How to Grow Lime Trees
Adding lime trees to your garden is a fantastic way to bring a little taste of nature to your home. These trees are easy to grow and you can enjoy the fruits of your labor year-round.
Watering
Providing adequate watering is a vital step in caring for lime trees. These trees need plenty of sun, a well-drained soil, and consistent moisture. If watering is irregular, you may experience root rot and fruit abortion.
If you are unsure of how to water your lime tree, the first step is to check the soil. You want to make sure that the upper one inch of the soil is dry to the touch. If you are unsure of how much moisture is needed, you can use a moisture meter to find out.
A good rule of thumb for watering lime trees is to water them deeply once or twice a week. Watering too much can be harmful, stunting growth.
If your lime tree is in a container, the size of the pot can help you determine how much water you need to provide. If you are not sure what size of pot to use, you can buy a moisture meter and measure the moisture at the root level.
Pruning
Whether you want to encourage fruit production or avoid pests, pruning lime trees is an important way to promote healthy growth. Pruning can be done at any time of the year, as long as you are careful. If you are using sharp tools, be sure to clean them after each use. This helps prevent disease from spreading.
Lime trees require a well-drained soil with a pH level of between 6.0 and 6.5. Lime trees can also benefit from mulching around the base to promote healthy growth. Mulch also helps absorb water and retain it.
Lime trees are usually self-pollinating. However, you may need to hand pollinate your lime tree if the pollinators are not able to find each other. This can take several hours, but will result in a better crop the following year.
Growing in a Pot or Planter
Adding a citrus tree to your home is a beautiful way to add color and clean air. A lime tree can be planted in the ground or in a container. Both types require the same basic care and require a lot of sunshine to thrive. Generally, lime trees need six to eight hours of sun each day.
If you are planning to plant a citrus tree in a container, you should purchase a good quality potting mix. Soil moisture also affects the amount of water your plant needs. If the soil is dry, you will have to water more frequently.
Container grown lime trees should be planted in neutral pH moistened potting medium. These trees should also be pruned to maintain compact growth. These plants love lots of sun and moist, well-draining soil.
Avoiding Biennial Bearing
Keeping your lime trees in good condition will help them to avoid biennial bearing. Lime trees need to be well watered, tended and trimmed to avoid overcrowding. They can be grown outdoors in Zones 9 and 10, but will need protection from cold during part of the year.
To avoid biennial bearing, thinning the fruit in early spring is a good idea. This will help the trees to recover and develop stronger next year. Thinning can remove 50% to 70% of the fruit. A good rule of thumb is to remove only one fruit per blossom cluster. The remaining fruit will grow to a larger size than if all the fruit was removed.
A study conducted at the Samuel G. Meigs Horticulture Facility at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana evaluated the effect of three apple cultivars on alternate bearing. The three cultivars were a semi-annual and a biennial bearing variety.
Harvesting Year-Round
Depending on the lime variety, some can be grown year round. Some, like Mexican limes, will produce fruit in the third year after planting. Others, like Key West limes, can produce fruit as soon as the planting season.
Lime trees require regular fertilization. In addition, limes need at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day. They also need a partially sandy soil. This will encourage growth and produce better fruit.
Lime trees can be purchased from a garden center or mail order fruit tree nursery. They are usually grown in zones 8-11. If you live in a cooler climate, you may need to supplement the sun with artificial lighting.
Lime trees can be grown indoors as well. They can be planted in a light soil mix and placed in a location that gets at least six hours of sunshine each day.
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