Hand Pollinating Lemon Trees

Floral Anatomy

• The flowers on a lemon tree have both male and female parts. This is why most citrus trees can pollinate themselves. Male structures called the anthers produce pollen that travels onto the sticky female structure called the stigma. However, the timing of the development of male and female parts is slightly staggered within an individual flower, making self-pollination a hit or miss affair. Hand-pollination increases the chances of the pollen getting to a stigma that is ready to be pollinated.

How to Pollinate

• A fine-tip paintbrush works best to reach into the small flowers of a lemon tree. Dip the paintbrush into a flower that contains pollen. The pollen will adhere to the dry paintbrush via static electricity. Take the pollen-coated paintbrush and lightly paint over the stigma of another flower. A receptive stigma will be sticky and hold the pollen. Repeat this process with as many flowers as you like.

Cross-Pollination

• Some fruits, such as apples and cherries, produce fruit more reliably if there are two trees of different varieties that pollinate one another. This is called cross-pollination. Citrus trees do not require cross-pollination to produce fruit. So, if you have only one lemon tree, you will still be able to grow lemons.

Growing Fruit

• Within a couple weeks of pollination, the blooms of your lemon tree will fade. If you watch closely, you will see a tiny, round and green fruit develop. This is your future lemon. Caring for your lemon tree is important to keep the fruit developing. Keep the tree in a humid and warm area of your home and avoid sudden changes in the tree's environment. Water and fertilize the tree as you normally would. In the winter, do not feed your lemon tree.