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Author Topic: meyer lemon from seed  (Read 2946 times)

covodib

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meyer lemon from seed
« on: August 05, 2017, 12:16:54 PM »
Hello,
I have this  meyer lemon for some months. He has about 12 inch and  he's growing higher without making some branches. Should I prune it now to have a bushier plant? I read a lot about it but did not find something about young plants.
Thank you

« Last Edit: August 05, 2017, 01:50:24 PM by covodib »

Susanne42

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2017, 03:41:06 PM »
I would say that is personal preference? Some like a tree form others might prefer bush. If this would be my tree I probably would let it grow a little bit more before pinching off the top.

Millet

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2017, 05:01:22 PM »
If a tree is to be topped, most growers top them about 28 inches.  Very soon after topping you will see side shoot growth. 

covodib

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2017, 05:07:26 PM »
I was afraid to have a leggy plant if I top it later 'cause i experienced it already  with some of my chilli peppers. Thank you for your advices.

mrtexas

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2017, 06:19:58 PM »
Hello,
I have this  meyer lemon for some months. He has about 12 inch and  he's growing higher without making some branches. Should I prune it now to have a bushier plant? I read a lot about it but did not find something about young plants.
Thank you


Meyer lemon not true from seed. Likely never fruit in a pot.

covodib

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2017, 10:01:19 PM »
What do you mean? Not true from seed? And concerning the fruiting part, i have nothing to lose to try.

mrtexas

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2017, 10:05:37 PM »
What do you mean? Not true from seed? And concerning the fruiting part, i have nothing to lose to try.

Not true from seed=will not have fruit that are meyer lemon

Mark in Texas

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2017, 07:56:03 AM »
What do you mean? Not true from seed? And concerning the fruiting part, i have nothing to lose to try.

It's a hybrid.

I'd wait to top concentrating on getting a strong tree using a soluble 5-1-3 NPK food with micros.

covodib

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2017, 08:59:52 AM »
Could you recommend me a soluble fertilizer that works best?

SoCal2warm

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2017, 06:38:00 PM »
"not true to seed" takes a little bit of explaining. Unlike many other common citrus varieties, Meyer produces all zygotic seeds, meaning they all resulted from sexual reproduction. Whenever this happens, the genes get mixed around. It will not be genetically identical to its parent. That being said, for some types of citrus, especially sour types, even if it is not a genetic clone it will likely still have fruit extremely similar to its parent (assuming the seed did not result from pollination with a different variety). Meyer lemons grown from seed are usually not as good, there's a 50% chance it will not be as sweet, and a 50% it will be insipid. Furthermore, when you grow from seed and the little tree has never been grafted onto different rootstock, it will take a very long time before the tree ever begins producing fruit, and the tree will be quite big at that time. (You see the dwarfing effect of rootstock induces a tree to begin producing fruit earlier in its lifespan, this is true with many fruit species, not just citrus)

Usually, for the home grower, it's not worth the effort, risk, and time growing from seed. But it can be done. And sometimes (in rare cases) you get a new variety that's better than the original.

covodib

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2017, 07:14:46 AM »
"not true to seed" takes a little bit of explaining. Unlike many other common citrus varieties, Meyer produces all zygotic seeds, meaning they all resulted from sexual reproduction. Whenever this happens, the genes get mixed around. It will not be genetically identical to its parent. That being said, for some types of citrus, especially sour types, even if it is not a genetic clone it will likely still have fruit extremely similar to its parent (assuming the seed did not result from pollination with a different variety). Meyer lemons grown from seed are usually not as good, there's a 50% chance it will not be as sweet, and a 50% it will be insipid. Furthermore, when you grow from seed and the little tree has never been grafted onto different rootstock, it will take a very long time before the tree ever begins producing fruit, and the tree will be quite big at that time. (You see the dwarfing effect of rootstock induces a tree to begin producing fruit earlier in its lifespan, this is true with many fruit species, not just citrus)

Usually, for the home grower, it's not worth the effort, risk, and time growing from seed. But it can be done. And sometimes (in rare cases) you get a new variety that's better than the original.

thank you for infos

Mark in Texas

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #11 on: August 15, 2017, 09:15:11 AM »
Could you recommend me a soluble fertilizer that works best?

Peter's High Performance 25-5-10 or Dyna-Gro Foliage Pro.

Millet

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #12 on: August 15, 2017, 09:54:15 PM »
To prevent leggy container grown trees, put the tree outside starting when the young tree is 2" tall.   It is the bending back and forth resistance against the wind that gives a tree's trunk strength.  If you can put the tree outside than use a fan that rotates back and forth.  Don't over due it. 

Mark in Texas

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Re: meyer lemon from seed
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2017, 09:14:07 AM »
High light, some wind and a low P food all contribute to a stocky well branched tree.