Stages of the Key Lime Tree
- Healthy plant selection is the best start to successful stage growth.lime image by Tolam from Fotolia.com
The fruits of a key lime tree provide delicious and wonderful pleasures. They are the "key" ingredient to classic deserts like key lime pie and summer beverage favorites like limeade. Under the right conditions, trees can be grown outdoors from Florida to California. They can also be grown indoors in cold climate states from Maine to Minnesota. This is why lime lovers become key lime growers, and sign-on to nurture the growth of key lime trees through every stage of the tree's life. - Key lime seeds can be purchased at nurseries or online. If you purchase online be sure to carefully check that the source of the seeds and the country of origin. Seeds from Mexico and India are good choices. If you are courageous and experienced in propagating seeds directly from fruits, do so and add joy to seeing your key lime tree take root and develop. Rinse seeds from fruits and allow them to dry thoroughly before planting. Use a potting mix enhanced with peat moss, humus and perlite to promote healthy root growth.
- Purchasing a young sapling from a nursery can advance the process of growing a key lime tree. The early years of life are of utmost important. This makes it important to select and purchase a healthy tree so that it is provided with the best chances to grow and thrive.
You can also call around to nurseries and inquire if they have a tree that is 2 to 3 years old. At this stage, both outdoor and indoor trees will begin to bear fruit. Read the label tag to confirm the age of the tree. If the information is not available on the tree tag, ask for confirmation from the nursery representative. Light potting soil is advisable with a good blend of perlite to make repotting or transplanting lighter and easier. Fertilize monthly. Key limes are partial to nitrogen, magnesium and even diluted Epsom salt fertilization. - The early years of a young, outdoor tree require constant care and attention. Proper watering promotes growth and fruit. Water outdoor trees during the summer months at least two to three times each week. If the tree is mature, you can water less frequently, but when you do water -- water deeply and at least once a week.
Indoor dwarf and miniature key lime trees prefer soil that is slightly acidic. Keep them in a room that maintains a constant temperature of at least 70 degrees, and poised to receive full sun and a southern exposure to light. They are best grown in environments where they will receive at least 8 hours of light, even if artificially supplemented with fluorescent gardening lights. Keep the soil moist and give them an occasionally mist. To encourage pollination use a cotton swab to dab pollen from outdoor plant foliage on the inside of the flowers of key lime trees grown indoors. - Understanding when to harvest a key lime is important. This is the time to become a patient gardener. Check the he tree for signs of buds, wait for flowers, and ultimately -- for flowers to develop into fruit. This can continue for weeks and several months. Nevertheless, know that rewards are on the way. Once the fruits emerge and grow, allow them to ripen from yellow to green in color. Resist the temptation to pick the fruit from branches. Let them ripen on the vine. In fact, the truth is that limes actually keep longer on the tree than they will once they are picked, frozen or stored in a refrigerator or fruit bin. When it comes to key lime harvesting, patience is key.
