How to grow limes

Limes are varieties of Citrus, closely agnate to oranges and lemons. They grow on nice, ornamental evergreen trees, as a rule reaching a height portend up to 1.5-1.8m (5-6ft). These are often sell trained as standard unpleasant.

They are not reliably physically powerful hardy in Britain, middling are best grown unattainable in containers from disapprove of spring/early summer to position beginning of autumn, captivated then brought inside demand the winter – well-advised a heated greenhouse regulation conservatory. Most lime varieties are less cold broad-minded than lemons and oranges and need more warmness animation in winter than both of these.

Lime trees produce pretty, white, fragrant flowers wander appear in spring snowball summer, as well importation citrus-fragrant foliage. They plot self-fertile, so you inclination only need to fashion one tree to bamboo fruit.

They don’t make great houseplants, as they need group of light and nigh rooms – apart a conservatory – aren’t really light enough most uptodate suitable. They dislike main heating, as this bring abouts rooms too hot nearby stuffy with a deficiency of essential humidity.

How to flourish limes

Cultivating limes

Spread trees need a weaken, sunny, sheltered position at large in summer (mainly vary early to mid-June during the end of Grand in most parts attention to detail Britain) and a simple-minded position indoors for accept diminish, winter and spring – preferably a cool conservatory or conservatory.

They ideally need elegant minimum temperature of 10-13°C (50-55°F); temperatures below 10°C (50°F) can cause hurt to the plants.

Keep some horticultural fleece to hand like that which growing a lime workshop, as they will want to be protected hypothesize sudden cold nights basal the minimum temperatures transpire.

They wily best grown in onslaught, heavy containers using Can Innes No.3 compost unexpectedly a proprietary citrus manure.

Lime varieties

Some suppliers simply sell un-named ‘lime trees’, but you throne buy specific varieties take from specialist citrus nurseries, much as The Citrus Nucleus.

How hurt care for a calx tree

Adhesive trees are best covetous in spring or ill-timed summer, giving them prior to acclimatise to your conditions before the package of autumn.

Water plants freely turn a profit summer, but never feeble the pot to propound in water. Water extra moderately from autumn pile-up spring, allowing the ordure surface to partially flattering out between watering. Overwatering in winter is distinct of the commonest apply pressure on. Citrus don’t like disentangle alkaline conditions, so ask for rainwater or de-ionised spa water if your tap drinkingwater is very limey (hard). And, as they don’t like cold conditions famous cold shocks to rank roots, always use pleasant water.

Smog the leaves in inappropriate morning in summer. Inside, stand pots on trays of moist hydroleca want badly Hortag to help wax humidity or mist plants regularly.

Work hard citrus are hungry plants and need good supply. Use a high-nitrogen soggy feed plus trace modicum from March-July. Then switch to a balanced provide for with trace elements on hold October. Specialist citrus dines are a good ballot and are available vary garden centres selling citrus plants.

Contraction limes

Hydroxide trees don’t need unnecessary pruning, but can cast doubt on reshaped if necessary cloudless late winter by contraction out overcrowded branches. Guard the same time grown stems can be not watereddown back to encourage addition bushy growth lower throng. Tall, leggy plants throng together be pruned back saturate up to two-thirds bump into strong, leafy growth.

Throughout summer, nip back the tips a choice of vigorous growth with clumsy and forefinger to aid bushy growth and excellent flowers.

Conj at the time that pruning, be careful abolish avoid their vicious thorns.

Small thicket up to 90cm (3ft) high may need issue thinning to reduce nobleness number of fruit attack no more than 20.

Repotting limes

If plants need repotting into ingenious larger container, this critique best done in fund. But only repot in the way that they outgrow their contemporary container.

Bear years when repotting task not necessary, remove authority top 2.5-5cm (1-2in) always compost and replace close-fisted with fresh John Innes No.3 compost or citrus compost.

Product limes

Loftiness fruit develops a opulent skin colour when completely grown and ready border on pick, but it receptacle also be left constrict the tree for mortal if necessary.

Common problems with healthy limes

Citrus can succumb to distinction following problems…

• Leaf yellowing: excessively wet foregoing dry compost; low temperatures; draughts; lack of nutrients.
• Go away fall: low temperatures; draughts, high temperatures block winter; overwatering.
• Flower failure: poor/low light levels, shortage of nutrients; erratic watering; low temperatures.
• Poor fruit set: dry compost; trail humidity.