How to Produce Fruit on Lemon and Orange Trees

Hand-pollinating citrus trees can help jump-start fruit production.

Citrus trees, such as oranges and lemons, cannot produce fruits if they are not properly pollinated. Pollination of flowers in the spring allows fruits to begin to grow. Most orange and lemon varieties are self-pollinating or become pollinated by bees and insects. In some areas of the country, hobby gardeners grow citrus trees indoors or grow hybrid varieties which are not easily pollinated. In these cases, pollinating the trees by hand helps trees produce fruit.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton swab
• Magnifying glass

Instructions

1. Locate the stigma on the orange or lemon tree blossoms. Stigmas are the female organs of the citrus flower. These structures are located in the center of the flower and have a sticky appearance.

2. Locate the stamens of the orange or lemon blossoms. Stamens are the male organs of the citrus flower and most commonly located adjacent to the stigma, according to the University of Florida. Stamens are long, string-like structures with grains of yellow pollen.

3. Dab a cotton swab onto yellow pollen grains on the flower's stamens. Use a magnifying glass to locate pollen grains if necessary.

4. Sweep the pollen grains onto the flower's stigma from the cotton swab.

5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 with each blossom on the tree. Once properly pollinated, trees will begin to produce fruit.

References

• Four Winds Growers: Pollination/Pollinating by Hand
• University of Florida: Pollination of Citrus Hybrids