Are you growing so you can put the lime in the coconut? Are you a huge fan of key lime pie? Are you trying to fight off scurvy? Whatever your motive for growing limes this full sun loving fruit tree will reward you season after season with the zestiest, juicy fruit.
Make sure you choose a spot with 6–8 hours of direct sunlight and well-draining soil. Give it some comfort food and you’ll be off to a flying start.
PLANTING
Start by digging a hole twice the diameter of the root ball, and slightly deeper. Like any plant out, water is critical. Water the tree before planting, water the ground, and water again once finished planting. Before planting add some organic palletised fertiliser to the hole. As the tree is likely to have been grown in a pot, make sure to loosen up the tree roots using strong fingers or a knife, this will allow roots to sprawl outwards rather than bind and constrict on themselves. Once the tree is in ground, add some fresh compost and top it off with whatever soil is remaining. Be sure to clear away soil from the base of the tree, which can cause the trunk to rot.
WATERING
In ground: Water daily for the first 2 months while establishing and then cut back to 3-4 times a week in the warm season, otherwise 1-2 times a week during the cool season in the absence of rainfall.
In Pots: Water daily while establishing and through the entirety of the warm season, otherwise 3-4 times a week during the cool season in the absence of rainfall.
MAINTENANCE
Citrus lose their vibrancy throughout the cool season, particularly if you live somewhere cold. Without fail, citrus owners will rush into a garden centre concerned about their sick plants and buy up an array of citrus fertilisers to address the problem. So, first thing is first, don’t be concerned by a winter yellowing off.
Because citrus fruit in winter the plants can become exhausted from their production. Add to that the colder temperatures that restrict the flow of water through the plants’ roots and you have plants in mild distress – but it’s natural. As soon as spring and the warmer temperatures arrive, the flow of water increases through the plants veins. Most fruit will then be freed from the branches and they begin to regain their vibrancy.
HARVESTING
Time until first harvest: Grafted rootstock will fruit in the first year, but expect a few years before the tree really pays dividends.
How to harvest: Harvest when fruit has bright colour. Snip just above the stem for best preservation.
TIP
To learn how to best care for citrus and treat for a variety of pests including leaf miner, scale, gall wasp, check out our article here.
