Prior to this latest freeze this week, this lime tree was producing limes constantly for the past 2 years. Sure am glad I froze most of the juice.
Still a lot of fruit on it. This is on the South side in full sun with protection from the north with oaks and outbuildings..Right next to it is a pineapple guava that is still pretty and green.Tree is about 10 ft tall. I will wait it out until it is safe to trim.
Suzie2, My heart goes out to you. How cold and for how long was your freeze? Did you spray your trees with water so that the ice could insulate them like the commercial growers do?
Even if the lime does not survive, the root stock probably will and you can graft onto it for a quick comeback. Don
Don The freeze was probably about 6 hours then warmed up to about high 30s then down again for another 4-6 hours. This went on for about 3 days. Finally, we are in the 40s but no sunshine, only rain. I did not spray as the water was turned off outside. It had rained prior to the freeze so I did not think it would be necessary. Who knew? I have 800 ft. of underwater lines that services all my plants and trees with about10 faucets. Every winter we disconnect hoses and blow the lines and don't reconnect
until late February. I collect rain water to water if needed. I have 2 large grapefruit,1 tangerine,key lime,2 medium meyer lemons,2 medium satsumas,3 large plums, 3 large pears, persimmon,2 pomegranite, 7 figs, and about 10 younger trees that I just planted this past October. All the young ones have made it just fine as I covered really well with frost cloth then wrapped trunks well with sheets. As for the larger ones, they were on their own. I have all of them planted in protected areas or so I thought but since have discovered key limes are not quite so tolerant of the cold. I will replant if needed. The trunk of the tree is about 6 inches in diameter so don't know about grafting. Every year is a learning experience. Worst winter in 20 years here(89).
Suzie2, I have seen succesful bud grafts on trunks bigger than that. Sometimes more than one variety can be grafted onto a big trunk/stump. Don
