A New Adventure Begins

After our bell pepper journey brought so much joy, I found myself wondering... what next? I wanted to try something that felt a little more adventurous. Something vibrant. Something unexpected.

And that’s when lemons came into our lives.

Yes, lemons! Bright, zesty, sunshine-soaked little symbols of possibility.

Why Lemons you ask?

Lemons aren’t usually the first thing you think of growing indoors, especially in a UK climate but that’s what made them so special. I loved the idea of growing something tropical, challenging, and bold in a small space. It was a way to show my boys (and myself) that just because something seems difficult doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

With the right pot, good drainage, and a sunny spot, lemon trees can thrive indoors. I loved the idea of growing from fruit to plant.

A Growing Confidence

Watching our lemon seed settle in and flourish gave us so much more than fruit it gave us confidence. We realised we weren’t just growing plants anymore; we were growing skills, resilience, and curiosity.

From Bell Peppers to Lemons: One Mum’s Tangy Turn in the Garden

Peppers Were Just the Beginning…

After successfully growing bell peppers in our makeshift indoor nursery (which, let’s be honest, was really just a sun-drenched corner and a whole lot of hope), I caught the gardening bug. Or maybe it was a fungus gnat  we never did identify that one.. Either way, the urge to grow more had well and truly taken root.

So, naturally… We decided to grow lemons. Because when life gives you bell peppers  you go full citrus.

 A Squeeze of Science 

I didn’t start with a fancy nursery tree or pre-packaged seeds. Nope, I started with a lemon from the fruit bowl. One we’d actually eaten. There was just something so satisfying about the idea of growing a tree from a fruit we’d already enjoyed  like giving it a second life.

The boys and I carefully picked out the seeds, cleaned off the pulp (there was some chaos), and wrapped them in damp paper towels to kickstart germination. It felt a bit like planting a secret.

After a couple of weeks tucked away in a warm corner, the seeds cracked open tiny roots peeking out like whispers of future lemons.

From there, we potted them up, gave them a sunny windowsill spot, and waited. And they actually grew! Slowly, stubbornly,  but they grew.Tiny and green, a little proud, and very much ours.

Then Came the Move…

We moved from Blackpool to Caerphilly, and for the first time we had a garden. Actual soil! Outdoor space! Room to dig, and maybe lose a spade or two!

We thought, “What could be more perfect than giving our lemon trees some real sunshine and fresh air?”

What could go wrong?

Birds. That’s what.

It turns out, our new neighbourhood birds are food critics. And they loved the taste of our lemon saplings.

Within days of their outdoor debut, the poor things had been nibbled, tugged, and shredded like garden salad. The boys were devastated. I considered building a citrus fortress. Instead, we sighed… and composted

It turns out  lemons are not native to Caerphilly, and neither are lemon-loving crows… but here we are.

Even without our saplings, the spirit of the lemon lives on. We’re already planning round two this time with netting, a better game plan, and a “no nibbling” sign for the birds (worth a try, right?).

Because gardening isn’t always about perfect outcomes. Sometimes it’s about the funny failures, muddy feet, and the joy of trying again together

Until Next Time…

So here's to our short-lived lemon trees: you were loved, you were leafy, and you were delicious... apparently.

Samantha Bain