How to Grow Lemons? A Complete Guide to the Detailed Planting Method

SummaryChoose a planting site with fertile, loose soil and good drainage. Keep the planting density at around 55 plants per mu, with a spacing of about 3-4 m between plants and rows. Dig holes of a suitable size according to the terrain, fill the holes with base fertilizer, and backfill so the soil mound is 20-30 cm above ground level, shape a tree basin, then cover it with rice straw. Choose an overcast day in spring or autumn for planting, apply fertilizer and water regularly, carry out 3-4 rounds of intertillage each year, and prune the trees in time to improve fruit yield and quality.

Lemons like to grow in warm, shady places and are not very resistant to intense heat, so lemon growing should be carried out in subtropical regions with warm winters and cool summers.

1. Orchard site selection and preparation

Choose a site with loose, fertile soil and good drainage to establish the orchard, and plant in autumn or winter. Keep the planting density at around 56 plants per mu, with a spacing of 3×4 m between plants and rows. If planting on hilly or mountainous land, dig a large round hole 82 cm deep and 82 cm wide; if planting on flat land at a lower elevation, the hole can be slightly shallower.

Into each hole put 50 kg of farmyard manure or compost, 0.5 kg of lime, and mix in 0.5 kg of superphosphate. Mix these with the topsoil and fill them into the hole for planting, then put 5-10 kg of fully decomposed pig or cattle pen manure on top. When backfilling, the soil should be 20-30 cm higher than the ground surface, shape a 0.8 m tree basin, then cover the tree basin with some rice straw to keep the soil moist.

2. Planting time

Lemons are generally planted in February-March and September-October. If planting in areas with evenly distributed rainfall or in orchards with sufficient water sources and good irrigation and drainage, planting can be done all year round. It is best to plant on an overcast day, give the plants enough water to settle the roots after planting, then cover with rice straw to retain moisture. To ensure sufficient water in the soil, water regularly.

3. Fertilizer and water management

In the first two years after the young trees are planted, apply nitrogen fertilizer as a top dressing to promote crown formation, but from the 3rd year onward, reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer and increase the application of calcium-magnesium-phosphate compound fertilizer.

In autumn, apply organic fertilizer to the soil as a base fertilizer, and combine this with foliar top dressing at different growth stages of the lemon to strengthen the tree's nutrition and promote flower bud differentiation and flowering and fruiting.

From after the flowers fade to the fruit enlargement stage and the autumn shoot flush stage, strengthen fertilization of the lemon trees. You can apply decomposed bran fertilizer or human waste, and also apply urea and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer as a timely top dressing according to the growth of the lemon trees.

When top dressing, apply small amounts frequently to prevent too much from being lost and not absorbed by the lemon trees. During the growing process, water or irrigate the orchard in time to ensure sufficient moisture and promote the growth of the lemon trees.

4. Intertillage and weeding

In the dry seasons of summer and autumn, carry out intertillage in the orchard before the drought to keep the soil loose and reduce water evaporation from the soil. During the growing process, carry out intertillage 3-4 times each year, with each intertillage kept to a depth of about 10-15 cm. When intertilling, be careful to avoid damaging the root system.

In summer, you can plant some leguminous green manure between the rows of fruit trees as a cover to prevent soil erosion. Remove the weeds under the tree canopy, then use the removed weeds to cover the tree canopy.

5. Pruning

Lemon trees grow vigorously and flower readily, and they tend to produce water sprouts at bent branches and on the scaffold branches, disrupting the tree shape. During the growing process, you can use rope hanging and pulling or prop up the main branches to shape and prune the lemon trees so that the secondary main branches do not bend, and also regularly remove the buds on the scaffold branches.

When pruning, be as gentle as possible. The amount of branches and leaves left should be such that a small amount of sunlight can penetrate into the canopy. In spring, summer, and autumn, promptly pinch or cut back the water sprouts, and in winter promptly prune out diseased and pest-damaged branches, dead branches, and fruiting branches.