"Citrus" is not a variety; and you will not get a good answer to your question. Some varieties will produce fruit sooner than others; and some varieties are not true to seed, so you don't know what you will get. Generally speaking an inground seed grown "citrus" will produce fruit in 5-7 years; while a container tree of the same variety may need 10 years.

I am a northerner and would not get fruit off any seed grown citrus tree unless it is a very small fruited bearing tree. I have seed grown Fukushu kumquats as well as Meiwa, Key limes are a good choice if you like limes. None of my seed grown trees have fruited and probably will not until at least their 4 year.

Seed grown Fukushu kumquat#2

fukushu kumquat 1 · More Info

Fukushu kumquat#2 · More Info

Meiwa · More Info

Meiwa · More Info

6b Steve

I started a grocery lemon seed in 2007 and miracles of miracles it finally started blossoming two weeks ago! I am beyond thrilled! I am in zone 10 (in the canyons of Malibu) I first had the seedling in a pot for a couple of years and finally found the sunniest spot and planted it in the ground. I am positive it is a Lisbon lemon because it has thorns while the Eureka does not. I can't wait for the lemons!

Can you post a picture?

I will when one of my grown children come to visit. I am afraid I am one of those old dinosaurs who is digitally behind the times. :-( I know it is encouraging to citrus lovers when a seed finally blossoms. I used to wonder about that too and I often would go to the garden and look at my lemon tree and wondered when if ever it would bear fruit! So you can imagine my thrill when I saw blossoms after all the rain we've recently had! For the tree to have survived my neglect, (I often travel), diseases and the constant gopher problem I have is a sheer miracle! I felt as if I had given birth when I saw the blossoms on the tree! Stay tuned for photos and report of the taste of the lemons which I am hoping the blossoms will mature into!

I have planted lots of citrus seeds over the years..., for whatever reason, my neglect, poor soil, care, etc.., most seemed to not make it to maturity. My two successes are the Pomelo and Bitter/Seville Orange. Don't know why the latter have all been extremely vigorous and fast from seed. (And each fruit is packed with dozens of seeds to experiment with.) So much so, that have about 8 of them in pots from 1 to 10 gallons. Guessing eventually they will flower and fruit, but in the meantime, they are terrific for cheap, easily available trees. They seem even more robust than the sweet orange in my opinion. Mine are definitely not coddled!

Oh, Mae I completely understand how you feel and I so envy you. That is so wonderful! I have a friend who found a sprouting seed in an orange she was eating 10 years ago so she planted it and it still has not blossomed. You are so lucky.