Lime (Citrus Fruit)

Citrus Plant - Lime

Grow these hardier than ever limes!

This lime hails from the Mediterranean region, is hardier than other limes and produces large lemon-sized, bright green fruits following delicious fragrant blossom. An ideal subject for a large container on a sunny patio. supplied as a large specimen in a 5-litre pot, will begin producing fruit within 18 months. Plants despatched from 80cm-1m tall.

Stunning plants with glossy, dark green foliage, strongly scented white flowers and bear fruit from late spring to late summer. They are hardy in most parts of the UK (to -5°C), so although they make beautiful specimen plants in a conservatory, they can also be grown in a well-drained pot in a sheltered spot outdoors!

Citrus trees are surprisingly hardy, tolerating temperatures down to -5°C and will thrive in most gardens given a warm sunny position. In the UK they are probably best grown in a large pot or other suitable container as this will allow them to be moved as conditions dictate. Citrus Trees will not however tolerate wet conditions and waterlogging for any length of time will usually result in the loss of a plant. For this reason, they should be grown in very free draining soil or compost.

Highly fragrant blossom will appear quite early in the year and will be followed by the fruits which will be ready to pick between November and February. If severe weather is a risk potted plants can be moved into a warm, frost-free greenhouse or conservatory but should not be moved to deep shade as this may result in leaf drop. Such plants should only be watered sparingly when the compost dries.

Despatched through autumn and winter you may notice that some of the fruit on your lime tree is actually showing yellow or orange. Rest assured you have received a lime and not an orange or lemon tree.

All limes varieties and species will change from bright green to yellow and orange as they ripen.

The limes that are bought in supermarkets are picked when they are immature to both retain the acidity, firmness and green colour. The flavour will also change with age and the yellow-orange fruits will be significantly sweeter than those that are picked bright green.  In addition, limes are usually sold as quite a small round fruit as they are far from fully grown.  The ripe fruits are much larger.

Rest assured, if you wish to pick green fruits, you will be able to do so next year when the fruits are at an earlier stage of ripeness.

Growing Information

Growing Information

ON RECEIPT - Remove the plant from the packaging immediately. Check the compost is moist and water if necessary.

CARE OF THE PLANTS - These plants have already been grown on to fill the pot provided. The plant can now be enjoyed in it’s present container or planted into a larger container to suit the growing position chosen. Citrus trees grow best in a sunny greenhouse, conservatory or windowsill with a minimum temperature of 4ºC (38ºF). They will also thrive outside in a sunny sheltered spot during hot summer weather. In a dry atmosphere leaf drop can occur, therefore plants should be stood on a saucer containing gravel and water which is away from radiators. Water thoroughly each time the surface of the compost becomes dry.

In the summer months watering may be daily during hot weather and fortnightly during the cool winter months, just enough to keep the roots moist. Do not allow the compost to become soggy and waterlogged as this will kill the roots. Feeding the plants weekly during the spring and summer with a citrus fertiliser or seaweed-based fertiliser will promote fruit growth. Citrus do not thrive with high salt levels in the compost so taking the plant outside twice a year and drenching with lots of clean water will prevent any build-up of excess fertiliser salts.

FRUITING & PRUNING - Citrus are very rewarding plants to look after, providing endless interest as the small scented white flowers appear in spring, followed by small fruit as the flowers fade. With the correct conditions the fruit will grow steadily over the next six months until they ripen. The fruits can be picked off or left on the tree for ornamental purposes. To encourage a bushy plant and to maintain a good shape, plants can be trimmed just as the new growth starts to sprout in the spring.

Caring for your Citrus

Given the huge range of temperature fluctuations between regions of the UK, please see our recommendations to care for your citrus.

In the more balmy south, we can grow Citrus outside all year round albeit that we drop fleece type covers over the plants in the harshest conditions. (Nights that show temps. of below about -3) Even then we can lose some leaf in early spring and the tree will stay like that until Mid-June when the new leaf starts pushing hard.

For the rest of the UK whilst citrus can withstand short drops in temperature to below -3, prolonged drops will affect the plant and cause some defoliation. Our recommendation for citrus must always be that whenever the temperature is regularly above +4 then the plants should be placed outside but sheltered from the cold winds. If temperatures go below that, then they should be brought into a protected environment, but that does not mean the home where the humidity is far too low and will cause even worse damage than frosting. We recommend a shed or barn that has windows to let in sunlight, which is the most vital thing. An unheated greenhouse is perfect of course but in very low temperatures a layer or two of fleece will be valuable. Its worth remembering that unless the greenhouse is double glazed, then a wooden shed is very much more frost-free.

Citrus continues to grow at anything above +7c and below that they sit dormant but the fruits continue to ripen!