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We've tried traditional methods (lemon seeds + soil with water + heat) and no luck so far. Anyone with any ideas?

My OH likes the idea of starting from scratch, useful since we don't know anyone else with any cutting or anything.

They won't grow true to form by all acounts so you will get some kind of hybrid. We have started with one pip from a satsuama or orange or minolta can't remember anyway it has taken ages and is still only 7 inches big. Probally took about 6/7 months for that. Just put it in compost and off it grew.

What sort of conditions are needed for lemons in this country, and do they fruit?

i've grown them from pip a few times with the kids... never had any fruit from them though but the leaves smell gorgeous.

I might give them another go - just been using a lot of lemons lately so could get some free houseplants

Yep, plants grown from seed rather than grafted are of unknown quality due to the mix of genes in the seed (sexual reproduction and all that) and take much longer to fruit than grafted varieties. It is still an interesting experiment though.

You can buy conversatory lemon plants that fruit here in the UK. But would they manage in a tunnel or cold greenhouse?

cool - thanks guys.

We brought a little lemon tree for my mother in law for christmas - no idea if it ever fruited - they did say it should.

Update - it's started sprouting.

OH is overly excited about it!! Just think, if it hadn't have been for you guys he was quite close to throwing it away!!

This is my lemon tree grown from seed by a South African friend of mine. He lives in the UK, goodness knows how he started them off, but I have asked him!

This tree is about 5 years old and has lived outdoors in the Winter and indoors in the winter. It's always been in this pot. It really loves our bathroom.We have never had a flower or a lemon yet. See the new sprout on top of it, this has come up in the last week!

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/GnatHall/images/BOX+1729.jpg

Wow Shiney... that tree is heaps healthy! Five years in the same pot? I have a feeling it might run riot if you upgraded to a bigger pot, but maybe you don't want that?... If it is intended for indoors? What do you use as a citrus fertiliser? It is heaps interesting talking to you folks over there. Some concepts are heaps different, but very interesting, and often still workable here. What a good idea putting a citrus in the bathroom! Lovely natural air freshener!

I really must re-pot the poor thing, but it's the best it's ever been to be honest. I just got a reply from the guy who gave me the plant, when it was a baby. He got the seed from a lemon from his mums lemon tree in their front garden in South Africa. My tree usually lives outside in the Summer on the patio.

I only use Kerry Grow which is what all my plants get. (I'm dead lazy) Only because my grandad left a load in his shed, which I received after he died along with a load of other gardening stuff. I thought I may as well use it all up!

cool, shiney.
Think I might have a go. Many years ago, I "visited" a conservatory full of citrus plants at the manor house at Stanmer Park in Brighton. The estate has been owned by the city council for some time and the gardens (including the citrus grove) themselves are part managed by the University of Brighton. As I seem to remember, we were being encouraged by a lecturer to sneak about, dodging security, at the time. Hmm.
Anyway, I've unearthed some info on growing lemons:
http://www.easyfruit.co.uk/lemons/index.html
Yes I know it's commercial but the blurb is kind of encouraging me to give it a bash sometime soon.

Go for it...if I can keep a lemon tree alive for 5 years, you are bound to succeed. 8)

do you think it might have something to do with favourable conditions in the bathroom - we have a mammoth cactus in ours, slowly taking up the window. We had to move him there as it was the only sill big enough.

Yep, I think so Wormella,

Warm, damp and nice and light!