Don’t Throw Away Lemon Seeds- Here’s What You Can Do With Them.

Of all the citrus fruits, lemons are one of the most common kitchen staples. After all, nearly everything is a bit better with a squeeze of lemon (or lime!) juice on it. We use the zest (the yellow part of the peel) as a flavoring agent in baking and cooking. We also use the juice to add a little zing to countless dishes and the occasional dessert. There is one part of the lemon, however, that we all typically just throw away without thinking much of it: The seeds. As it turns out, you can quite easily grow your own lemon tree from the seeds inside. This is how.

Why you shouldn’t throw away lemon seeds

Citrus seeds isolated on the white background close up — Source: Shutterstock

Before you go to toss your lemon seeds in the compost bin, read this. Lemon seeds contain everything a lemon tree needs to grow. When you plant a lemon seed, it will sprout and start growing into a tree. With a little care and attention, that tree can eventually produce lemons of its own – no more need for bags of lemons at the grocery store. Plus, growing your own lemon tree is a fun and rewarding experience.

How to grow a lemon tree from seed

Nice delicate decorations on small white table. Lemon tree in yellow flowerpot in bright white colors with picture frame with blurred white wall background. — Credit: Shutterstock

Thankfully, growing a lemon tree from the seeds isn’t as daunting of a task as it might seem. With a little bit of care and attention, you can have a flourishing lemon tree of your very own. Follow these steps (1, 2):

Step 1: Select a lemon

Overhead Shot of Lemons with visible Water Drops. Close up. — Credit: Shutterstock

The first step to growing lemons from seed is selecting the type of lemon you want to grow. Purchase lemons at the market, choosing those with a fully mature appearance and free of blemishes, cuts, and bruising, which can signify internal rot.

Step 2: Remove and rinse the seeds

Freshly cut Meyer lemon with seeds. — Credit: Shutterstock

Carefully remove the seeds from the fruit. Instead of cutting through the lemon, peel it like an orange. This is to avoid piercing the few seeds that might be present. Citrus seeds have a hard outer seed coat, but they can easily be sliced by a knife or other utensil. Using your hands, split open the individual slices, remove the seeds, and place them in a cup of water. Rinse the seeds and set them on a towel to dry before planting.

Step 3: Plant the seeds

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