learn, and offer their experiences , suggestions, past failures and accomplishments too.

I would give it some time and I am sure more will come along and help you since you just posted this question yesterday. If I had the answer I would. I will also learn from this thread since I have been curious too.Good question.

As for citrus, they can be very difficult to grow just as any other plant if not all things come together to make them happy. They can be stubborn.

You can also mention COCONUT HUSK CHIPS just as I have, lol, because it is not the people that say it or use it I dislike, it is the coco products themslves that I dislike .
Talk about not getting help.
When I was willing to give them a try, COCONUT HUSK CHIPS that is, only one or two gave me a bit of advice while those that profess to have great results with it did not. I almost lost my plants when I needed the help most. So now I don't use the stuff and if anyone is insulted by that fact, I am sorry
I though in recent days have been treated very unkindly by the coco users which turns me off even further by just asking questions about it.
I would take Potts up on his generous off to help you along.

Mike

Potts

why are you so quick to judge that people here dont care to help out? People have lives outside of the internet and especially this time of year the board is kind of slow. Had this topic sat at the top of the board for days then you may have an argument. and also as far as I can tell from the time stamps most of this conversation was taken place late at night, and since a lot of members here are in the US we were most likely sleeping.

Now to offer my advice on seed starting I have had much success by taken the seed straight from the fruit and simply placing it in a small container with moist potting soil then covering it with clear plastic, sandwich baggy usually. I then place in a warm spot until it germinates. Adding bottom heat with a simple heat pad has worked well also. I have 2 lemons that are about 2 years old that where started this way.

im sorry for this being off topic, but I cant help to say that I feel Potts24 is also plant48. For one, the similarity of your names, and especially because you just signed up and are referencing the heated coconut thread.

If im wrong my apologies, its just seems strange to me.

Well said, Mksmth.
Yesterday was the last day of Finals for the semester, and was a bit busier for me.

Andrew, I started seeds from a Pummelo, and I sprouted them succuessfully.
Unfortunately, I did this outdoors where animals could get to them. First, a
raccoon or a skunk dug the seedlings up, leaving the roots exposed and the whole
thing laying in the drip tray. I re-potted the seedlings, and they continued to grow.
Then the rains came, and slugs ate my seedlings completely.

As others have said, I sowed them fresh...the same day I harvested them.
I put them into 4-inch containers in a mix of screened bark, perlite, and pumice.
A small amount of Osmocote and woodash was added. I sowed 3 seeds per pot,
covered the pots with plastic wrap, and all nine seeds germinated.

If I had to do it again, which I probably will in the future, I will protect the
young seedlings better.

Josh

"use only organic lemons bought from store to take seeds from..."
I've had success growing seeds from ANY type citrus from ANY source. The fresher the seed, the better.

"water only once untill seeds start, lest mold start to fester..."

My method: plant seed 1/2" deep in well draining soil, cover planter/pot with plastic cover to keep it from drying out. I started mine on a shelf directly under a florescent lamp (almost touching). You definitely dont want them drowning in water, just moist. The warmth of the lamp will cause them to germinate, and the light will encourage growth after germination.

"...leaving the seeds soaking in water overnight, and the ones that are still floating are to be thrown away
thoughts?"

Generally this is good advice, though simply picking the big fat juicy seeds out and using them would work just as well to assure viability.
I've just stuck seeds directly in the dirt in my front yard in the summer and had nice seedlings come up.

"other good tips that i have overlooked?"

After sprouting,remove any covers, plastic,etc. The easy way to know when to water is to simply watch for the top of soil in the pot/s to get dry looking from day to day. water
only when the surface starts looking dry.
Depending on how much heat, the size of the pot, density of soil, this could be anywhere from daily to once a week or less. Plastic pots hold moisture much longer than clay pots.

Letting it get slightly dry between waterings ensures that there is enough moisture to grow, but not enough to encourage mold/disease.

wow, i leave for not even half a day, and the _blank_ hits the fan....
potts24: please, be quiet...that was out of the blue, and pretty offensive, not just to me, but to all the other members of this forum... i dont feel like no1 cares, i feel like nobody was on at the time to answer my question, though people tried, because they honestly wanted to help. My previous post was unbelieveably ungracious, now that i read it again, please i sounded like a brat, that is not how i meant it and i apologize, i was trying to lead the conversation back to the origional question i asked..John_bronzo, thank you.
both mikes, thankyou
i know how busy life can be, its ok
thankyou for sharing your stories...Josh, i will watch out for raccoons lol
i agree, potts24 is probably plant48, who is very rude, a similarity of the two.
potts, that was extremely uncalled for, i wish i never started this thread, i should have emailed someone, i am glad for the help, but i dont want you coconut crazies hounding me now. I have had experience with coco plant products, and i dont like them.
It seems a group (or more likely a single person) is antagonizing the more rational people on this forum, and i think the most friendly and helpful. All of these people seem to love coco products.
I come to these forums to, and i quote from meyermike "come here to ask questions, make friends, learn, and offer their experiences , suggestions, past failures and accomplishments too"
Potts24, Plant48, whoever you are, i would like as many people on this forum to advise me and others as possible, but if you are going to go around and start these huge arguements, please leave

wiz, you might want to try scrubbing away any of the fruit that may be clinging to the seeds before planting them. Use one of those plastic pot scrubby things. Warmth is a good suggestion, as are the other factors mentioned by some of the earlier posters.

About the watering issue. Water is absolutely necessary for good seed germination, but you have be sure that plenty of oxygen is available to the seed, as well. If you use a very porous mixture, you'll be able to water fairly frequently without worrying about the seeds rotting. Make sense?

Citrange gave a beautiful road map for sprouting citrus. I would only like to add a means of achieving the temperature range and moisture levels that he/she suggested. I have found that placing the seeds, which have been planted in Fafard potting soil in a foam cup with a hole punched in the bottom with a pencil in an inverted sweater box under flourescent lights, maintains the proper temperature and sufficient moisture to last a week. I keep the lid propped open about 1/2" with a milk bottle cap. This setup has the additional advantage of being suitable for the young seedlings until you have time to conveniently transplant. I have been able to sprout citrus seeds on the window in the summer but this setup works year round with most seeds.
Cath

i am not here to start trouble and i deserve my opinion.mkstmth,why do you say i am potts24? i want to know why you only listen to the mikes and greenman? they are not the only ones that help here. i am not trying to offend anyone and i believe i can help you out. wait until you see my pictures. i have to wait until my trees get greener before i show you. sorry. i am not potts24. he was very mean to mike and there is no reason . his plant are very nice even if he uses gritty and hates us that use coir.just stick the seeds in a pot with coir and sit on a heat mat. it will sprout and grow well after a few weeks.give lots of light. it's very important, more important than thesoil you use.

Plant48

thankyou rhizo
thankyou cathy, for explaining your setup, that sounds great
thankyou plant48, this is why some people on this forum disliked users of coir i gather (u say hate, which is not what im getting, more like exasperated and slightly, slightly, angry, im not trying to say what people are feeling, but thats what it seems like to me) the majority of their posts did not seem to be thought out, and several seemed to say "were better than you because we use coir, only use this because its superior in every way"...
but that was very nice, and i agree, you do deserve your opinion, just dont "strongarm it" on other posts, coir seems forced down our throats
thankyou for the advice, and although i wont use coir for my seedlings, i appreciate the thought
i also agree, temperture important
i think we can all agree on that light is pretty much the most important and immediate need to all citrus plants

Hey, Andrew, I got some Pummelo seed today when I was at my buddy's house,
so I'll be starting this germinating journey again tomorrow, and hopefully I'll be able to protect
the seedlings this time around. I'm going to sprout them on a sunny windowsill on a dark surface
(the poor man's heating pad), in dark containers (to help absorb light/heat energy).

Now, let me direct this to the general audience:
I can speak for Mike (and for myself), and I can tell you that he is one of the kindest,
most generous men that I know. He has a huge heart, an open mind, and willing hands to help others
with their plants. We are lucky that he chooses to spend what little free-time he has with us at this
Forum. He invites all discussions, and he invites those who are intimidated by certain Forum members
to e-mail him privately. Lastly, I can assure all readers here that Meyer Mike doesn't hate anyone.

For my own part, Plant48, I am dispassionate toward coir.
I do not think it is an effective media, and so I eschew its use in my container mixes.
To maintain my own integrity, I must be truthful: simply put, I have not seen vital, vibrant citrus -
or other plants - grown in coir. Equally, I cannot bite my tongue when misinformation is dispersed.
Also, I keep a tight record of those who misuse my name or who antagonize my efforts in public.
I remember those who help...and I hold a grudge against those who hinder.

In summation, I think that most of us are attempting to find the methods that will work for most
of us. There will be exceptions, of course - but there will also be some common ground that strikes
a happy medium. The more experiences - both success and failure - that we can gather, the better our
chances of individual success will be.

Josh

josh, take every word in that 3rd paragraph...exactly mirrors me

"This above all: to thine own self be true..." ;)

Cheers, Andrew! I appreciate the hard work you've done here, and I'm sorry you've taken flak for it.


Josh

Thankyou, i very much appreciate all the hard work, help, and advice directed at me, and all the hardwork, help, advice, and directions you've given to others really speaks for your character. Check my post: On a more serious note for more information on some flak ive taken >.>
But flak and all, i know i made a good descision joining GardenWeb

Call_me_wizfire, Andrew: I think you are going to be very successful with starting many seeds! You have recieved such good and loving support from so many here, just as I always have..I must say though, I miss "Tsmth" very much..
It was hard for me to post here a few times, but getting better.

Josh, every sentence in paragraph 3 mirrors me too. I don't know what to say except that the sentiments about you are exactly the same by me. I owe you a whole lot of thank yous and much appreciation for all you have done for me, us, and for all the pictures, suggestions, and time you have generously shared here and most of all, your many years of friendship! You are not a man to be treated in any way except for in kindness and with respect!

I don't hate anyone that uses Coir, just that I hate coir itself..I will honestly admit, I have use a bit in a couple of my little pots for ceratin plants, but that is it. The fraction being 14 of my mix, but never for any of my citrus again.
I will never use another product that has always put my plants on death row. I have many here to thank for that, especially you Josh and Al for getting me started on much grittier mixes years ago.
I suppose many plants can survive in that bagged stuff, but I am not satisfied with plants that just hang on and do what they can, but I am pleased in plants that show their vitality in ways never imagined and having the most ROBUST plants, high quality growing ones that are always happy..That is what I finally learned to know with you all in the gritty and the 5.1.1 mixes.

I thank everyone here for believing in many here that suggest these mixes and for all the appreciation shown to us when many saw how happier their plants could be and how green they have become, and how they quickly they recover once the roots hit these mixes.

You are all such a bunch of beautiful people and citrus friends.
Plant48: I have nothing against you. I think many here have kindly helped you to understand how they feel too about how you word your potsings. I hope understood them:-)

Rhizzo, it is always a pleasure to read what you have to offer. Always spot on, never a disappointment to me.

Have a merry day all!

I almost don't even want to bother wasting my time answering this question, because it has been asked and answered so many times in the past.

And what's even the point of answering, since someone even a month from now will be unlikely to be able to find this thread?

The question kind of complicated. First you have to realize not all citrus seeds will grow a tree with fruits like the parent variety.

For growing seeds, usually peel the outer seed coat off, wrap in moist paper towel, put in sealed plastic bag, warm place, 11 days later seed begins to sprout, but in large cup with soil under artificial lighting (fluorescent or LED), covered in clear plastic wrap to help hold in the humidity. Check on every 3 days to make sure soil is moist.

Sorry, you're going to have to privately contact me and pay me money if you want me to give you more of my time.

I have 12 trees, follow the step by step listed in other comments. All my seeds came from my trees. don’t use oranges from the store they are zapped for diseases which kills the seeds. Find a tree to pick a orange.

socalnolympia

Can I pay you with shares of Wachovia stock.

Steve

Ha ha. that's a good one.

You also have to realize that if you grow from seed, and your tree is not grafted on a rootstock variety, it will take much longer and the tree will have to get much bigger before it begins producing fruit.

That is why most experts will tell people it is not worth growing from seed.

Girdling can be a way to overcome this.

You might want to see this:

What if I grow a seed from a triploid citrus variety?

You might grow a seed from a fruit with relatively few seeds, and then 10 years later when that seed has grown into a tree producing its own fruit, the fruit will be completely full of seeds.

Here's another one to see:

how to grow citrus trees from seed the easy way