One of the greatest joys of growing your own plants is being able to pick fruit from your own garden or balcony to cook and eat, so it’s understandably frustrating when you’ve put all your effort into a particular fruit tree and it shows no signs of producing a harvest.
It’s no secret that growing citrus trees requires special care if you want them to bear fruit, and lime trees are no exception. The smallest mistakes in caring for your lime tree can hinder fruit production. Even if your tree looks healthy and has bright foliage, a lack of fruit can be an indication that something is wrong in its growing environment.
Whether you have a large lime tree that’s several feet tall or a smaller variety that’s one of the fruit trees that grows best in pots, you’ll need to provide the right care and growing conditions to get fruit. Here’s how to get a lime tree to bear fruit, plus tips from tree experts.
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3 ways to get a lime tree to bear fruit
Even if you grow fruit trees indoors, you need to make sure you provide them with the best conditions and care to ensure they bear fruit. Growing fruit is certainly an art, but luckily, experts have explained exactly what you need to do to make a lime tree bear fruit.
1. Choose a sunny location for your lime tree
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Before you can judge whether you are caring for your linden tree correctly, you need to check whether it is in an optimal location. As with most fruit plants, a lot of sunlight is required for fruit production. In addition, a sunny location in spring and early summer will produce beautiful flowers like those pictured above.
“Lime trees are the sun worshippers among citrus fruits. They need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to be able to bear fruit,” says Ben McInerneyan arborist and landscaper. “I once saved a client’s lime tree by simply transplanting it from a shady corner to a sunlit patio. Within a season, it went from a leafy sapling to a fruit-bearing wonder,” he adds.
Of course, it’s easier to move your linden tree if it’s part of your container garden, but if you plan to grow a large linden tree in a more permanent location, be sure to select a full-sun spot before planting.
Some smaller lime tree varieties are also well suited to growing citrus indoors and will benefit from a spot on a south-facing windowsill. If you struggle to get plenty of natural light indoors but still want to encourage your lime tree to produce fruit, try this grow light from Amazon. However, it’s best to move your lime tree outside during the warm spring and summer months to encourage fruit production.
Ben McInerney is a qualified arborist with over 20 years of industry experience and runs a commercial lawn mowing and tree care business. He is the founder of GoTreeQuotes, a website dedicated to helping property owners find the best deals on tree removal and trimming.
2. Ensure constant moisture for your lime tree
(Image credit: Getty Images/Sergio Amiti)
One of the biggest mistakes you can make with lemon, orange and lime trees is not watering your citrus tree properly. Too much or too little water can cause a number of problems with your lime tree, including a lack of fruit.
“These trees prefer constant moisture but hate wet feet,” says Ben. “I have developed a simple ‘finger test’ that has saved countless lime trees from drought and drowning,” he adds.
As Ben mentions, you’ll want to keep your lime tree at a consistent moisture level without letting it get mushy or completely dry. Use your finger to check if the top 1 inch of soil is dry, as that’s when it’s time to add water. Alternatively, you can use this soil moisture meter from Amazon to determine when it’s time to water your plants.
“Consistent, deep watering is better than frequent shallow watering,” advises Evan TorchioTree expert and CEO of Tree Mender. “Mulching around the tree also helps keep the roots cool and moist,” he adds.
Evan Torchio is a plant expert and CEO and founder of Tree Menders. He holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry and is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture. Evan consults on house and garden plants.
3. Provide high temperatures for your lime tree
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Just as your lime tree needs plenty of sun to produce a tasty harvest, it also needs plenty of heat. Lime trees are grown in subtropical and tropical regions around the world, where they prefer higher temperatures and humidity.
“Lime trees are tropical divas that thrive in temperatures between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit,” notes Ben. For this reason, lime trees grown outdoors do best in U.S. plant hardiness zones 8 through 11.
It can be difficult to figure out if your lime tree is growing at the right temperatures, especially if it’s an outdoor citrus tree. You can use this soil and compost thermometer from Amazon to track the temperature in the soil. If you’re growing your lime tree indoors, use this room thermometer from Amazon to make sure your lime tree is growing at the right temperatures.
“In colder climates, you may need to protect your tree with a tree cover and a fan during the winter,” advises Evan. “I even bring my tree inside when it gets really cold.”
Just like caring for a potted lemon tree in winter, you need to be careful not to expose your lime tree to cold and freezing temperatures if you want it to survive the colder months healthy and produce fruit in the summer.
For lime trees with a more permanent location, mulching is a good solution, as is using these frost protection bags from Amazon, as Evan suggests.
FAQ
Will fertilizer help the fruit of my lime tree?
Fertilizing your lime tree will give you a boost of nutrients that can encourage fruit production. Avoid fertilization mistakes by only fertilizing your citrus trees when they are actively growing during the warmer months. This can help prevent root rot and root burn. It’s also best to stick with a specialized citrus fertilizer, like this lime tree fertilizer from Amazon.
When are limes ready to be harvested?
“Most lime varieties bear fruit in late spring to early summer and can be harvested in winter. However, from my experience with different climates, I know that some varieties in warmer regions bear fruit all year round. It’s as if they live in their own tropical time zone,” says Ben McInerneyan arborist and landscape gardener.
While it’s true that lime trees are ready to harvest in the fall and sometimes winter, it really depends on your U.S. hardiness zone and whether you’re growing your lime tree indoors or outdoors. You’ll know your limes are ready to harvest when they’ve softened and are lighter in color.
If you don’t provide these conditions for your lime tree, it may not be able to produce much fruit. Try adjusting your tree’s growing conditions to encourage fruit development during warmer seasons.
Additionally, it is important to prune your lime tree every few years to keep pests and diseases away and to keep it at a manageable size.
