My Edible Fruit Trees: Lime Trees QLD

Lime - Kassia (Seedling) ^7/10

Lime - Kassia (Seedling) ^7/10

Lime - Kassia (Seedling) ^7/10

Pollination: Self Pollination

Red Centre Lime (Grafted) ^8/10

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Lime - Red Centered (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Such a cute little fruit, this one was bought late last year, planted in a grow bag while we decide where to install it (as with most of our spontanious purchases haha) and it has already fruited for us.

Egg-shaped little red limes. Great for seafood and sald and drinks! Low maintenance, looks like a finger lime in terms of the greenery, and appears to be just as slow growing and hardy. 

Height 1 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 5 Fruit Per Year

First Fruited: 6 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic lifter

Finger Lime - d'Emerald (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: - Going great guns in a grow bag until we decide exactly where to pop him in the ground. Fruiting already, and we only bought it late last year. Fruit should be ready to pick around Easter I'd say - highly recommend!

Very low maintenance.

Planted: 2022

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 6 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic lifter

Dwarf Lime - Tahitian (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: -

Going great, has lowanna strawberries growing around the base with some french marigolds and a french lavender as well. Doesn't seem to mind, in fact they may be acting like mulch perhaps.

Al lthe fruit dropped this time, but that's to be expected with a brand new young lime tree. It was also suffering black aphids for a day or two before I noticed, but some white oil sorted them out very swiftly and then ladybirds came and helped as well.

Very healthy, happy young tree.

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic lifter

Finger Lime - Tom Thum (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: - Cute little finger lime bush, growing happily in the ground and new growth has the usual purple colouring. As with most finger limes, it appears slow growing but healthy and happy. Very low maintenance.

Planted: 2022

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic lifter

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Finger Lime - Rainforest Pearl Dwarf (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: - A dwarf grafted version of the Rainforest Pearl. Healthy, easy to grow, hasn't fruited yet - slow growing, but low maintenance. A native under-canopy fruit tree. Thorny and spindly but beautiful.

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic lifter

Finger Lime - Rainforest Pearl (Grafted) ^10/10

Comments: - Healthy, slow growing but easy - very low maintenance. Watch for spikes. New growth comes in dark purple, before lightening to green.

Planted: 2022

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: Dynamic lifter

Dwarf Lime - Tahitian (Grafted)

Comments: -

Plant arrived in Feb 2020 in great condition with soil still damp. Will plant this into a pot after 1-2 weeks outside and provide updates.

May 2020 - Has had one flush of growth since potting - new growth was damaged by citrus leafminer. 

Spring 2020 - Flowered set one fruit (which dropped).

September 2021 - Now in 25L pot. Flush of new growth & flowers now (will knock these off), however has been slow growing - likely due to allowing to fruit last year and growing in a pot. Survived 2x Toowoomba winters with no damage (under shade cloth so frost couldn't settle).

Planted: 2020

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Lime - Kaffir (Grafted)

Comments: -

Plant arrived in Feb 2020 in great condition with soil still damp. Will plant this into a pot after 1-2 weeks outside and provide updates.

May 2020 - Has had one flush of growth since potting - new growth was damaged by citrus leafminer. 

Spring 2020: Flowered, but no fruit

September 2021 - Now in 45L planter bag. Growing well - now ~1.5m tall. Has tolerated Toowoomba winter in a pot (under a shade cloth so no frosts could settle). 

Planted: 2020

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Finger Lime ^4/10

Comments: -

Slow growing.  Planted in shady position.  Need to plant more in full sun.

Fruiting Months January and December

Planted: 2008

Height 1 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: Yearly

Pest Control:

Organic Status:Organic

Australian Round Lime

Planted: 2013

Lime - Kaffir (Grafted) ^8/10

Comments: -

good for cooking and drinks

Fruiting Months January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Planted: 2008

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Fruit Harvest: 20 kilograms per Year

First Fruited: 2008 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pruned By: 10% in Spring

Pollination: No

When I Fertilise: When Fruiting and Yearly

Pest Control:

nil

Organic Status:Organic

Lime - Kassia (Seedling)

Fruiting Months January, February, March, November, December

Planted: 2014

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 2016 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Partially Organic

Finger Lime- Judys Everbearing

Lime - Kaffir

Planted: 2019

Dwarf Lime - Tahitian

Planted: 2017

Lime - Tahitian

Comments: -

Now flowering and fruiting continuously after three years, covered in limes  (only a few fruit as a two year old). Seems to need the most fertiliser of any of my citrus.

Planted: 2008

Height 2.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 2.5 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: compost and chook manure, kelp and fish emulsion

When I Fertilise: Winter and Spring

Finger Lime

Comments: -

Extremely thorny. Flowers after rain. I have three- one is a new ricks red, one is a wild type, I am not sure what the other is. All flower well but no fruit yet.

Planted: 2008

Height 0.5 metres

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: Self Pollination

Lime - Tahitian (Grafted) ^8/10

Comments: -

Planted about July 2015 in a 50cm pot. Going well, has about 3 small fruit. 

It's currently in full sun. I water almost daily depending on weather. I recently repotted it into a 75 litre planter bag with a BIG bottom layer of course grade pine bark then kind of equal amounts of good quality potty mix, coir peat, perlite and a shovel of organic pellets mixed through. A really good layer of small pine bark on top.

Accidently purchased thinking it was a dwarf. Oh well I'll just have to ensure I keep up with the pruning :)

Planted: 2015

Height 40 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

First Fruited: 1 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: organic pellets, osmocote citrus slow release

Pest Control: none as yet

Dwarf Lime - Tahitian ^5/10

Comments: -

Planted November 2015. So too young to make any review as yet. 

It's currently in full sun. I water almost daily depending on weather. I planted in a 75 litre planter bag with a BIG bottom layer of course grade pine bark then kind of equal amounts of good quality potty mix, coir peat, perlite and a shovel of organic pellets mixed through. A really good layer of small pine bark on top.

Planted: 2015

Height 60 Centimetres

Growing: In a Pot

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Pollination: Self Pollination

Fertiliser or Organics Used: organic pellets or citrus slow relaease

Pest Control: none as yet

Finger Lime (Grafted)

Comments: - Trying out a new crop and looking at a niche market

Planted: 2019

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 2

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Question: Any tips on growing finger limes in blacksoil in south east Qld? Particularly what is the best fertilizer.

Lime - Tahitian (Grafted)

Comments: - Trying out a new crop and looking for niche market

Growing: In the Ground

Qty: 1

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Question: Any tips on growing tahitian limes in blacksoil in south east Qld - also what's the best fertilizer.

Lime - West Indian Seedling (Seedling) ^8/10

Comments: - Taste is tangy and smaller than tahitian. First couple of years it focused on establishing itself (bushiness) then by 4th year height has taken effect and getting only a small amount of crop and flowering. There are thorns. Espaliered, but not as easy to compared to my other citrus as branches are stiffer.

Planted: 2013

Height 2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 3 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Full Sun

Water Given in: Winter

Pollination: Self Pollination

Organic Status:Certified

Dwarf Lime - Tahitian (Grafted)

Planted: 2016

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Full Shade

Lime - Kaffir (Cutting) ^8/10

Comments: -

Update 09-Dec-2011: Got a few fruits. Not quite sure what to do with them. They are very fragrant. Will use them in Thai preparations. New pic attached.

We use it for making Thai preparations. It has just recently flowered and is now forming fruits.

Planted: 2010

Height 1.2 metres

Growing: In the Ground

First Fruited: 1 Years from purchase in pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring

Pollination: No

Finger Lime - Red Cutting (Grafted) ^9/10

Comments: -

2018: I bloody hate this thing, and if it wasn't a gift with a story, I would let the bloody thing die.

I was told this was the citrus to grow in Australia, as it is hardier than most introduced species and likes our heat better, and to that, I call horse sh*t. This thing is the fussiest, sulkiest, most ridiculous WASTE OF TIME of a tree.

It becomes infested with aphids or mites at the blink of an eye, collapses at the very first sign of heat, and is very prone to root rot in winter (root rot in Brisbane- what?). It dies right back through summer, then starts to grow in Autumn, will be coming along nicely, and then BAM, root rot. I've started to get the feel for when to stop watering it, but ugh, it's a stupid fussy thing that I would dearly like to take the choppers to. 

Never had fruit, it's a pitiful little thing that never gets any bigger, even in my most shaded spot (only 5 hours sun a day in summer!), with the pot itself protected from direct light, thick mulch, good soil, a nice bucket of water- it HATES Brisbane heat. It is most definitely a rainforest understory tree from NSW. My dry humidity is no good.

It does, however, like to be underplanted, and that does help with keeping the surrounding soil moist and free of ants, and stops its roots rotting- the other plants suck up the moisture, I suppose.

The only reason I have persisted with this stupid thing is that the thorny bush sits in front of an unused sliding door, and to move it means risking the massive thorns. I've never been scratched, but every single tradie that has come to do things at our house has been scratched like crazy, so I call it my living security screen. 

2016: Mine is on a rootstock Cox. Recieved as a gift Christmas 2015, didn't repot until January 2016. Seemed fine sitting in the pot it came in, but absolutely exploded with growth once I got it into the new pot- which I am still not sure if that was the size of the container it is now in (70 L) or what it was potted into. I used cheapy bunnings compost, cow poo, a block of coir soaked in seasol and mollasses, a hand full of dynamic lifter, and a smidge of lime. I'm told they don't like very rich soil, but mine has thrived in the mix.

Another thing I have found is that despite everything saying full sun for these guys, mine did NOT like the full sun in my hot, concreted suburban backyard. Instead, I have moved it to a spot that only gets perhaps two to three hours of morning summer sun before it is in shade by 11, and it did a whole lot better there. The sun was scorching the new growth right off, and the leaves were all turning yellow. It is happy and bushy now in more shade, even with very little sun in the midst of winter at the moment. I have it underplanted with an english spinach plant, bok choy, a whole whack of johnny jump-ups, and a succulent as living mulch, and there is a butter bean vine planted in the back of the pot, and it seems to tolerate living with these really well. There is a Salvia in there as well, but it is not doing great in so much shade, so I shall be digging that out soon.

It IS a very spiky plant, though I have never been scratched by it. A little care is needed, but my kids know to be careful, and nobody has been bitten yet!! I have it placed by my front gate, in front of my glass sliding door. We don't use the door as a door, so it is a good security measure, lols.

My biggest problem with the Finger Lime has been ants and APHIDS. The ants persist in wanting to nest underneath the Finger Lime, so I have to flood the pot every few weeks to drive them out again. This has become less of an issue since I underplanted the tree with flowers, etc, as I think the additional root systems around the edge of the pot are keeping the soil more moist than they like. I shall see how this progresses. But they do herd the bloody APHIDS around the tree. Despite wanting to keep my yard as chemical free as possible, I have had to resort to chem aids to rid my poor Lime of the aphids. They tuck into the delicate new growth where I cannot reach them, and so I have had to spray every two-three days for the last four weeks to rid myself of them. The ants will herd them to unsprayed foliage, as well, so you must spray the entire plant if you have aphids, or they will simply reappear elsewhere a few days later. Very annoying.

I was told that I would not get fruit until the tree was at LEAST three years old, but many others seem to have fruit much earlier than that, so I shall see this summer, I suppose.

Planted: 2016

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

Sun/Shade: Low Sun

Water Given in: Spring

When I Fertilise: Spring

Dwarf Lime - Tahitian (Grafted) ^8/10

Comments: -

I recieved my Tahitian Lime and my Lots-of-Lemons as Christmas gifts in 2014. And wow, these things have been put through the ringer.

Any pest capable of getting something from a citrus, has attacked my babies. ARGH!

This was repotted into a large 70 L tub, with Osmocote citrus soil, cheapy bunnings compost, coir soaked in seasol and mollasses, chook manure, dynamic lifter pellets, and some lime. I think I threw in some blood and bone as well. Plant did well in the mix, and bushed out quickly, and set dozens of flowers in the first month.

Which the possums quickly ate. I mean it. Any time I get flowers, they eat the lot. Any that last long enough to turn into itty bitty fruit either get eaten, or knocked off in the possum's haste to eat all the flowers. I have tried covering with netting and weighting it down with bricks, and they shove the bricks away, and climb under!! So far, in two years, I have not had a single fruit. They also eat all the Lemonade flowers, as well as capsicum flowers, and all my strawberries. Dagnabbit.

Since then, I have had citrus miner, citrus gall wasp, giant brown caterpillars, citrus swallowtail butterfly catterpillars, fruit fly, aphids, you name it, they love it. The poor thing has hung on, and I am about to give it a bit of a hair cut, and move it to a better spot, since it is far enough around the back yard that it gets little attention. I think a season of being centre placed for me to baby it will do it good.

I remove most bugs by hand, so this one has never had sprays. I fertilise every other month with dynamic lifter pellets under the sugar cane mulch, and a good dose of seasol when I remember. It also seems to do well with some of the 'black marvel' rose fertiliser every once in a while. I plan to underplant with a few different herbs before spring to try and keep the bug population down, so we shall see how that goes. And yellow sticky cards, to trap any returning gall wasps I have missed!

I am attempting chicken wire cages to deter possums. Here's hoping for fruit Summer 2016!!!

Fruiting Months January, February, March, September, October, November, December

Planted: 2014

Height 1.5 metres

Growing: In a Pot

First Fruited: 1 Months from Purchase in Pot

Sun/Shade: Medium Sun

Water Given in: Spring