Question
I live in north-central Texas, and I love lemons, pears and pomegranates. How viable is it to try to grow these trees from the seeds taken from the fruit I buy at the grocery stores? I've not found any definitive information online about whether these particular fruits are irradiated and if that kills their seed. I haven't looked to find out if the fruit are hybrid varieties, which, from reading other posts on this site, indicate the possibility of inferior fruit.
How and when would I best go about starting these seeds?


Answer
Hi Adam,
Thanx for your question.  I really think growing seeds from store-bought fruit is a waste of time if you're looking to grow plants that you want to keep and possibly get fruit from.  I live in the Kansas City area and am able to find citrus and other tropical fruit trees already growing and in some cases blooming and bearing fruit in dwarf varieties that easily act as patio plants during our frost-free periods and then become indoor plants for the winter, relegated to the patio door for sunlight or some other eastern or southern exposure.  I have had a lime tree bear limes, a lemon tree bear lemons and I grew an avocado tree as a house plant for 5 years.  Had a kumquat tree too.  If you grow seed from store-bought fruit it is almost always from a hybrid.  These seeds do not come true to the parent plant and the plant and fruit are often inferior to the parent plant.  It is fun to grow the seeds but bare in mind that you will not get fruit for 5 or more years!  You live in Texas and probably have just as many if not more sources for dward citrus and tropical fruit and your frost-free period is longer than ours.  

Starting tropical fruit seed is pretty standard.  Clean the seed and then plant it about 1/2 inch into the soil.  Germination occurs in about 2 weeks if kept at 75-80F.  Transplant seedlings after they are a couple inches tall to seperate pots and either keep under 40-watt shop lights or in a very bright eastern or southern window.  Keep them watered but well-drained.  Feed with 12-12-12 fertilizer according to the directions on the package.  Always put in the shade for 10 days before putting out in direct sunlight when moving outdoors.  I hope this helps.
Tom