Have you recently come across Sambo lemon and thought, why not grow this beauty in your backyard?
If yes, here is all you need to know about the Sambo lemon tree.
Sambo Lemon: at a Glance
Sambo sweet lemon has rough skin and is oval-shaped. They are easy to peel, and the taste is delicious.
The fruit originally originated from Japan and has no acidic content.
How to Propagate Sambo Lemon Seeds?
You can propagate Sambo lemon seeds by taking out seeds from a Sambo lemon and planting them in a pot while making sure you maintain optimal conditions.
Though propagating lemon seeds is easy, you must pay attention to the details if you want the process to succeed. Also, the propagation of Sambo lemon seeds is a process that takes time, so you will have to be patient.
Most of the time, you will get the same variety of the lemon whose seeds you are using. For seamless propagation, you can focus on the following points.
- Choose the lemons carefully. Make sure the lemon is healthy and fresh. Also, be sure the lemon is of the same variety you want to reproduce, i.e., Sambo lemon.
- Carefully slice the lemon and remove all the pulp. While removing the pulp, make sure you don’t damage the seeds.
- No matter how you remove the pulp, there will be some remnants of the pulp that remain attached to the seeds. So, wash the seeds properly, as the pulp attached to the seeds can facilitate fungal infections. Also, it’s better to plant seeds while wet, as it can help germination.
- Now, prepare the soil and pot where you have to plant seeds. Ensure the soil is nutrient-rich, which is a challenge when planting seeds in a pot. You can go for Fox Farm Happy Frog Organic Potting Soil Mix (buy it here). This organic potting soil provides all the necessary nutrients to your Sambo lemon.
- Make holes in the soil with your fingers. You don’t need to make deep holes; half an inch would be enough. Now plant the seeds in the holes and cover them with the soil.
- Water the soil but just enough that the soil becomes damp. Don’t overwater the soil, as it will adversely affect seed propagation.
- To retain water and maintain temperature wrap the soil pot with a plastic cover to retain moisture and maintain temperature.
- Now, place the wrapped pot in an adequately warm and well-lit place, such as beside a window. If there is no such window in your home, you can also keep the pot on a refrigerator, as it will provide an ideal temperature for the plant.
- Don’t leave the plant pot unattended. Check it now and then and water the soil according to the needs. It is a crucial phase for seed propagation and can affect the seed if you overwater. So, only water the plant if the soil feels dry.
- As soon as seedlings emerge from the soil, remove the plastic wrap. As the plant grows, there will come a stage where you have to transfer the plant from the pot. Usually, you need to transplant the plants to larger pots or gardens when they grow multiple sets of leaves.
One of the things that I cannot stress enough about is maintaining the water requirements of the Sambo lemon plant. Don’t overwater it, and don’t deprive it of water, either. Maintain providence of the optimal amount of water.
How to Grow and Care Indoor Sambo Lemon Tree?
You can grow Sambo lemon indoors by providing optimal temperature, water, and sunlight conditions. You can do it by placing the plant pot near a window or taking the help of artificial light and temperature sources.
You can grow and care for the Sambo lemon tree indoors as long as you are fulfilling the optimal conditions for its survival. If you grow Sambo lemon trees indoors, they can grow to a height of 0.9 to 1.5 meters (3 to 5 ft.) tall.
Here is what you need to know if you are growing Sambo lemon trees indoors.
- The first step in growing a Sambo lemon tree indoors is the choice of pot. Though you can plant Sambo lemon seeds in a small pot, they cannot grow appropriately in that pot after a certain stage. You have to choose a pot that is big enough that it allows the roots to grow freely.
- Sambo lemon trees require slightly acidic soil. So, add fertilizers and maintain the soil’s acidity according to the plant’s requirements. Also, don’t water too much. As indoor plants don’t have much sun exposure, extended contact with water can lead to root rot.
- Though Sambo lemon can grow indoors, it still needs sunlight. So, place the plant in a location that is warm and well-lit. Sambo lemon will need at least 5 hours of sunlight, even as an indoor plant. If you cannot provide optimal sunlight, you can use fluorescent bulbs to make up for it.
- The indoor Sambo lemon trees also need optimal temperatures to thrive. The location you are using to store the lemon tree should offer a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) during the day and about 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12.7 degrees Celsius) at night.
How to Grow and Care for an Outdoor Sambo Lemon Tree?
You can also transfer Sambo lemon from small pots to an outdoor garden. All you have to ensure is that the location fulfills all the optimal conditions for the proper growth of the Sambo lemon tree.
If you are transferring your Sambo lemon tree outdoors, keep in mind the following points.
- When transplanting the plant, most gardeners make a hole the size of the root ball. However, it is advised to make the hole a bit shallower than the size of the root ball.
- Also, make sure the soil is nutrient-rich. You can use an NPK fertilizer, such as Down to Earth Organic Citrus Fertilizer. This organic fertilizer (buy it here) can provide the Sambo lemon tree with all the necessary nutrients.
- Water the newly transferred plant enough that the soil remains damp. If the soil in the area is usually damp, add mulch so the plant can retain water.
Sambo Lemon Tree Diseases and Pests
Sambo lemon trees can suffer from the following diseases and pests, so you should look out for Citrus Canker disease, Phytophthora fungus, scale infestations, and aphids.
Citrus Canker Disease
If you maintain all the optimal conditions and your plant still gets infected, it is probably the bacterial infection, Citrus Canker. The disease is contagious and deadly.
Firstly, it affects the fruit and stems and forms lesions on them. Eventually, the leaves and fruit drop and the plant dies.
The only solution is prevention, as there is no treatment once the Sambo lemon tree develops Citrus Canker. You can prevent it by applying fungicide to your plant.
Phytophthora Fungus
If you notice hard brown patches on the leaves or stem of the Sambo lemon plant, it is probably affected by the Phytophthora Fungus. The patches eventually dry and fall, leaving dark sunken areas on the affected parts of the plant.
Once you have diagnosed the Phytophthora Fungus, immediately remove all the affected leaves and stem parts from the plants. Also, remove the lower branches as the growth of Phytophthora Fungus is facilitated by wet soil. Also, spray fungicide on the plant.
Scale Infestation
Scales are another common insect that can affect Sambo lemon trees. They are primarily present on the leaves of plants in the form of white masses.
Aphids
Aphids are another common insect affecting the base of Sambo lemon trees. The leaves, fruit, and stems also suffer as they affect the base.
Harvesting Sambo Lemons
The key to identifying if the lemon is ready to pick is its color and size. The color of ready-to-puck lemons is yellowish-green or yellow, and the size is about 5 to 7 centimeters (2 to 3 inches).
The most common problem gardeners face is that they harvest lemons before reaching the final stage, and they are not juicy.
If you are facing the same problem, keep in mind that the size of the Sambo lemon is more important than the color. If the color has changed and the fruit is still small in size, don’t harvest it. Wait till it reaches an adequate size.
References
freundfloweringtrees.com, gardenbeast.com, everythingbackyard.net, fast-growing-trees.com, minnetonkaorchards.com, thegardeningdad.com
