Get at least six or eight hours of full sun per day when you plant your lime tree. A well-drained area is preferable, or, if you’re planting in a pot or planter, you may want to opt for a lighter soil mix that is sandier than normal to prevent water from pooling around the tree.
Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball and a little deeper for your tree to grow in. Remove the tree from its container and remove any circling roots so that they don’t girdle the tree and eventually strangle it.. Make sure the root ball of the tree sits level with the soil when you place it in the hole you dug. Backfill the hole with the soil that has been mixed with compost and tamp it down thoroughly.
After planting, be sure to water the sapling thoroughly. When the ground appears saturated, give it a drink and then wait for it to soak in before giving it another. For the first few months, you should water your sapling several times a week to help it get used to its new surroundings.
How to get the most out of your efforts
Before you plant your sapling, be sure to handle it with care. You’ll need to keep it in a shady spot and water the plant when you get it home. Plant your lime tree in a pot if you live in a northern climate (anywhere north of zones 9-10), so you can bring it inside during the winter. Lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit is too cold for lime trees. In the winter, place your tree in a sunny window or use grow lights to maintain its health.
Lime Trees: How to Take Care of Them
The need for water and the supply of nutrients
To help your lime tree adjust to its new location for the first few months, water the plant once a week. If you get less than an inch of rain during the week, give it a drink. During drought, if the tree’s leaves begin to drop, it may indicate that it requires additional watering. Be sure to check this every few days.
Regular nutrients are required by lime trees. Top-dress the area with enriched compost once or twice a year, or feed your tree with a citrus-specific fertilizer (follow the package directions for frequency). You can use less fertilizer in the winter. In the spring, fertilize your tree with the recommended amount of a micronutrient fertilizer.
Pollination
Lime trees, in contrast to many other fruit trees, do not necessitate a dense grove in order to bear fruit. Lime trees pollinate each other because each flower has both male and female parts. Pollen is spread from flower to flower by bees and other small insects. If you’re growing your lime tree indoors, you’ll need to manually transfer pollen from flower to flower using a paintbrush or cotton swab.
Pruning
Pruning lime trees isn’t necessary at all. The diseased or broken branches, or any branches that are rubbing against each other, should be trimmed back. Any branches that are too high can be pruned back to keep your lime tree at a specific height. Planting a dwarf or semi-dwarf tree is a good idea if you want to keep it small.
Insects and diseases are a problem.
Citrus canker, a bacterial infection that can be controlled with a copper fungicide, can affect lime trees. This fungicide will also control melanose, greasy spots, and sooty mold, which causes blackened leaves. Before applying the fungicide, remove any infected leaves.
Aphids, citrus whitefly, and citrus thrips are some of the most common insects that can be found on lime trees. Spinosad, an insecticide, can be used to control these pesky critters. The use of this insecticide spray is permitted in organic environments.
Harvesting
Whenever the fruit of your lime tree begins to form, you should remove any clusters that contain more than two or three limes. Pick a lime and cut it open to see if it’s ready to be harvested. Juicy and light green fruits are what you’re looking for. Wrinkled limes are a sign that they were left on the tree for too long.
Light
Lime trees thrive in full sunlight, so they should be planted in a location that gets plenty of it. Lime trees may become straggly if they are grown in even a small amount of shade. Planting lime trees in the ground requires careful consideration, as they can become stressed and suffer if you attempt to dig them up and move them in the future. Lime trees are particularly vulnerable to this.
Dwarf lime trees, in particular, are well-suited to container gardening because of their small stature. Because container-grown lime trees are grown in containers, you can easily move them to a more sunny location if they are struggling, and you can also bring them inside if the weather turns chilly.
Temperature
Only in temperate climates can lime trees thrive year-round. If temperatures are expected to fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll need to bring your lime tree indoors to ensure its survival.
For the sake of portability, it’s imperative that you grow your lime tree in a container pot if you live somewhere where temperatures regularly fall below 50o F. You can bring your lime tree indoors to survive the winter and then re-establish it when the weather warms up in the spring.
Propagation
Depending on the variety, lime trees can be propagated from stem cuttings, air layering, or from seed. It may take the longest to grow a lime tree from a seed, but it is also the easiest and most reliable method. You can start the process of propagation at any time of year if you sow the seeds indoors. Summer is the best time to propagate from stem cuttings or air layering. While the roots of a lime tree must form in both methods, air layering uses the stem that is still attached to the mother tree. When the roots of a lime tree start growing on their own, it can begin bearing fruit as soon as the following season. It may take weeks or months for this to happen.
Varieties of Lime Trees
Despite the fact that lime trees come in a wide variety of varieties, they are often referred to simply as “lime trees” in garden centers. An expert nursery may be required to get the right kind of lime tree for you. The following are a few of the more popular varieties of lime tree.
Citrus hystrix
The Kaffir lime tree, a popular ingredient in Asian cuisine, is a type of lime tree. It can be grown outside in mild climates, but its 5-foot-tall dwarf size makes it ideal for growing inside as well. Leaf harvesting from this plant yields glossy, dark green leaves that are used to flavor Asian dishes like curries and soups. Fresh, dried, or frozen Kaffir leaves can be used in cooking. Similar in size and shape to a lime, this tree’s fruit has an even darker green skin. Because the Kaffir lime’s fruit isn’t as juicy as the common lime, it’s not commonly grown for its juice.
Citrus aurantifolia
The Mexican key lime tree, West Indian lime tree, Omani lime tree, or bartenders’ lime tree is a common name for this tree. It can reach a height of eight to sixteen feet in a medium amount of time if the proper watering and lighting conditions are met. Fruit from this tree is small, round, juicy, and flavorful, making it popular for use in drinks and desserts. As a result, it should never be exposed to temperatures lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit. At least 10 hours of direct sunlight per day are necessary for this tree to thrive, as is a heavy-nitrogen fertilizer application.
Citrus × latifolia
The Persian lime tree, also known as the Tahiti lime tree, is a cross between the Key lime tree and the lemon tree, which is why it’s known as a hybrid. However, as they age, they turn yellow and lose their seedless qualities. Most limes sold around the world come from this tree’s fruit, which is the most widely cultivated lime variety for commercial purposes. As a result of its larger fruits and lack of seeds, it is often preferred to the key lime in terms of flavor and convenience (University of Florida Extension).
