These soils have adequate organic matter content for nutrient requirements and they drain well. Most of the lime tree roots are active in the top 3 feet of soil, where drainage is very important. Standing water rots the roots. Lime trees and all citrus trees grow best when the soil is allowed to dry out to 50 percent of its water-holding capacity before watering again. Lime trees continue to mature and provide fruit when healthy and given ongoing care. Lime trees and all plants require 17 nutrients to grow and thrive.
Air and water provide carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and the soil provides the remainder. Mature compost used as a yearly fertilizer supplies the soil with the remaining nutrients.
The layer of compost-fertilizer should be applied in a circle one foot from the tree trunk. Some of the most important factors are temperature, watering, fertilizing, and pruning. Most lime trees will grow outside in Zones 9 and If you grow lime trees elsewhere, you will need to keep them indoors for part of the year to protect them from cold.
Your best bet is to be prepared to bring your lime trees inside if there is any danger of freezing temperatures. For more information, check out this article from the University of Arizona on protecting a citrus tree from cold.
Avoid letting the soil get too dry for too long, especially if you have young lime trees. If you have a problem with dry soil, check out my article on preventing dry soil.
Although lime trees prefer moist soil, soil that is too wet can cause problems. Over watering can spell death for your lime tree, due to root rot or fungal diseases. If necessary, you can plant your lime trees on a mound to assist with drainage. For more information, check out my article on over watering. It may be necessary to use fertilizers as a supplement, in order to provide extra nutrients if you soil is lacking. The best way to tell if you need fertilizer is with a soil test.
For more information, check out my article on soil testing. Remember that it is possible to harm or kill your lime trees by over fertilizing them. For example, too much nitrogen can prevent your lime tree from producing any fruit. For more information, check out my article on over fertilizing , and my article on low-nitrogen fertilizers. Pruning lime trees is usually not necessary, except in the case of damage from winter cold and storms.
Lime trees should be spaced 12 to 25 feet apart for dwarf citrus trees, leave 6 to 10 feet between trees. Of course, you can adjust the space between trees depending on the width as noted in a nursery catalog. Leaving enough space between trees is crucial to prevent competition for water and resources. This extra space also gives you room to tend your trees as needed. By now, you have a good idea of when lime trees are mature enough to produce fruit, and what time of year to expect fruit.
You also know a bit more about how to take care of lime trees and how to avoid the problems that can affect your harvest. I hope you found this article helpful — if so, please share it with someone who can use the information. If you are interested in growing citrus fruits, then you should also check out my article on growing lemon trees. Place your lime tree in a sunny window.
During the winter, you may need to supplement the natural sunlight with a grow light, especially if the leaves drop or turn pale green. Keep lime trees at temperatures between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature of 65 F is ideal. During the summer, you can move the lime tree outdoors. Wait until the last expected frost and then gradually move the tree outdoors, bringing it inside at night until it acclimates.
Keep the tree on a patio or terrace in a protected area that gets full sun. Reverse this process in the fall — gradually bringing the tree indoors.
Water the lime tree just enough to keep the soil slightly moist. Soggy soils promote fungal growth and root rot, so allow the soil to dry out slightly between watering. Lime trees appreciate humid surroundings so place the tree near a humidifier or mist its leaves with a spray bottle. This is especially important during the winter when the air is particularly dry. Fertilize lime trees every three weeks from spring to summer with a citrus fertilizer or one made for tomatoes or vegetables.
Fertilize at a rate of 2 tablespoons per tree, or according to package directions. During the fall and winter, fertilize every six weeks. Lime trees are prone to micronutrient deficiencies, such as iron and magnesium. Apply a micronutrient fertilizer each spring. Disease problems are usually related to moisture levels and include root rot and fungal diseases. Aphids, leafhoppers, mites and scale all afflict lime trees. Before you bring a lime tree indoors for the winter, spray it with warm, slightly soapy water to dispatch any insects.
If insect pests become a problem, treat them with insecticidal oil or soap. The most important consideration is to purchase a disease-resistant variety that will stay small. Hawkins Corner covers some of the basics of lime tree care:. I grow plenty of different citrus trees at my place, in containers and the ground. Same as Kathy , and all cirtus are prone to the leaf miner , which distorts new leaves.
Particularly with limes I have a Key Lime tree pick the fruit early to capture that limey tang , because as the fruit ripens it looses that green colour and starts to turn yellow , and then tastes like an ordinary lemon!
I have a small Lime tree, which has been productive for years. This spring abundant flowers eventually produced many adult limes , which seemed to do well until three to four weeks ago.
Some of the leaves started to curl, while others seemed to produce some dark spots. Then, most of the leaves developed a white coating on the back of the leaves, not on the anterior surface at all, It almost looked like a group of many white particulate fungi, but they did not appear to be alive at all. Multiple black ants seemed to be attracted to them , one per leaf. A few tiny white flies sprang from the leaves as I cut the leaves and branches off yesterday, but the white particles remain intact and are still on the leaves I removed.
The limes turned white and many fell off the tree. I have many questions about this disease process.
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